Help renovate a barn and surroundings into a course and retreat centre in Uusimaa, Finland

Infos

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  Description

  It is me, Atso, living in the timber built house and farm from 1940s just 50 km from Helsinki in a charming, culturally active city of Karkkila with 8800 habitants. The city centre is 10 km away and a vast forest area begins just from our doorstep. There are great forest paths starting in just the corner of the property and you can wander and get lost or follow a map, as you wish. My family used to run a dairy farm some 20 years ago, and the big space in the barn has been renovated as a space for gatherings, parties and theatre performances already 15 years ago. Now my aim is to further develop the barn and the other buildings as a course and retreat centre. Because of the long history in agriculture there are many objects and tools that some would throw away but I want to keep them as part of interior design and decoration. That´s why the big task has been organizing the goods so that later on they can be used. In the renovation and re-design process I want to use natural buildings techniques and thus started to study clay construction. The intensive studying was finished in November 2021. In the warmer months I will apply these skills in the action. This knowledge among others I am happy to share. My aim is to make this place a great home, whether one stays here for shorter period of time or longer.
  
  After working and travelling +10 years abroad and around in Finland on and off, myself, I now want to continue the maintenance of the house and its' surrounding buildings as a long-term perspective to create it as a sustainable course center for all kinds of activities which elevate mind, body and soul. Therefore I'm focusing my daytime for this project at the moment. There is, of course a lot to do but I have decided to make this as a life-long project! I am also a certified school teacher so during the days I may need to work out of home to bring bread to the table :D.
  
  Since 2002 I have actively been studying yoga, ayurveda and different perspectives in the area of personal growth. As licensed teacher of Home Economics in the Finnish and Swedish school systems I have a wide understantment how to influence and make a positive change on individual and communities. I do regard myself as excellent cook and are happy to share this knowledge as well. Diet here consist of about 80 % vegetarian and around 20 % of eggs, dairy, chicken, fish, eggs and sometimes meat. I can go 100% vegan, at the times too, but industrial substitutes I want to avoid. I am trying to avoid black/white opinions regarding food, nowadays as things have so many sides. Whenever food is imported there is always the question of how it has impacted the place it is produced in. I highly regard Finnish products with exotic spices. I speak English, Swedish, French and some Russian and other latin languages such as Spanish and Italian. I also dance and train theatre on a professional level.
  
  I prefer that you as guest living in our house straightforwardly tell "Do you want your eggs stirred, fried or shaken". I am extremely sensible and genuinely want that you enjoy during your stay. I also know that small things count so please be frank and clear what you want, how you want it and when you want it. I try to do likewise myself too. Clear communication is the key point to every success stories! :D Sometimes it is challenging but let´s learn all together! The silence in the house is 10 pm/ 22.00 which means telephones and internet shall be shut off, teeth have been brushed etc. I wake up around 6.15 every morning and the silence around 10 pm is essential. In the mornings I do my own morning routiness, yoga, breathing exercises etc. If you have yours, then we are in sync well!
  
  If you contact me, I do tend to reply you back as soon as possible to let you know what is the situation at the site for the moment you have applied your stay. Also, quite often I prefer to suggest a video call. Time to time the communication has stopped from the workawayers´ side. I do wish to know whether you have changed your mind or found another place. Let´s be clear and honest from the beginning, okey! :D

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Projets artistiques

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  I have done a lot of volunteering myself; in France, England and Canada. For me it has been a great way to learn about myself and how I interact to the environment and in the world. The environment I want to create at the house holds a lot of importance in these same principles; personal growth, finding own strengths etc. Lately I have found sharing circles as a simple way to listen and to be heard what one has to say. Besides what living together and all the other activities may come forth, all the other means of tuning in with the help of yoga, dance, music, culture etc. are very welcome. I practise Art of Living breathing exercises daily so if you know them we can do them together in the mornings!
  As food, theatre, natural building methods and sustainable living are close to my heart there lies a great potential for you to learn in those areas, as well. With all this said, I am open to all suggestions that we can do together. My head and time goes often a whirl when organising and managing at the site so I would be more than happy to see you to be active when it comes to leisure activities. Many people write that they are eager nature-goers but then I see many just watching their phones in the eves! :D

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  Aide

  The type of the help will be depended about the weather. The fall time from October to December before the snow falls is often rainy, windy, dark and moist but also sun peaks up sometimes.
  The different activities and tasks may be carried out according to ones´own interest also.
  At the moment people with experience on construction/ carpenter/ electrician /plumber are looked after. Also willingness to learn is a great asset!
  
  a) Sorting out the goods in the barn upstairs.
  b) There is painting and building projects going on on a continuing basis. Depending of the talents and interests of the workawayer these will be carried out.
  c) Multiple tasks may be done during the same day. Different kinds of maintenance projects will be done in the garden and in the buildings.
  d) As there will be living 3-4 people in the same house, some household will be always needed as well, such as cleaning, cooking etc. We will prepare the food from the basic ingredients, almost always. Even if I do like to cook, I do like to teach my skills to others, so that I can concentrate on other things, in the other words, managing the other tasks and bringing in the money if I work out of the home, Basically all the tasks in the kitchen are such which are expected to take over by workawayers after some training period. Even if wiping the table of washing the pot may not be a big thing somebody needs to do it. I have noticed that as there are many people living in the same house, things get dirty fast. I want to keep a high cleanliness standard and high responsibility is needed from people coming over.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Finnish: Courant
  Swedish: Courant
  Danish: Intermédiaire
  Français: Intermédiaire
  Espagnol: Débutant
  Italien: Débutant
  Russe: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  If you are French speaker and you want to practise English, we can switch between English and French week by week. I am always wanting to improve my French. But a 100% franchopone is ok too. ;)
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  Hébergement

  You will sleep in a big room downstairs in the house. There will propably be 2-3 workawayers in the same room. Other options may be applied if someone in the room snoores :D
  Another option is also to sleep in the old-timber hut on the yard (no heating, close by the silent village road) in the summer-time or in a tent.
  
  Indoor toilet and shower. The house and water is warmed by burning oats grown in the field next-door so consciousness in the usage of warm water is highly appreciated.
  
  We prepare the food almost always from the scratch, meaning fresh vegetables and legumes. We need to negotiate who will be responsible of each meal but we provide the ingredients and then plan who will prepare the meal. We recycle basically everything post-consuming so thank you having awareness for this.

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  Autres infos...

  Though the city of Karkkila is small with only 8800 habitants it has a great reputation as a cultural hub; Aki Kaurismäki and other film directors and artists with different talents keeping it as their nest. Kayaking, hiking and fishing lovers find great terrains for their favourite activities also. It is much your own activity to ask what you want to do so I can find it for you. If you are performing artist or want to distribute your talents we can also organise a show!
  
  Helsinki is close and there are different activities in the city of Karkkila as well, I know a lot of people so I am sure what ever you wish for can be carried out. At home you may walk in the forests nearby, read the books I have, most of them from the area of food, personal growth etc. Again, this may also be the time to use internet how you need to. However, the usage of internet should be in moderation and I wish the phones are turned off during the night starting from 10 pm. Once you have contacted we may change a couple of messages but I do prefer to have a zoom/whatsapp/skype/telegram conversation to further discuss our own needs and wants.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  There are different rooms to be used as private working space. However, if there are many workawayers, one has to be flexible. There are many digital works nowadays and I do need to work on computer when I am at home too. But again, I do not want here people who on their phones or computers with 24/7 attitude. I do prefer to meet the people I am living with face to face.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  There is space behind the barn providing electricity.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  Can not really say this for sure. We have never had animals inside the house and may like to stay that way in the case of allergenic people to come around. There is space for the animals In the barn, if needed. In the winter time that space is cold, though.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  Maximum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week.

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