Ever wonder why they call it Greenland? Today our guests on National Geographic Endurance got to find out, as they discovered the verdant bucolic slopes of Qassiarsuk. Originally founded by legendary Norseman, Erik the Red, as a farming settlement, the area is home to Viking Age ruins and a small, recreated, sod-roofed settlement overlooking a stunning view of the fjord. Although the Norse mysteriously abandoned Greenland around the year 1450, the farming tradition of these lush slopes was reinvigorated in 1924 by Otto Frederiksen. Today, the area celebrates a rich farming culture as livestock graze upon the abundant grassy hills.
For many years, no wool processing was available for Greenland’s sheep farmers. Wool had to be shipped to Denmark to be treated and made into yarn. As a result of the long and costly voyage, many Greenlanders ended up burning the wool harvested from their sheep. This caught the attention of the LEX Artisan Fund, which supplied local teacher and artisan, Ellen Frederiksen, with the equipment needed to process the wool right here in Qassiarsuk. With the new equipment, Ellen plans on offering workshops and training to local people to keep this economic and ancient tradition alive.
