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Our path to self-sufficiency
Be inspired by our farm projects, the animals and life in Finland's nature.
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Self-sufficiency
Follow along as we preserve vegetables, make berry juice, harvest honey, dry herbs, and live self-sufficiently using all our skills and possibilities.


Growing Potatoes for People and Animals in Finland
When we moved to Finland in 2023, it was clear: potatoes should be a staple in our self-sufficiency garden. Today, they grow on our very own field. A small piece of independence that carries us through the winter.

Patrick Vogel
Oct 104 min read
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Haymaking - tradition and efficiency
The haymaking has changed: once sweaty teamwork, now precise machinery. At Omavaraniemi, we combine both: gentle mowing with a motor scythe, traditional haycocks for rainy summers, and a small square baler for efficiency. This way, tradition stays alive and the heart is content when the hay is finally dry and safely stored.

Patrick Vogel
Jul 204 min read
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Moon wood – From tree to board
Moon wood is known for being more stable and durable. We’re showing you how we harvest, transport, saw, and build with moon wood ourselves – with all the challenges and freedoms that come with it. Discover why we chose to work with moon wood and what the entire process looks like.

Patrick Vogel
Jul 64 min read
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Our herb spiral, a small garden project with a big impact
Our herb spiral is a true passion project: After our first herb beds in Switzerland and a rather chaotic attempt in Finland, we finally built our own herb spiral this spring. It combines different climate zones in a small space – perfect for sage, lovage & co. The building process was intense but so rewarding. Now everything is growing beautifully – we’re curious to see what survives the winter!

Patrick Vogel
Jun 223 min read
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Why we bought a sawmill...
We live outside of Valtimo in a very wild and rural part of Finland. The nearest town is Nurmes, where we can get everything we need for...

Patrick Vogel
Apr 243 min read
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