Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
9 Apr 2024
Reply rate
91.7 %
Usually responds within 14 days
Feedback
4
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Badges (2)
Details
Description
Moi,
we are Miia and Pipsa. We live in a beautiful natural area, on the shore of the lake Ajakka, close to Ruka (popular winter ski destination) and two national parks. About eigth years ago Miia started her dream of renovating an old school where she offers accommodation for tourists. Miia is a professional chef, wilderness guide and hunter, just like her mother as well. Pipsa is also a restaurant manager.
We have a small farm with sheeps, goats, chickens, reindeers and rabbits. We also have two hunting dogs, Urpo and Sampo and two cat´s, Pikkunen - tiny mother cat and her lazy daughter Toffee. We also offer guided tours to customers to nature and serve local food in our restaurant. We live in a secluded place. The closest village is about 20 minutes by car, so we try to leave a sustainable life, eating what the surrounding forests and lakes can offer to us. We love fishing, picking plants we grow ourself, berries and mushrooms from the forest. Winter time we go often ice-fishing - with customers and together with family. We keep all the time nets under the ice to get fresh fish to dinner table.
We have WILDFOOD- Certification.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Staying with us you will learn about the sustainable way of life in northern Finland. We will eat our meal together and you will taste the flavors of Finnish local food like game meat, fresh fish from the lake, berries and mushrooms from the forest. Sauna is an essential part of Finnish culture. We have a over hundred years old sauna by the lake. Miia is a wilderness guide and knows the area very well, she knows about the history of the area since the first settlers who lived in the area. She can give advice for best hiking routes around. Fex. Oulanka National Park is only 7 km away from the property, while Riisitunturi National Park about 30 km. In their free time traveller´s can borrow canoe, kayak and rowing boat, in summer time, and explore the surrounding area. In winter time you can go Ice-Fishing or try Snow-Shoeing in a lake and forest. Or make some snowmen! Even there can be 1 meter snow, you can also go hiking in national park - there is very famous 12 km long "Small Bear Round" you can go in winter.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
In spring and summer, we need more caretakers to chew and feed the animals. We would like someone to help us to feed animals everyday, keep clean the animal areas and small maintenance help. In the inn built into an old school building, there is always something to be repaired. For someone with a knack for renovations, there is probably something to fix in real estate in addition to taking care of animals. Our food philosophy is to grow as much root vegetables and herbs as possible during the summer and collect berries and natural herbs from nature. Gardens need care and maintenance, and you can use the gardener's skills with us. In the pure nature of the north, you can find a lot of wonderful berries and herbs in the summer, which we collect together for the winter.
Our summer is short - and busy but winter is our main season.
In the winter, we do different things in the yard - we clear the yard of snow - we take firewood to the boiler room - we heat the boiler stove - sauna - and Hot Tub and go Ice Fishing and we check the nets under the ice - is there any fish!
In the winter time we go Ice Fishing with customers - and with family too - and we keep nets under the ice all the time to get fresh fish to dinner table! In winter the big part of tasks is to shovel the snow, keep yard and animal shelters clean, take care of heating - we have a wood heating and make some lunch/dinner for volunteers and family.
Also volunteers keep clean the accommodation you stay and common spaces we use - toilets, lobbies and sauna.
We go to the center about once in week to buy groceries - and food for animals too.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Finnish: Fluent
Accommodation
In spring, summer and autumn travelers can stay in log cabins. We have two log cabins. One close to the lake with a bunk bed, that can host two people or a couple. A second smaller cabin, closer to the main building, can host one person or one couple as well. Both cabins have small kitchen with a stove, microwave, water boiler , coffee maker and refrigerator. There is no running water for washing dishes but canisters that need to be refilled. Both cabins have outdoor dry toilet. (In the gym building is indoor toilet) Volunteers can use the shower in the main building or choose to shower in the sauna, like real Finnish people. In late autumn and in winter travelers stay in the gym - in a cozy large space with cooking facilities and plenty of space to hang out - and a indoor toilet!
We offer one warm meal every day together with family and daily morning coffee/tea is also part of the normal start of the day. We make daily meal together - and clean the mess together.
We have barbecue space at the Laavu and a traditional Kota, both by the lake. People with caravans or tent are also welcome!
What else ...
Our property is not very well connected by public transport. You can fly from Helsinki to Kuusamo, and from Kuusamo travel to Ruka by bus. We will come and pick you from Kuusamo or Ruka. A second option to reach Kuusamo is to travel by train from Helsinki to Oulu and then take a bus from Oulu to Kuusamo. The journey is quite long. We can help you booking train and bus tickets if needed.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (3)
Even during the help there was a lot of joking so that the time between… read more
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Communication:
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Even during the help there was a lot of joking so that the time between… read more
