Bekkedal is the name of the farm where Nils Christopherson was born. The farm is about 3 km south of the village Feiring. From the south, it is 9 km north of Minnesund (1 hr north of Oslo) on Hwy 33 (see map). The farm itself adjoins Lake Mjøsa and is on the west side near the south end of the largest lake in Norway. The farm has been in the family since the 1600's when it was purchased from the king and is still in the family. Jon Skjøldt is the current owner and he has built a new large house close to the lake. Jon's mother Eva who is a direct descendent still lives on the farm in a house near the road. Close to her house is the house where Nils was born. Although it is in need of repairs and has not been lived in for several years, it was possible to tour the white well-contructed house. It was possible to see the wooden nails in the floor of the upstairs in that house.

The original Bekkedal farm has been divided into three units. Jon owns about half of the original farm and the other two parcels have been sold to individuals who are not related to the family. The part which Jon owns includes about 30 acres of farmable land in three separate fields. It is quite hilly as it slopes sharply down to the shore of the lake. There are no boundaries between the land Jon has and that owned by others. Since the same tenant farms all the land, they get paid according to the acres they own on a cash rent basis. There is also a considerable acreage of woodland on the Bekkedal farm. The woods are mostly on the west side of the road further from the lake and go to the top of the hill. Jon keeps a tractor in the woods and harvests his heating wood from this source. He also has supplemental electric heating in his house. Jon indicated that every few years they remark the boundaries of the land on younger trees using previous marks on old trees.

Jon indicated that in the past farms were passed to the oldest son, but since 1960 legislation now states the oldest child receives the farm regardless of gender. I have been told that the government of Norway controls the price of land and keeps it relatively cheap. This allows family members to buy it and also helps farmers to make a profit from the land. The family members who buy it must also pay the government price. Until recently, all property values were controlled by the government because all loans were from them.