Garðyrkja

Garðyrkja means "gardening" in the Froyalanish and Wintergleamish languages. Gardening is since times ancient beyond the memory of woman a sacred craft and is one of the arts mentioned in Poetry of Passion, the classical Valtian book on the Art of Love. It is suggested that men and women alike should be well versed in these arts.

Idunn and Gardening

Although other Vanic Goddesses are known to plant as well, the Lady Idunn is associated most with gardening by the Vanakvinner of old and new and in Froyalan the Apple Lady is considered the matron of all gardeners. Barefoot the Lady Idunn day-in-day-out walks the soft grass of Her mysterious secret orchard contemplating the gorgeous sights and the stunning array of fragrance, listening to the sounds, and happily tending to the sacred fruit, Her golden apples of eternal youth, which the Lady Keeper of the Golden Apples bestows upon those in Her care and the most worthy of Vanakvinner.

Vanakvinner and Gardening

According to sagas recorded in ancient Valtian history books like She Who Renews, Annals of the Apple Maiden, and Questions, the Lady Idunn introduced the Vanakvinner of yore to the art of gardening as a way to empower these ladies teaching them how to create gardens for the cultivation of vegetables, flowers, fruits as well as cooking, garnishing, magical, and medicinal herbs. The Apple Lady also taught the Vanakvinner of yore how to use their gardens as a source of strength, renewal, contemplation, relaxation, appreciation of nature, peace, spirituality and joyfulness.

Days of Valtia

In Valtia gardening was appreciated as an important source of vegetables, flowers, fruits and medicines, and skilful gardeners were held in high regard. Valtians also employed their gardens as places of worship, relaxation and pleasure, and they created gardens with a wide variety of flowers and adorned them with statues, fountains, ponds, mosaics and sculptures. In Froyalan is gardening still very popular as a passtime. Gardens also play a role in worship, recreation, and many a ceremony of life such as coronations, investitures, graduations, weddings and baby-welcomings.

Daughters of Idunn and Gardening

Throughout time the Daughters of Idunn have practiced gardening to hone their magical skills since the art allows one to center, raise awareness, focus one's intent, and transcend one's individual senses. Feeling the Lady Idunn's power stir inside their bodies when they tend to their gardens, Godsgroves, orchards, and vineyards, to the Daughters of Idunn gardening is a magical way to invoke and express their sense of oneness with the Apple Lady and their reverence for this relationship. It is therefore not a surprise that the sacred art of gardening is deeply permeated in the ways of the sisterhood. For example, several of the sisterhoods' ranks are derived from horticulture, and to be able to advance to the higher ranks of the sisterhood a Daughter of Idunn must, aside from possessing many other horticultural management and higher gardening skills, be capable of growing several Valtian herbs, fruits and vegetables.

Quote from the Lore

Skyclad on dewed grass in her secret orchard,

Shining like gold in the Sun's early glow,
Carries her cargo to halls of the mighty,
Feeds the fire-apples to ward off the snow.

Who gains from her gift? Just the Gods of the north lands?
Just those whom she chooses, or those in her care?
All gain when they touch those whose breath she rekindles -
The spouse and the patron their energy share.

Casket of apples - full of her magic,
Each apple holding the seed of its son,
Every seed holding a new tree within it,
Every tree bearing the fruit of Idunn.

- From: the Annals of the Apple Maiden