Learn and experience picking and using Finnish berries in Kangasniemi, Finland

Finland

Favourited 189 times

Host rating
Feedback
12
Last activity
11/11/2020
Nº of Facebook friends
86
Reply rate
100.0 %
Average reply time:
within 3 days
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Availability

2020

Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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What's this?

Details

Description
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.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
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.
Help
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.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Finnish: Fluent
Accommodation
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.
What else ...
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.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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Feedback left by and about host (12)

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

11/11/2020

Left by Workawayer (Sanna & Charlie) for host

We stayed about 3 weeks with Liisa and John and the overall experience was superb! B&b was quite quiet due to covid situation, but there was lots of things to do in preparing the garden and yard for winter and cleaning and organizing inside the house. We also got a permission to take over kitchen, which was so much fun, since the kitchen is huge… read more

(Excellent )

10/11/2020

Left by host for Workawayer (Sanna & Charlie)

Sanna and Charlie were really the best one could expect from workaways. Having completed the tasks given they were always making suggestions about what they could do next. They were eager to learn new skills, which they would only find in the countryside and to learn about berry- and mushroom picking, rowing and fishing. A really inspiring… read more

(Excellent )

04/11/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Eliane)

Elaine was really one bundle of fun - there was never a dull moment!! She always arrived early for breakfast with a smile on her face and eager to get on doing things - whether indoors or in the forest there was never a problem. She was an avid berry and mushroom picker and always ready for the next task making jams, cooking or whatever. After so… read more

(Excellent )

27/10/2019

Left by Workawayer (Eliane) for host

Liisa and John are an exceptionally open-minded, well-educated, respectful and witty couple. They do care about the human and cultural aspect of the exchange, making you feel you are their guest as well as their temporary partner in a relationship based on confidence, on fair expectations, being open to other peoples' initiatives or different… read more

(Excellent )

11/09/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Pavel & Lilya)

We really enjoyed having Pavel and Lilly here. They both had interesting things to tell about there life, Lilly in Russia and Pavel in Prague. Unfortunately Lilly had to leave earlier than expected but we are still in touch. Both were very hard working and were always asking for new tasks to carry out and nothing seemed too difficult. Pavel also… read more

(Excellent )

10/09/2019

Left by Workawayer (Pavel & Lilya) for host

John gave us a detailed plan how to get to their place and then picked us up at the bus station. Work mostly consisted of a bit of gardening, cleaning and helping at Bed and Breakfast.

John and Liisa are very friendly and welcoming, it was really interesting to talk to them because apart from running Bed and breakfast they do many other things.… read more

(Excellent )

28/10/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Georg)

We can really recommend Georg - a real find - who became a close friend. But you have to be sure that you have plenty of work for him!! The autumn in Finland is a time where we are closing down for a long winter. Georg was very willing to do all the boring jobs too. So now we have plenty of firewood for the winter, the leaves have been raked and… read more

(Excellent )

22/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Georg) for host

I stayed with John and Liisa in Kouluniemi for 16 days and can't ask for a better start for my workaway experience in Suomi. Both hosts have a young spirit and create such a safe and warming atmosphere in their household. I enjoyed the great food and relaxing leisure time which I used for sports or taking the boat to the lake. Because it is an… read more

(Excellent )

18/10/2018

Left by Workawayer (Lukasz & Dorota) for host

After a month in Kouluniemi we left with so many good memories that we're almost sure we hadn't done enough to deserve them. John and Liisa are exceptionally friendly and hospitable people and having all sorts of guests is something they just excel in. It was an honour to assist them, we learned a lot while having a great time in beautiful… read more

(Excellent )

09/10/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Lukasz & Dorota)

Lukasz and Dorota really love Finland and Finnish nature. Mushroom picking was their favourite hobby and they made excellent dishes from the mushrooms they found. Dorota was partially working from home but whenever there was a break she was very active both in the house and outside. Lukasz always saw what needed to be done whether it was outside… read more

(Excellent )

05/07/2018

Left by Workawayer (Vita) for host

Dear John and Liisa!

I have no words for describing my staying in your place and you know it;) You became for me family and friends! Thank you for this unforgettable experience!

I stayed in Kangasniemi for 6 weeks. John´s and Liisa´s place is about 8 km away from Kangasniemi center. The place is in the forest side with a lake. I went for a… read more

(Excellent )

02/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Vita)

Vita is a real find! She was really hardworking needing little advice - she seemed to always know what needed to be done in the house and outside. She was also willing to give her time to community events too. In addition she is a really good cook. As a person she is very easy to get on with and conversation with her was always inspiring since she… read more

(Excellent )

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Host ref number: 934218318439

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