sætered

Sætered is a term that refers to a type of seasonal farm or settlement, historically found in Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway and Sweden. These settlements were typically located in higher altitudes or more remote areas, often in mountain pastures or along coastlines, and were utilized during the summer months. The primary purpose of a sætered was to provide fresh grazing land for livestock, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, during the warmer season when the lower-lying farmland was either being used for crops or was not yet fully productive.

Livestock would be moved to the sætered in the spring and brought back down to the main farm in the autumn. At the sætered, dairy production was a crucial activity. Women, often referred to as "seterkoner" or "fjoskoner," would live at the sætered and manage the animals, milking them and processing the milk into butter, cheese, and other dairy products. These products were then often preserved and brought back to the main farm to supplement the winter food supply. The sætered system was an integral part of the agricultural economy in many Scandinavian regions for centuries, allowing for the efficient use of available land and resources. While the practice has declined significantly with modern agricultural methods, some sætered sites are preserved as historical landmarks or are still used in a limited capacity for traditional farming practices and tourism.