Sweden
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Do you have what it takes to live without modern facilities & running water? Do you want to experience what it's like to live off of the land, gather and fish for your own food in order to survive in one of the harshest climates in the world?
If so, come & be part of our to-be self sufficient alpine homestead and community & experience what it's like to live truly off the grid with us!
We are a Swedish/English couple, Cecilia (27) and Aaron (32), living on a beautiful old private farmstead "in the middle of nowhere" in Lappland, north Sweden. On our farm also lives goats, rabbits, geese and a duck.
Lapland, despite it's cold and harsh climate, is a place where people have been living self sufficient, as hunter-gatherers, ever since the end of the last ice age when the land became habitable about 10.000 years ago.
Every day we strive to become less and less dependent on modern society and live off of the land, like we used to do. This means we have to put in a lot of manual work to sustain ourselves, including tending to animals, gardening, collecting firewood, fetching water etc. Therefore it's important that you as a volunteer are prepared that help will be physically demanding at times and also, since we haven't got an income, food will be quite basic.
However, although work can be hard, the rewards of our work are greater - eating fresh fish from the lake, berries from the forest and milk from the goats is luxuries few has access to. And in the end of a working day, jumping in the lake or having a hot sauna as well as cooking on the open fire in the evenings... For the nature and animal lover, this is a small bit of paradise on earth.
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
You will have the chance to experience for yourself what life was like in Lapland when people lived off of the land in the old days.
There are no modern facilities here, everything is heated by wood, food is cooked on the fire, dishes are done without running water, there is no shower (just a beautiful cold lake).
As we are both new to this lifestyle, we are learning new things every day about raising animals, gardening, preserving food etc. in traditional ways. As a volunteer you will have the opportunity to learn many things and even teach us some things. There's a lot to learn, really a lot, and it's very exciting and interesting to discover alternative ways of for example preserving food to last without usage of modern facilities and gardening in ways that yields the greatest harvest with minimal effort and water.
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Our main jobs this summer include helping with hay making, different types of garden jobs, helping with the animals (moving fences, feeding etc), berry picking and fishing.
Daily jobs include fetching water in the forest spring, chopping firewood and cooking over the fire.
In our closest fishing lake lives perch and we usually put down a cage one day and the next we have got sometimes 50-100 fish which needs degutting and taking care of. There's also another lake with trout where we will go sometimes and fish with rods & put down nets.
Please bear in mind that we haven't got an income and if any tools or equipment that you borrow breaks when used incorrectly after being given instructions on correct usage, we will kindly ask for compensation. Just make sure to follow instructions and don't be afraid to ask if something is unclear.
Also we have put down 5 hour as expected work, however that is just a number and in reality it will take more to keep this farm running. Therefore we kindly ask that people who apply ask themself first if they are up for helping with the hard work that is necessary in order to experience a self-sufficient life in Lappland.
English: Fluent
Swedish: Fluent
You can choose between living in your own room with a stove in the old farm house, or there is a traditional Sami hut ("kåta") with a fireplace inside.
Food we will mainly cook outside on the fire. We eat some meat, eggs, dairy and fish but can accommodate for most dietary requirements, however do let us know in advance. Again food will be quite basic but we try to gather a lot of free food and every day we will have access to fresh goats milk, fish and (hopefully) some eggs as well as whatever garden produce is available.
Our farm is very close to a beautiful lake where you can go swimming or fishing. We also got a boat and a traditional log sauna on the land for use. Around the farm is deep beautiful woods and wildlife here is abundant. Around here lives for example many mooses, reindeer, wolves, wolverines, and even a few bears has been seen (rarely).
The closest shop is in Åsele, about 35 km away, we won't be going there often but maybe once a week for some essentials. We can pick you up from Åsele where you can go by bus from Umeå, Dorotea and Vilhelmina.
Its good to bring a sleeping bag, working gloves, good shoes and a maybe a knife. In wintertime a flashlight is very handy and in summertime mosquito nets to protect your head and bigger ones that covers your bed could be useful.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
We have a desk in the room for volunteers and with the right internet provider there is excellent internet access.
This host can provide space for campervans.
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
More than two
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
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