Join a research community studying eco-living in Skinnskatteberg, Sweden

Details

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  Description

  Hej!
  
  We’re a small collective running a research space in an old village school & theater in Riddarhyttan, a former mining town in the Swedish forest, surrounded by lakes, moss and very few people.
  
  Our core team is seven people co-owning the place with backgrounds in business, technology and arts. We have around 40 members who visit us every year. We come together to build, experiment and live together through spring and summer.
  
  We ask one main question: How will we live with each other when climate change breaks the systems we know?
  We think communal projects rarely fail because of technology. They fail on the dishes: unclear roles, money, decision-making, conflict nobody wants to name. So that’s what we study. We rehearse new ways of living and deciding together, write down what works, and share a communal software we are building openly so other groups don’t have to start from scratch.
  
  The seasons we live there are made up of different kinds of weeks:
  Building weeks: renovating the school from 1910 (main communal space), building apartments, solar systems and sanitation, improving the land and writing ecological reports
  Research weeks: long, uninterrupted time on hard problems, from community software to strange prototypes
  Events and gatherings: workshops, performances and our Season Opening Weekend (+45 people)
  
  Everyone cooks, everyone cleans, and everyone teaches one thing and learns one thing. Our motto is Rest, Rehearse, Revolt.
  
  Hosting from June 2027:
  
  We’re opening to Workawayers from June 2027 onwards. If you’re curious about community living, like working with your hands, and don’t mind a bit of rough edges (and mosquitoes), we’d love to hear from you.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  The cultural exchange through work(shops) is the point, not a side effect. We’re a mix of people from business, technology and the arts. Our core team is mostly from Vienna, and our guests and collaborators come from all over the world. During the season you’ll share the place with friends, family, builders, researchers, artists, and founders.
  
  What we do together
  We cook and eat together, sit around the fire, swim in the lake after sauna sessions and talk late into the night. Some weeks there are workshops, talks, performances or our Season Opening Weekend. We also run regular “check-ins” where the group reflects on how living together is going. It’s part of our research, and often the most interesting conversations happen there.
  
  What you can learn from us / and we'd love to learn from you
  Our team brings very different skills: entrepreneurship, venture building, software development, data science, design and branding, product management, finance. Running a community project is something we're trying to learn since 2025. We're eager to learn from people who have done that or have lots of experience with community building.
  
  What we hope to learn from you
  We’re trying to figure out how groups of very different people can live and decide together well. Every person who comes brings their own culture’s way of sharing, arguing, celebrating and cooperating. That’s exactly what we want to learn from. Tell us how things work where you’re from.

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  Help

  It is a work in progress: an old school slowly turning into a place where people can live, build and think together. There’s always something to do, and we’ll match tasks to what you enjoy and what you want to learn.
  
  Land and garden: clearing paths, firewood, setting up and looking after a vegetable garden, keeping the forest around us healthy.
  
  Everyday community life: cooking for the group, cleaning and keeping the shared spaces cosy. We take this part seriously. How a group shares the dishes is literally one of the things we study.
  
  Creative and digital (optional): if you’re into photography, film, design, writing or code, you’re welcome to help us document what we do or contribute to our open-source projects.
  
  If you do have handy skills, small repairs are always welcome.
  
  How it works
  
  We ask for about 4–5 hours of help a day, 5 days a week. Food & accommodation is ofc on us. The rest of your time is yours: swim in the lake, explore the forest, or join whatever experiment is happening that week.
  
  We’re looking for people who are curious, take initiative and enjoy working in a team. Some days are hands-on and physical, some are slow. You’ll be part of the group, not staff.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  For the non-Swedes of our team, it's on the list to learn the local language! :D
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  Accommodation

  Where you’ll sleep
  You’ll stay in a proper tipi on a wooden platform in the forest, just a short walk from the school. It has proper beds with mattresses, electricity, and when the nights get cold you can heat (see images) it with the fireplace or an electric heater. Expect to fall asleep to the sound of the trees and wake up with the sounds of birds. If the tipi isn’t for you, there’s also a shared room on the first floor of the school. We’re building more sleeping spots during the 2027 season, so the options may grow while you’re here. Message us before you come and we’ll tell you what’s available for your dates.
  
  Food
  We mostly cook vegetarian and vegan food, with plenty of protein to keep you going on building days. Usually everyone makes their own breakfast. Then we share one big meal together every day, and sometimes two, depending on the type of week and on whether there are keen cooks around. We take turns cooking (or someone dedicates to it fully), and the shared meal is often the best part of the day: one big table, lots of conversation.
  
  Internet and co-working
  We have fast internet (300 Mbit) and a co-working space with proper desks. That makes the place a good fit if you work remotely on your days off or want to bring a project of your own. Middle of the forest at a lake, no neighbours, but fully connected.

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  What else ...

  It is in the forests of Västmanland, about 2–2.5 hours from Stockholm. It’s remote, and that’s part of the charm, but it means you have to plan the journey a little.
  
  By public transport: from Stockholm Arlanda airport, take the direct Vy bus4you (towards Karlstad) to Västerås, which takes about 1.5 hours. From Västerås it’s another hour to the place by car. We can often pick you up there, but please arrange this with us in advance so someone can drive over.
  
  Regional buses also go to Skinnskatteberg, Fagersta and Riddarhyttan, which are closer to us. Check the connections with us before you book, as buses out here don’t run often.
  
  By car: if you’re travelling with others, renting a car in Stockholm is the easiest option (around €40 a day). There’s parking at the school.
  
  Once you’re here: you won’t need a car day to day. Everything happens on site, and we organise shared trips to the shops.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have fast internet (300 Mbit) and a co-working area with proper desks, so you can take calls and do focused work without sitting on your bed in the tipi. We’re flexible about when you help. Our rhythm is about 4–5 hours a day, 5 days a week, and we’re happy to plan your help around meetings or deadlines. Just tell us what your work week looks like when you message us. The more we know beforehand, the easier it is to find a good balance. And if you’re working on something interesting, bring it. With people from business, tech and the arts around, there’s usually someone to bounce ideas off.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Mooooore than enough place to find a cozy, calm spot with your van on the property.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Bonni & Paco

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