One thing I find fascinating about being here in Jämtland is the small businesses, the many small farms, the focus on locally produced food, drinks, and goods. In a time where large centralized structures struggle, it is almost a blueprint where other regions in Sweden and Europe can learn from.
Yet, with these small structures comes also the need for community, the „sticking together“ and helping each other out. Especially, when you do run a small farm with livestock.
A small farm does not have the cashflow to pay for a holiday employee. But a small farm needs to stay small to build resilience for the region – together with all the others.
A small farm needs community.
For our part, we really enjoy farm-sitting which we did a couple of times over the recent years. Last year we helped out at a dairy goat farm, experienced a Fäbod, and covered the owner’s holiday weeks. Last month, we were taking care of a small sheep & chicken farm during the farm couple’s holiday.
It is beautiful. It gives me the sense of being part of something bigger than me while also feeling more connected to the land and its story.
And yes, the food also tastes much better, obviously.
So, you don’t need to fully farm-sit a place for weeks. Maybe just saying hej to your local farmer and asking them how they are doing is enough. And offering some small help here and there. So they, and we all, know we are held by community.
It is also a lot of joy. 🙂