The wild ocean world of Værøy in Lofoten, Norway, was the birthplace of Mimmi Benjaminsen – born in 1894. Here are some of her childhood memories.
The Norwegian homestead
The ancient tradition of Norwegian mountain pasture
For more than a thousand years, Norwegian farmers sent their livestock to feed in the forests and the mountains. Today, this way of life has almost disappeared.
The old Norwegian farm | The Sortehaug farm saga
Skodje sogelag and Louis Giske wrote the history of the two Sortehaug farms and its inhabitants back in 1986.
The old Norwegian farm | Cutting marsh grass on the frozen lake
To make sure he could tide the animals over the long and cold winter, the historical Norwegian farmer utilised all available resources.
Norway and its age-old farming culture
Once you start taking an interest in the old Norwegian farming and family history, then the people of the past start coming to the fore.
The old Norwegian farm | Bringing home the winter hay
On the historical Norwegian farm, winter feed for the domesticated animals was a precious resource. Sometimes it was harvested and temporarily stored far away from the farm.
The old Norwegian farm | The hour of twilight
The hour of twilight is when the daylight starts to disappear – before it is completely dark. In the old Norwegian farming society, this was a time for rest.
The old Norwegian farm | The Sæterhaugen farm saga
In 1942, Hans Hyldbakk wrote the history of the local cotter’s holdings in Surnadal, Nordmøre, Norway. The book was updated in 1966.
Skoklefallsdagen | The old Norway’s last day of spring
On the historical Norwegian farm, the skoklefallsday is the last day of planting in the spring. Literally, it means the day that the shafts attached to the workhorse’s harness come off.
The old Norwegian farm | Bonde = farmer | Bondegård = farm
The Norwegian word for farmer is bonde – which stems from the old Norse búandi, which means a person with a fixed abode – a person living in one place.
The first Norwegian farms appeared in the Stone age
In Scandinavia, agriculture first appeared in the Stone age – around 2400 BC. The early farmers cleared their land by using simple tools and fire.
The old Norwegian farm | A result of landscape and climate
The Norwegian geography and climate have significant variations. The old Norwegian farm was always a result of its location, and the local availability of resources.
The old Norwegian farm | Finding Ole Johan Nyaas and his barn
With this old photograph in my hand I have set myself a task: how much information can I find in Norwegian online archives based on what the photo tells me?
The old Norwegian farm | The Stornæve farm saga
Per O. Rød wrote the history of the Stornæve farm and its inhabitants back in 1968. Decades earlier, several children of Stornæve had emigrated to the US.
Folk medicine | As used by the Norwegians
Do you have trouble sleeping? Here are some examples of how the old Norwegians used Mother Nature’s very own remedies to cure their ailments.
The old Norwegian farm | Its land and surroundings
In this post, we take a look at the layout of the Norwegian farm and its surroundings – and how the land and its resources were utilised.
The old Norwegian farm | The need for water
The old Norwegian farm needed hundreds of litres of water every single day: for food-making, cleaning, and human and animal consumption.
The old Norwegian farm | Memories from Langfjordbotn in Finnmark
Langfjordbotn – in Norway’s northernmost region Finnmark – was the birthplace of Oluf Røde, born in 1889.
10 July – let the Norwegian haymaking begin
10 July is the feast day of Saint Knut – Knutsok – and marks the beginning of the haymaking season – høyonna – in the old Norwegian farming calendar.
The old Norwegian farm | Making butter the old way
For the old Norwegians, making butter was simply a way of preserving the fresh summer milk – turning it into a type of food that could be stored.
Norwegian herder-children | Roaming the mountains all alone
In olden Norway, the farm-animals were sent off to the mountains and forests all summer. With them came a herder to guard them, and a maid to turn their milk into cheese and butter.