Homesteading in a fantasy world

Next morning after my chores I went to walk the fields. It always amazes me how fast nature takes over when humans aren’t around. Just around 1 week late for working this field and it already has so many weeds. No point in delaying now. I walked towards the barn to find my helper.

The bull was kind of used to me by now. I often gave him scratches, and he loved it. “Now listen here,” I have something that I need you to do. “I don’t know if you were around here when they used horses to pull the cart. But I’m going to need you to start using those muscles of yours to help me with some farm work.”

I could see some recognition in his eyes, but I think it’s more that he enjoys me talking. But I also think that he understands that I need him to do something. So, for the first time, I led him to the barn.

He got more and more curious about what’s going on. He was a bit hesitant when I tried to fit the slightly modified harness over him. Talking and scratching him helped to calm him down and make him understand what was going on.

When I finally had him in his harness, and he was more used to it. I started to lead him out. He was hesitant at first, but quickly got used to it. I walked him around for some time and then brought him back.

Then I led him through the fields a bit to get him used to that kind of terrain. He is a smart one and learned quickly, but I know that this was still going to be a long road until he is truly used to it all. I got 2 new notifications after that.

You have gained a new skill basic animal handling level 1

You have gained a new skill basic animal training level 1

Then came the part when I hooked him up to the sled. I didn’t attach the cart yet. He got a bit scared because of the weight and almost ran off, but luckily the training I did before and maybe the skill levels in animal control help me keep him from running off.

It was easy for him to pull the sled. He was just startled about the new feeling. I did the same thing as before. I walked him down the road and through the fields to get him used to it

For a reward, I gave him some wheat grains to eat, and he seemed to love it. There’s nothing like a little bit of positive reinforcement to help get him used to this. I put the cart on the sled. This time he wasn’t startled, but I still run him down the same training as before.

This time we didn’t go away from the fields, but we went to the furthest field, and I started to collect rocks. The only problem that would be serious is if the cart can not handle the weight or that the bull couldn't handle the weight.

I try to monitor how much weight can the bull easily pull. When I noticed it becoming harder for him to pull, we went and off load the rocks. During that time, I also tried to feel if he was using his stats to boost himself.

It was difficult and took some time, but I think he did a bit. It was automatic and not directed like I currently try to do. Whenever we were pulling back a large load and he actually needed to put more strength into it. While walking beside him, I’ll hold on to him and try to help his energy move better than just it moving around by itself.

We only did a few loads, maybe a bit more than one acre. But the time moved on relentlessly and it was already late. I gave some more grains when I led the bull back to the pasture. It's lovely to see him so happy. I think he was missing some physical action. Spending all your days lazing in the pasture with only three cows, I could see how that can be boring. During the day, I got my new skills to level 3

The next day, started off like usual. One of the rabbit traps was sprung and I could see some fur on the rope, but it seems like it was its lucky day and it got away. I reset it and when back on the farm, I went to get the bull ready for another day of work.

When I noticed him, he looked quite excited, like every morning when I milk the cows, but a lot more now because he saw the harness in my hand. This time the problem was he was a bit too eager, and I had to calm him down and hold him back, so he didn’t run out. After a bit, he did calm down somewhat.

The rest of the day went well. The cart was holding up excellently, and the bull was getting more and more used to this kind of work. I think it also helped that I tried to guide his energy a bit more.

I’m pretty sure it helped with his stamina at the minimum. But I still try to keep the load pretty normal, I never went over half full cart. It’s hard to tell how much weight there was, but I think it was about 300 to 400 kilos. Today I was able to finish four more acres that left me with 7 to go. At the end, I checked out my notifications.

Skill increases basic animal handling level 6

Skill increases basic animal training level 6

Level up animal husbandry

Animal husbandry now level 2

Strength +1

Dexterity +1

Vitality +1

Empathy +1

New trait gained

vitality reaches 20 new trait gained stronger organs

strength reaches 20 new trait gained stronger muscle fibers

The next day I started out with checking the charcoal piles. They should be done by now, luckily all three turned out fine. Now I have a lot of charcoal. After watering, to make sure it will not set fire to the woodshed. I started transporting it to the woodshed with the backpack I made for this purpose. During my chores while milking the cows, I got a skill notification about a skill I had forgotten I had.

Skill increases basic animal product harvesting level 2

When I got back from the forest, I went to get the bull, who was waiting excitedly for another day of work. Making our way more towards the farm side of the fields, there were fewer rocks, and I was able to clear five acres even though I spent some of my time dealing with the charcoal this day. This got me to level 7 in both of my new skills.

The next day, one of the deer traps was sprung, but no luck this time either. Back in the fields, we were in position, and I was about to start collecting rocks when I started to hear some cluck sounds that reminded me of chickens. When I investigated it, I found that on the edge of the field were two chicken like birds.

They were extremely chicken like. Only difference was that they were bigger, a little less than double the size. At first, I was quite happy, until I noticed what they were doing. They were searching for food in the field, the field that I was going to cover with seeds in the near future.

It wasn’t a problem immediately, so I decided to finish up the field and think about the problem at the same time. My best solution would be to make a bow and hunt them, but that would only work if there was few of them. If there was a huge flock, I was fucked.

I couldn’t remember having any problems like this one before in this world. I also thought I could maybe catch them and if they lay eggs, it would be an excellent food source. The taste of cooked eggs is lovely. Eggs can also be useful for all kinds of cooking, not to mention the meat that could be gotten from hatching new ones.

When I finished up rock collecting on all fields, it was early evening. While taking the bull back, I could see he was not happy that the work ended so fast.

This problem I can’t solve I tried explaining that there wasn’t going to always be work, but not to worry because he was going to get to do a bit different work tomorrow.

It was still light out and quite some time until night, so I decided to modify the harrow a bit so the bull can pull it and make a bow just in case I decide I have to hunt down the chickens.

Will this bow last for long? No. But will it get the job done? Most definitely. Cutting out the correct length from my selected bow wood. I also noticed that I will need to build an elevated space with a roof over it to properly dry the logs.

When I need to build actual buildings, I'll want them to last for a long time. The bridge should be fine because it's constantly in an extremely wet area, but for a building if you heat it from the inside and the wood is still wet, it can lead to large cracks or even warping of the entire wall.

My bow was not even half done, but I already got a new skill, basic bow making. That was quite fast, but I believe it’s because I’m so practiced at it. I didn’t have any fancy tools, I just used my lifetime of knowledge and a knife.

That’s all you need to make a usable bow out of anything. I laughed a bit too hard and long after that thought. It was quite fun to make a bow again and when I was finally finished, I got two more skill levels in basic bow making.

Next morning, I made the bowstring out of sinew I had harvested. That got me a level in bow making and weaving. Then I finished my chores, I decided not to start harrowing right away.

Instead, I decided to make 20 arrows. I did want to make steel arrowhead, but stone was my current best and, thanks to piercing cut ability, it was easy. Sadly, most stone tips would only work for one time, and then I need to remake them. The problem with finishing the arrows was fletching. I didn’t have any feathers.

I tried to remember a video I watched on how to make cloth fletching. It was annoying work, and they needed to use some modern compounds to accomplish it. Basically, soaking the cloth in glue like substance and pressed it into a shape that will be strong enough to be used as fletching.

I went and collected some birch bark to make the oldest known glue like substance. I had to make a stone structure because I wasn’t able to find a better vessel. Birch bark needs to be heated in an oxygen deprived container. Digging a funnel like structure then lining it with cut stones. I packed as much bark in as I could.

Then I found a big stone I can make into a lid. When in place, I carefully removed dirt, exposing the stone funnel structure. I removed as much as I could before it compromised the structure. Finally, I was able to build a fire all around it. It took about an hour for the fire to burn up and for me to get a hand full of birch glue.

Luckily after that it was an easy job to finish one arrow and get a new skill, basic fletching. I didn’t want to waste more glue on fletching than I had to. So, only one arrow it is. The rest of the glue can be used to attach the feathers I am going to get, but I usually like to attach my fletching with string.

In my mind, there was a complete certainty the one shot was all I need. I went back to the fields where I noticed that there were now 7 chickens and that was a worrying sight.

If a lot more showed up, I would spend most of my time hunting them. I was able to get quite close. Apparently, they were used to human appearance, or they didn’t think I was any threat to them from this distance.

I kept getting closer and closer until I noticed them getting nervous and start moving away as I got closer. When this happened, I waited there until they get to little bit more used to me.

It took quite some time before I felt that they wouldn’t run as soon as I did something. Preparing myself, I concentrated on that one shot. How I will have to move and how the arrow will fly.

I quickly pulled the bow, releasing the arrow in a quick and smooth motion. They were a bit startled by my fast movement, but they had let their guard down too much.

When they started running, my arrow was almost at its target. I hit centre mass a bit left to where I wanted it to go, but good enough for a quick kill. Even then, it was still able to run a bit before it fell and died.

You have gained a new skill basic archery level 1

The other ones were gone. I was amazed how fast they can run. When I got to the downed bird, I did a bit more of an examination. It did look almost identical to a chicken but a lot bigger, about twice the size, but the wings were smaller. Those are the only differences I can find.

Bringing it back, I quickly boiled water, so removing the feathers would be easier. I got quite a lot of them and from the meat, I made a roast. I quickly finished up the arrows, now with proper feathers. In the end, I had 20 of them. Now morning was over, and it was more towards noon. But there was still quite a lot of daylight left and I decided to still try harrowing today.

The bull was a bit confused about the different equipment today. How to pull it was a bit different, but he quickly got used to it. Thanks to the rocks being removed, harrowing was actually quite easy and by the end of the day, we actually got done with 1/3 of the field. This got me many new skill levels.

Skill increases basic animal handling level 8

Skill increases basic animal training level 8

Skill increases basic animal care level 7

Skill increases basic farmer level 8

The animal care one surprised me, but I guess I have taken good care of him. After inspecting our work, I concluded that it would be best to let the fields settle for a few days, then harrow it again. Weeds had too much time to grow, so I need to do some extra work. Then I can start sowing it.

It was still quite a bad harrow, at least by modern standards. With a modern one, I would not have to do it twice. The next problem would come by plowing the potato field and making the vegetable field.

Thinking about the problems a bit before going to bed, I still hadn’t thought of a good solution for the plow problem. Vegetable field will just take some work. I will just use the same design I used on earth.

Next day after my chores, I check the fields for chickens. There were only 6 of them, a good sign that there weren’t hundreds of them. I then started to harrow again. By the end of the day, all the fields were done.

But before I could bring the bull back, we heard a big animal growl. The second growl helped me pinpoint its location. It's towards the forest. I still had my sword strapped to my waist, but whatever made that noise, I was certain it was quite useless against.

Luckily, I had pulled up the bridge, but I still unhooked the bull and quickly brought it back to the barn, where the cows were waiting and nervously looking around. I run to the house to get my bow, arrows and a spear. When I made it to the bridge, I still didn’t see anything, and the light was fading fast.

I decided to climb the tower. At the top, I could see a bear and two cubs walking. But quite far away, almost at the edge of my sight. They were walking upriver towards the village. I could not see why it was angry, but I saw them moving quite fast away from here, which I was quite glad about.

This did help me note that I was a bit unprepared. I left the bow and arrows in the tower, but not at the top. Just in case I would need to shoot something, and I didn’t have time to climb.

I also left one of the spears there. This also helped remind me that around me was still wilderness. In wilderness you're supposed to be on alert all the time, which I have been, but unlike the now dead chicken, maybe I should be a bit more vigilant about it.

The next day, after my chores where I only needed to reset one trap, I went and checked how many chickens there were and still 6. Today I will let the weeds dry or recover, then tomorrow harrow them again.

I decided to make it an easy day. I went swimming and spent the rest of the time making arrows. It's one of my favourite relaxing activities, especially when done during a sunny and nice day. I finished 56 arrows and got basic fletching to level 4