Wells are important features of every homestead yard. When a new dwelling place was established, it was  necessary to determine whether a well could be dug there—unless there happened to be a good natural  spring nearby. This required understanding how water moves through different soil layers. Groundwater can be found in moraine and gravel layers on slopes and low-lying areas. 

A typical well is about 5–6 meters deep. In old times, wells were made by digging a large pit with shovels.  Stones were then placed in layers around the pit in a circular pattern, after which the perimeter was supported  and filled so the stones wouldn’t move. The entire process was hard and required skill. Folk beliefs held that  the location of a well could be found, for example, by using a twig that bends in the hands. 

Many devices have been developed to make drawing water easier. The most traditional is the lever well (called “vinttikaivo”), where a long wooden beam allows a water bucket to be lifted relatively easily from the well.  Adding a counterweight to the beam helped with lifting. 

At the museum’s well site, there is no actual well because the bedrock lies very close to the surface in the  museum area.