Viking Homesteading

Life in the Viking area, all raids and war?  Actually there was another side as well..homesteading.  Farming was and still is a key part of life in the Scandinavian countries.  Some raids were actually scouting missions to find new lands to farm.  A traditional farm settlement took the the form of a central cluster of buildings, enclosed by turf walls, which were normal shoulder height to a man and five feet wide at the base. Outside the walled areas were fields used for cultivation and grazings.



Each Viking homestead normally consisted of a longhouse and typically multiple outbuildings  In the early years, both humans and animals dwelt in the long houses, but latter animals were moved into a barn.  Wells were sometimes build, but the Vikings prefered to have a running water source, like a river or stream, on the homestead.

The main focus of the Viking homestead was raising animals, with cattle being the chief.  Milk cows were highly prized, and provided the family with cheese, butter, and skyr (a type of curds). Oxen were work animals kept to pull the sleigh and aror, the Viking plow. Sheep were next in importance to cattle, and were used for their wool, meat, and milk.  Goats and pigs were also common. Horses were bread not only for their ability to provide transportation, but also meat.

Hay was grown to provide for the animals over the long winters.  Grains of barley, rye, and oats were grown; occasionally, in more southern regions, wheat as well. Beans, cabbage, onions, and peas were harvested.  Wild fruits and berries rounded out the diet.  Of course, fish was common, either from family members or the markets.   Thus life on the homestead was hard but good.

~ Morria





(Deep thanks to the multiple sites and books out on the history of Vikings.  Especially to the historical museums who seek to impart history through reenactments and living history sites!)

Natural Coffee Dye

Coffee Dye make a natural, soft tan dye for fabrics.  It is very easy to use and one can make an items as dark or as light as they desire depending on how much coffee they us.  This works best on natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, or wool.

1. Gather Supplies:

• Measuring Cups (1/2 cup & 1 Cup) 
• Stock Pot (half full of water)
• Instant Coffee
• Clothing Article to be Dyed
• Wooden Spoon
• White Vinegar

2. Place Stock Pot half full of water on stock and turn on to medium heat and add 1 to 2 cups of Instant Coffee depending on how dark you wish garment to be.  Allow coffee dye water to heat to simmering.

3.  Place Clothing Article into the coffee dye water; liquid should totally cover garment.  Add additional 1 cup of instant coffee. 

4. Turn heat down to low-medium low (#2 on my stove).  Check and stir clothing until desired color.

5. When garment reaches desired color, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to set the color.  Continue to let "cook" for half the day or longer, as your time allows.

6.  Take off stove, allow to cool in coffee dye water, until dye and clothing is cool to touch.

7.  Take out of coffee dye water and let dry.  After totally dried, rinse, and let dry again.

8. Your garment is ready to wear!

~ Morria

Warning: Many sites say this dye washes out easy, but they do not set Coffee Dye in Vinegar as my method calls for, either.  Still wash item as little as possible.  If it gets too light, re-dye.

Away from our roots...

Living close to nature, be it a desert, a forest, the sea, or great prairies/savannas, is healing to the soul.  To be close to the earth, to feel it beneath the feet, to be connected.  Closeness, connectedness, a feeling of belonging.  So many of us struggle with those feeling those thoughts.  Yet out here, it seems so easy to find, even if a bit thorny at times...literally!

Why is it we got away from our tribal roots?  Even those of us from "Western Culture" are from the Vikings, Celts, Goths, Saxons, Franks, with some Greek, Roman, and Middle Eastern thrown in as well. (mine at least, lol!) If American, we might have Hispanic, African, Asian, and Native American (if not full blood of any) thrown in too...  We are  a multicultural melting pot, with tribal roots at all of our bases.

One of the easiest way to start restoring ourselves, away from the urban maddens, and getting back to our roots, is starting connecting to the land again.  How?
* Grow plants in windows.
* Work a a co-op/urban garden.
*Walk daily at a wild space or park.
*Vacation camping out in tents in the wilderness.
*Save up and buy land.

So many ways to start what one will you pick?

(Can you think of more?  If so, please comment below and share your ways of reconnecting!)

~ Morria

Starting this...

After a lot of research personally and for our urban start and future rural homestead, I have decided to try to do as much of it "tribal" or the old school methods as possible.  This means hand or hose watering, heirloom seeds, and natural fertilizers among other things.  While this blog will share about our personal journeys in plants and homesteading, it will also be a place where research is shared.  I hope to have many long years typing and sharing this with everyone!

~ Morria