Finland
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Our place is a former school, built in 1955, sitting in 2 ha of forest land on the banks of Lake Puula. The school was closed in 2000 and now is run as a B&B by Liisa and John, both retired. Liisa has an interest in antiques, picking berries and mushrooms and writing childrens stories. John has been involved in the Finnish music life and now carries out research into Russian music and culture. The local commune of Kangasniemi having a population of around 6000 is about 8 km distance. In the summer time the population doubles due to the number of people having their summer cottages in this Finnish lakeland region. Our place is also a centre for the local village of Laitiala, which holds a keep fit class, a parish-led monthly meeting for the elderly and various regular seasonal events.
Gardening
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Anyone stopping here would learn and experience picking and using Finnish berries and mushrooms, learn about maintenance of the surrounding grounds, experience running a B&B. Additionally they would be able to connect with both Liisa and John's specific interests.
WE would welcome assistance in the general running of the B&B including cleaning, maintenance work, clearing of undergrowth in the forest area, chopping wood, cutting the grass and maintaining the gardens and kitchen garden.
English: Fluent
Finnish: Fluent
Attached to the school is an accommodation block - the flats of the former teachers. The traveller(s) would be given their own room. There are ample washing facilities throughout the building including a sauna. In the summer time there is, in addition, a hot shower by the lake.
We would normally only accept one traveller or a couple.
In the winter time it is possible to ski and skate. In the summer time in addition to swimming and hiking, the centre hosts a number of music festivals. The cities of Mikkeli and Jyväskylä also have their own events throughout the year and have various museums. There is a regular bus service to both of these, which takes about 1 hr. We also have a couple of bikes, which can be used.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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