Viking farming
Although Vikings were known to be warriors the large majority were actually farmers most of the year. Farming food such as rye and oats and live-stock such as sheep pigs cows and goats they would rarely grow more then what was needed for them and their family to survive. When the men did go off to raid and take over for up to several years the women of the house would have to raise the kid and keep the farm going.
The Vikings grew primarily rye oats and barely. They also grew wheat peas, beans onions cabbage and herbs. They also kept live-stock on the farm, live-stock such as pigs, sheep that gave them wool which was used to make clothing, cattle and goats that gave them protein that helped them grow and carbohydrates that gave them energy.They also got milk from the goats and cows which provided them with folate and calcium. Calcium was good for them because it strengthened their bones which benefited them a lot because they would not have to deal with broken bones as often. And The folate helped their immune system which stopped them getting overrun by germs in their very un-hygienic period of time. Growing food for themselves and their live-stock was very hard on the sandy, rocky, cold, mountainous conditions. So They prayed to “Thor” for help. Thor was the god of weather and crops. Although the ground was very hard to grow food on they still had a range of plants such as rye, oats, barely, wheat, peas, beans, onions, cabbage, and herbs. Which gave them many different nutrients needed to stay healthy.
Before the Vikings started planting crops they had to clear the farm area of weeds and grass, this was done with tools like this long double handed scythe shown to the right. These tools were used to rip grass and other small plants out of the ground so seeds could be planted. The turf ripped out of the ground was some-times used for the roofs
The vikings had large group farm that were maintained by many in a combined effort to feed their family and community. This farming strategy allowed them to have a larger population. And a bigger society.
The scythe above is a primary source from the time of the Vikings. It demonstrates information in a non literary way.
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