Anglo-Saxon and Early Medieval settlers grew their vegetables in small garden beds or fields close to their homes. Vegetables require lots of attention, so these were grown separately where they could be well tended, rather than incorporated into larger field systems of wheat, barley, flax and legumes.

As the Gewissæ settled Somerset, forest or scrubland was often cleared to make room for settlements and crops, while livestock were grazed on upland pastures or the water meadows of the marshy Levels.

Crops such as parsnips, carrots, beetroot, onion, kale and beans were grown in small fields or raised beds, and these were sown here. The field was divided into separate beds for easy watering, weeding and slug picking.

The seeds were covered with a fine layer of soil after sowing, and watered in. A fortunate rainfall watered the seeds well after planting. During dry weather, watering will be done by hand by collected buckets of water from the stream.

In mid-7th century south west Britain, even the royal elite had not yet fully accepted Christianity, and paganism certainly still lingered among the local Anglo-Saxon population. Many farmers may have prayed to Ēostre, a Germanic fertility goddess of spring, to watch over their crops, perhaps even at the same time as praying to the Christian God.

With thanks to:
Jack Sparks, as the fellow freeman farmer.
Herknungr, Musician, playing 'Ængleland"

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