How do you craft a windmill for farming near your shelter?

Crafting a windmill in Valheim is an essential step for efficient farming near your shelter, especially for processing barley and flour. To begin, you must first unlock the windmill recipe by obtaining barley, which is found in the Plains biome. Barley can only be harvested from Fuling villages or farm plots in the Plains, so prepare for a dangerous expedition. Once you have barley, the windmill recipe will unlock, requiring specific materials and a workbench nearby.\n\nTo craft a windmill, you will need 20 wood, 30 stone, and 30 iron nails. Wood and stone are common resources found in most biomes, but iron nails require smelting scrap iron in a forge. Scrap iron is obtained from muddy scrap piles in the Swamp biome, so ensure you have a pickaxe and are prepared to face enemies like draugr and leeches. Smelt the scrap iron into iron bars at a smelter, then craft iron nails at a forge.\n\nOnce you have the materials, place the windmill in an open area near your shelter. Windmills require wind to function, so avoid placing them in enclosed spaces or under roofs. The Plains biome is ideal for windmills due to its flat terrain and consistent wind. Use the hammer to select the windmill from the crafting menu and place it on the ground. Ensure the area is clear of obstacles to maximize efficiency.\n\nAfter placing the windmill, interact with it to add barley. Each barley yields two flour, which is essential for crafting advanced foods like bread and lox meat pie. The windmill operates automatically when there is sufficient wind, so you don’t need to manually activate it. However, keep an eye on the wind direction and speed, as these factors affect the windmill’s performance.\n\nA common challenge is protecting your windmill from enemy raids. Fulings and deathsquitos in the Plains can destroy your windmill if left unattended. To mitigate this, build a protective wall or stakewall around your windmill and shelter. Additionally, consider placing workbenches or other player-made structures nearby to prevent enemy spawns in the area.\n\nFor new players, it’s important to progress through the game’s biomes in order. Focus on gathering resources from the Meadows and Black Forest before venturing into the Swamp for iron. Once you have a strong set of armor and weapons, you can safely explore the Plains for barley. Experienced Vikings can optimize their windmill placement by creating dedicated farming areas with multiple windmills and storage chests for barley and flour.\n\nIn summary, crafting a windmill requires preparation, resource gathering, and strategic placement. By following these steps and protecting your windmill from threats, you can efficiently process barley into flour and enhance your farming capabilities in Valheim.