THE NEW VIKING
PRESENTS
the ART OF THE FARM
SEPTEMBER 15 - 22, 2024
HAMAR & THE GUDBRANDSDAL VALLEY, Norway
Harvest, creativity and deep relaxation in the fertile hills and valleys of hamar, LØTEn and gudbrandsdal - in collaboration with artist Trude Semb
Just launched - The New Viking takes to the hills and valleys in Eastern central Norway for a dynamic and curated week of harvesting and creativity. The Hamar region, nicknamed the “Tuscany of Norway” is home to Norway’s biggest lake the Mjøsa, some of the country’s best organic farms and Munch’s childhood home and birthplace at Ådalsbruk. Hamar is also a starting point for visiting the Gudbrandsdal valley - known as the “King of valleys” in Norway. Gudbrand is old Norse for “Gud - God” and “brand - sword” and home to many historic sites dating back to the Middle Ages.
THE ART OF THE FARM
SEPTEMBER 15 - 22, 2024
Experience Norway off the beaten track visiting authentic and historic farms for the beginning of the harvest season with host and expedition leader Ragnhild G. Isdahl. Learn about art and participate in art workshops with your co-host - Norwegian painter and sculptor Trude Semb. And relax with various yoga classes, nature walks and daily meditation and yoga nidra sessions.
This retreat begins with five nights and four full days on restored historic farm properties in Hamar. Each day you will experience something new, from harvesting and biodynamic farming and herbal tinctures to art classes and visits to natural and historic sites. You will enjoy healthy and delicious farm-to-table cooking and chef-created dinners with locally sourced ingredients.
ITINERARY
THIS SPECIAL ITINERARY AND INTIMATE GROUP SETTING IS DESIGNED TO GIVE YOU AN AUTHENTIC FARM EXPERIENCE AND DEEP HEALING AND REVITALIZATION ON MULTIPLE LEVELS, EMBARK ON AN INNER JOURNEY THROUGH MEDITATION, YOGA and exploration of your creativity through art and nature.
THE ART OF THE FARM
THE ART OF THE FARM
Part 1: HAMAR, MJØSA & LØTEN
September 15th - 19th
The trip will begin in Hamar, on the banks of lake Mjøsa, about one hour north of Oslo airport (OSL) by train. Here you will stay at one of two historically renovated farm estates, conveniently located close to the lake and the peaceful charming town of Hamar. Each morning we will start the day at the pittoresque 18th century farm of artist and co-host Trude Semb, for meditation, art and lunch. In the afternoons we will enjoy different activities, excursions and yoga. You will be able to stroll or bike around the lake Mjøsa. Each evening we will enjoy curated farm-to-table meals at different venues to taste the best of the harvest season.
Hamar is known for its fertile farmland and biodynamic, organic agriculture, Tuscan-like hillscapes and bountiful artisanal food scene. Edvard Munch, arguably the most famous Norwegian painter, was born and spent his childhood on the farm “Ådalsbruk” adjacent to Trude Semb’s magical property.
THE FARMS - SVEEN AND FJETRE GÅRD AND MORE
We will be staying in several historic farm villas, built in the 1800’s. Today these farms have been converted into private villas for people to experience the authentic life of this beautiful pristine farmland surrounded by the lake and forests. Harvest time is one of the best times to visit this region, and enjoy the bounty, from vegetables and berries, to organic prize-winning chicken, wild venison and local grains, cheeses and bread. We will also visit several of the nearby active farms and learn about the region and harvest season.
Part 2: GUDBRANDSDALEN TOUR/TRAVEL DAYS
September 20-21
TRAVEL DAY: September 20th am
We will travel together from Hamar up the Gudbrandsdal valley to a unique location and vista whilst enjoying some sightseeing along the way. After a short hike and vistas we will continue on to our hotel for dinner and rest in a cozy inn before continuing our journey the following morning.
TRAVEL DAY: September 21st am
We will visit one of the most famous Stave churches in Norway, in Ringebu, said to be Norway’s smallest village - just north of Lillehammer in the Gudbrand valley. This is one of the 28 Stave churches left standing in Norway from medieval times and is especially well preserved with magnificent wood carvings and rich traditional colors and decor. Stave churches are made entirely of wood and at one time there were over 1000 of them in Norway.
After lunch we will continue to our final destination in another historically renovated farm villa approximately 25 minutes from the Oslo airport. This property was recently transformed into a small hotel for private groups. The former owner was himself a well known Norwegian artist and some of his works are still showcased on the property. We will enjoy a banquet and a closing ceremony to celebrate the end of this week-long retreat.
Departures
September 22nd am
The last morning of September 22nd you may depart directly for Gardermoen/ Oslo airport by taxi or shuttle, or spend the morning in the beautiful natural surroundings of the Villa. Those wishing to extend their stay in Norway can depart by train, plane or private car (details upon request).
LEARNING/HEALING MODALITIES
Participate in art workshops
Learn about biodynamic farming
Learn about local food, plants and herbs
Lake swimming, biking and kayaking available
Gourmet farm to table meals
Harvesting and Harvest festival
Meditation and Yoga Nidra
Nature walks
Yoga
PROGRAM
Trude is a visual artist with an emphasis on painting, drawing and sculpture and has held many workshops and courses over the years. In 2021, following the passing of her husband, she made a big decision and chose to sell her home in Oslo where she had lived her whole life and moved to a lovely 18th century farm close to the towns of Løten and Hamar.. Her dream of many years suddenly became a reality. She is currently creating a cultural center with a focus on art, culture, healthy living and home-grown food. Trude’s move was also enhanced by the fact that Edward Munch himself was born on Engelaug farm a stone's throw away from her farm. There the great artist was inspired by the forests, the open countryside and the bountiful fields to which he constantly returned in his artistry. The farmer, the soil and all life in nature.
Trude is a nature lover herself and in her new life she has both the space and peace to create art and share this joy with others. Bjørke Østre is at the heart of biodynamic farms in Norway and Trude is passionate about clean, healthy and nutritious food, her aim is to preserve and promote the rich authentic local culture and heritage of both farming and of course art.
Trude is an inspiring communicator and loves to teach and share her knowledge. Trude is currently also co-producing a documentary film about her late husband Paolo Vinaccia, an internationally recognized jazz musician.
art with TRUDE SEMB
MEDITATION, YOGA NIDRA AND NORDIC highlights WITH Ragnhild G. ISDAHL
With over 22 years of experience in various yoga and meditation forms, Ragnhild became a certified meditation teacher in 2020, learning from Michael Stasko and others. She now conducts online meditations to help individuals cope with fear and uncertainty.
Ragnhild is naturally inclined towards guiding meditations, taking people on inner journeys she has crafted to manage stress and tap into inner wisdom, calmness, and creativity. Intrigued by the inner workings of the mind and our ability to harness its power, she followed the teachings of Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, and Joe Dispenza, participating in a transformative retreat with them in New Mexico. Recently, she enhanced her expertise with a Yoga Nidra teacher certification under Rachel Brownbridge and Claudia Menger. In 2023, Ragnhild commenced guiding people on retreats, blending inner and outer explorations.
Throughout this retreat, she will lead guided meditations, yoga nidras, creativity sessions, and Nordic wellness rituals, orchestrating meetings with healers, teachers, and experts to enrich the expedition experience.
BIODYNAMIC FARMING AND HARVEST season in hamar
What is biodynamic farming?
Biological-dynamic agriculture has been pioneering in the development of organic farming. It is a form of agriculture that is circular and based on local, renewable resources and an alternative to intensive mono-culture farming. For instance, where it includes livestock, a farm aims to be self-sufficient in both forage, concentrate and fertiliser, and since each plot of land has unique characteristics and suitability for growing specific crops based on the site's natural topography, soil and climate, the plant varieties, animal breeds and crop rotation are adapted to the site's ecosystem and individuality. Rudolf Steiner was a proponent of this method and warned against the consequences of agriculture that did not work hand in hand with nature.
In biodynamic agriculture, the farmer strives to understand nature's life rhythms and processes in order to improve and strengthen the soil quality. The biodynamic farmer takes into account the phases of the moon and the positions of the planets when sowing and harvesting as well as using spray and compost solutions that work with to boost the soil, plants and compost naturally. The preparations are made from minerals (silica), fertilizers (cow manure), well-known health plants (yarrow, chamomile, nettle, oak bark, dandelion, fennel root) and organs from domestic animals (horns, bladder, intestine).
The method has been practiced in Norway since 1931 when Nordre Sletner farm converted to biological-dynamic farming. There were 22 certified biodynamic farms in Norway in 2020 and this form of farming is practiced in around 50 countries.
The biodynamic idea also fosters collaboration between producers, trading partners and consumers through cooperative agriculture.
Demeter certification is stricter that conventional organic farming and can only take place after at least three years of operation according to biodynamic principles. The label is in addition to the organic label.
Mid September is at the peak of harvest season in this region, and we will also have a guest speaker visit from the Biodynamic association.
Hamar is located at the heart of this biodynamic community, and some of Norway’s leading farms are neighboring farms. Trude is currently building and cultivating an up-cycled greenhouse where she grows various garden vegetables and lettuces with the help of local farmer and herbalist, Espen Nordbekk. Espen is a firm believer that the best remedies come from nature, and will be teaching a class where you will be able to mix your own herbal tincture under his guidance. Espen is also a massage therapist and yoga teacher, teaching various forms of holistic and restorative practices to keep the body healthy within and without.
kitchen gardens And herbal remedies - healing from within
LØTen - birthplace of the legendary edvard munch
Edvard Munch, Norway’s most celebrated international artist, was born and raised next door to Trude’s farm. At the nearby Munch Center Klevfos we will be able to see an exhibition on the young Edvard Munch, his early artistic efforts, and the visits he made to this region once the family moved to Oslo. Munch always remained very attached to his childhood roots, and his famous painting Alma Mater, was inspired by early drawings of his first nanny in Løten (extract pictured here on left).
2024 is the 160th anniversary of Munch’s birth at Ådalsbruk in Løten.
IN THIS WEEK LONG RETREAT, YOU WILL:
Learn about painting, creativity, art history, and in particular, Edward Munch
Experience deep healing and connection through various group healing sessions, using NATURE, FOOD and ART as vectors for accessing higher awareness
Learn about biodynamic farming and distilling herbs
Learn about food and botanicals and the capacity we have to heal and transform our own bodies with the power of our minds, using many different techniques from grounding and cold water to sun gazing and meditation
Experience guided meditation, Yoga Nidra and personalized self-healing techniques
Experience the authentic nordic lifestyle through a deep connection to nature, the elements, tradition and food
Rest, relax and rejuvenate in a pristine natural setting
Enjoy the high vibration environment of a like-minded community
Highlights
Talks on art and creativity
Healing through nature and food
Sightseeing natural and historic sights
Farm to table nordic cuisine
Meeting local experts on farming, herbs and more
Unique hikes and excursions
Swimming in a waterfall
Firepit ceremony
ACCOMMODATION
Exclusive private farm estates and carefully restored historic properties.
All accommodation on our trips are unique, exclusive and family-owned boutique properties, on this trip in particular we will be staying at small and for the most part private villa farm hotels.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS, TRUDE & RAGNHILD
TRUDE SEMB
Trude was born and raised in Oslo, Norway. From early on fascinated by the visual arts and creative expression, Trude was always an independent pioneering spirit. Although she has mostly worked with painting and drawing, recently she has experimented with large wood carvings and sculptures, inspired by her natural surroundings. In Oslo she associated with a Danish gallery since 2003. She has had several solo exhibitions and participated in art fairs internationally. Her art belongs to the expressionist tradition and she was apprenticed to Rados Dedic from Monte Negro, who was of great importance in her development as a painter. Her works are strongly dramatic in both color and form and she is inspired by the inner human landscape and emotion.
RAGNHILD G. ISDAHL
Born in Norway but raised across the US, England, France, and Norway, Ragnhild embodies a modern-day Viking with a deep connection to her adventurous ancestry. Her DNA compels her to explore new horizons, mirroring the sagas of her forebears. Formerly an international luxury brand specialist and product developer, Ragnhild, rooted in her Nordic heritage, is passionately drawn to nature, holistic health, wellness, and the metaphysical.
In 2001, a transformative trip to India ignited Ragnhild's exploration of yoga and meditation, expanding her understanding of the human body, mind, and soul.
A lifelong interest in the power of creativity and the mind's potential has driven Ragnhild to integrate insights from both the left and right brain, generating fresh ideas. Since an early age and growing up far from her native homeland, she has been intrigued by her Viking heritage, bestowed with an ancestral name meaning "battle advisor."
Originally conceived as a TV concept, "The New Viking" has evolved into a vessel for guiding people on their personal journeys - exploring new horizons and facilitating new connections, insights and inspiration.
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GETTING TO/FROM NORWAY
ARRIVAL (TO OSLO) - BY SUNDAY 15TH EARLY AFTERNOON
Travel and transfers to and from Hamar are not included. Retreat begins in Hamar, a small town a little over an hour north of Oslo airport. Trains depart regularly (these are local trains NOT the airport express train, inquire at airport to purchase tickets. We will make sure you get to your accommodation from the Hamar station.
DEPARTURE FROM OSLO AIRPORT - SUNDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER ANYTIME
Our last evening will be at a small inn located approximately 25 minutes from the airport by car or taxi, this can be arranged individually according to your departure time. For those who would like to continue their trip in Norway, we can help guide you to your next destination.
AIRLINES:
Many major airlines fly to Norway, NORSE ATLANTIC, SAS, UNITED, NORWEGIAN, BRITISH AIRWAYS, LUFTHANSA AND KLM depending of your city of origin. Contact our expert travel agent HOUSE OF TRAVEL doris@houseoftravel.net for help with air travel, specify that you are with The New Viking.
Contact The New Viking here for more info and advice on travel to and from Norway or tips to continue your journey in Norway.
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What to bring
WEATHER AND PACKING
Fall can be unpredictable, check weather forecast before departure. But generally the weather in this region is sunny and fair in the fall and cool evenings. It is advisable to bring: waterproof footwear for hiking and farm activities, sneakers, comfortable walking shoes, sweaters, rain/ wind jacket, Bathing suit. Some casual elegant clothes for 2-3 evenings but nothing formal necessary.
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what's included
7 nights Accommodation in beautiful historic farm and small boutique properties. High standard and beautiful, however some of these authentic experiences may not include separate bathrooms for all. Contact us if you have special requests.
Private bus / train transfer from Hamar to last leg of sightseeing and visit of unique historical site - Stave church built in 12th century Exclusive dinner and event in Gudbrandsdalen
All breakfasts and dinners included. Dinners include farm to table private chefs and exclusive destinations restaurants. (Drinks are not included).
Most lunches will be provided unless otherwise specified (for example if afternoon is free, we will let you know) All group yoga, meditation and yoga nidra sessions with Ragnhild, art talks and healing creatively through art with Trude included. All workshops and excursions included. All transport included except airpor transfers.
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Price & registration
$4330
The retreat payment link will be sent once you have been in contact with us. Click tre link below to register your interest.
PLEASE NOTE
As we have access to highly sought after boutique properties that are small businesses and family owned, and Norway is at peak tourist season in June, we need to secure our space by confirming the number of participants as soon as possible and are not able to refund once the retreat is booked and paid for. See terms and conditions for details.
