“If I want to build a farm, there must be a garden…”
The Funen Village is not only made up of historic buildings but also of the surroundings in which these buildings are set.
Around the old Funen houses and farms, gardens have been established that either provide edible plants or are simply beautiful to look at—or both.
Gardening was an important part of 19th-century self-sufficient farming. Vegetables and herbs were grown for cooking and beverages. Therefore, the gardens and their crops are also an essential part of the storytelling at The Funen Village—both when we explain their purpose and when visitors can taste the past in the kitchens through sampling.
During a visit to the village, you can explore cabbage gardens, hop gardens, fruit orchards, and ornamental gardens—or take a walk in the beautiful parsonage garden at Tommerup Parsonage.
Cabbage Gardens
I kålgården dyrkede man grøntsager og krydderurter til brug i den selvforsynende husholdning.
In the cabbage garden, vegetables and herbs were grown for use in the self-sufficient household.
The most important crop was kale, which could withstand frost all winter without losing its nutritional value. Kale—used in dishes such as kale soup or boiled cabbage—played a vital nutritional role during the long winter months.
Hop Gardens
In the 19th century, Funen was Denmark’s main hop-growing region, and almost every country estate had a hop garden.
Hops were important in the self-sufficient garden because they were used to flavor and preserve beer.
At The Funen Village, there are three hop gardens; in two of them, the hops grow on poles, while at Boelstedet from Melby, the hop vines climb trellises, which was typical in areas with limited timber.
Fruit Orchards
In the orchard, fruit and berries were grown for cider and cooking.
The orchards contained apple and pear trees, and sometimes plum or cherry trees, as well as berry bushes.
On the fertile island of Funen, fruit cultivation flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries, supported by local landowners and the Agricultural Society, which awarded prizes to promote fruit trees.
Ornamental Gardens
Ornamental gardens became widespread in the countryside only in the late 19th century.
Ornamental gardens became widespread in the countryside only in the late 19th century.
Inspired by manor house parks, these gardens were primarily recreational. They featured flowering and fragrant plants that were a delight to the eye.
Often, it was through the parson’s garden that ordinary farmers were inspired to create their own flower gardens or update them according to contemporary fashion.
At The Funen Village, the parsonage garden shows a landscaped garden as it appeared at the end of the 19th century.
The Funen Village is a member of the Danish Society of Open Gardens.