Growing Food in Freezing Finland | My First Year

[@rebeccainfinland]

Hi, Daniel! We grow for self-sufficiency about 80 km away from you. Next year: start leeks, celleriac and onion seeds inside in january, they do great outside then from may. All brassicas can be sown in your little coldframe in march, watered with snow and planted out despite nightfrost. And direct sowing of carrots and parsnips works well in march or april, on top of the snow and then covered with a little soil. I teach permaculture and you are welcome to contact us if you want to get tips for this climate.

[@traveladdict7173]

Hi @rebeccainfinland do you have a website?

[@rebeccainfinland]

@@traveladdict7173 nope, sorry.

[@patriziapanetta2021]

❤Dear Daniel and family, thank you for your vedeos. It is such a pleasure to hear your stories. I have been following your contents from the beginning. Your work is so inspirational and I have learned a lot, hopefully I will put it into practice as soon as we get enough money to buy a small holding ourselves, and integrating it with what already known. Your determination, problem solving and enthusiasm are remarkable. Looking forward to your future vedeos and hopefully to folklore stories and local farytales as the ones you retold in your fantastic style from Ireland. Finland must have a rich traditions of those. Your folklore tales were so fascinating, I am surprised people didn't appreciate them.... what's wrong with you people!? Storytelling was so much interwoven with self-sufficient country living, it was as natural and essential as growing your own food ... anyhow I hope you will reconsider this possibility. Wishing you and Angela all the best as usual, love from Tuscany Italy.❤❤❤ P.S. thank you to all the kind Finland people who advise our Daniel on local tips and tricks.❤

[@Korpitalo]

​@@traveladdict7173 Growing food here near the Arctic Circle Finland 😁 66.3°C, our channel is @Korpitalo

[@juanitaglenn9042]

Carrots in the snow?! How on earth?? I am intrigued. Never had carrots germinate properly in the cold...I tend to direct sow when I sow the tender plant seeds, like zucchini and beans. Sounds like we are similar in climate, except our winters get a bit colder at -42. Not all the time anymore tho. We had -8 still in May. Had a few plants die despite covering them. I planted early since we had a very mild spring up until then:)

[@humppanen9130]

Those beautiful flowers are lupines, an invasive species's here in Finland! Land owners are obligated to remove them from their land's, although nobody really does. Lupine doesn't produce nectar for pollinators nor food for caterpillars, thus reducing insect numbers. Looking forward to your videos, greetings from your neighboring county.

[@LaraHastings]

I was going to comment on the lupines as well. You have a little bit of extra work to do getting rid of them, they are highly invasive. But it is doable, we had some on our plot, a few years of pulling them out and the numbers should diminish to nothing if being consistent.

[@pronty77]

I was just googling for lupines and I found a Finnish article about eco farmers who were using boiling hot water to kill lupines. They were using an Eco Weedkiller spray made in Finland.

[@jarnolehtinen2269]

As for the lupines, it’s a lost battle, unfortunately. They are pretty but very invasive and where the country roads used to be lined with flowers natural to Finland in my childhood, Lupines have taken over and we will never get rid of them again.

[@raapyna8544]

​@@jarnolehtinen2269You may see a lost cause, I see a great opportunity for jobs. Those have to be pulled out sooner or later. They are invasive, hence they will invade all the places suitable to them if we give up. Biodiversity is at stake. It can be done, just enough resources will have to be poured into it. Again this summer, we are finding them and picking them out here in my municipality.

[@niamhhopkins6368]

The seeds of lupins are edible, however. Either as small, dried beans or ground for flour. Eaten since the ancient Greeks!

[@lizlorraine463]

Im a 77 yo granny living in 314’ Inter-Shelter Dome in backyard of my eldest daughters and family’s backyard in SE Alaska, originally from Seattle. I so enjoy your sharing your life’s journey with us. I’ve watched you from the very beginning. You have such a respect for yourself, those you love, and Mother Earth.❤ Thank you.

[@nickolay6277]

From the longest and coldest winter in 20 years to the hottest May ever recorded in Finland. You've already seen everything what comes to the weather in Finland. My friend built a two and half metre high fence around his back garden in his Helsinki suburb house to keep the roe deer out. Just to find three of them inside one morning. There was a 25 to 30 centimeters 'hole' in a corner where they had crawled from into the garden. Those clever bastards. Be sure the fence is tight all the way.

[@upnorthandpersonal]

Living in the countryside in Finland, you want the tractor. I just recently bought a 1969 McCormick 434 for road maintenance, forest work, and snow clearing. The nice thing about these old machines: no electronics, nothing complicated. Simple mechanical systems, very easy to maintain. It's fun learning about these too, and there is bound to be an old guy in the village somewhere that knows these things in and out and will happily share his knowledge. There is not much that can break and these things are built to last, especially the Diesel ones. By the way, you can make your own diesel for these things and they have no issue with it, unlike some newer machines.

[@OMT988]

This man has unlocked the key to life....focus on what makes you happy...dont chase money in a hope it will eventually give you that life you want.

[@Rexsuprime]

That is indeed the key to life. Focus on yourself and what makes You happy.

[@patricianathan4676]

You are so right. Don't we all just want contentment ❤

[@Tetsaraku]

Regarding maintaining mechanical things: When something breaks, some of us actually see it as an opportunity to learn how to fix it. I mean, it’s not going to be any more broken if you take it apart, right? :) Most mechanical things are surpricingly easy to repair. And you can find a youtube video on fixing just about anything. :D

[@ivans3806]

Marty T here on KZbin is an amazing New Zealander who goes around and fixes everything from old tractors to boats, while explaining his approach to troubleshooting...

[@Phiyedough]

@@ivans3806 Mustie1 is another good one as he repairs anything with an engine.

[@mariac4602]

I love that attitude "It's not going to be any more broken if you take it apart" :)

[@edithmcewan958]

I garden in Shetland at 60degrees north. It's not as cold as Finland but on a hill by the sea and subject to gales and salt. I have a polycrub. A tunnel using recycled salmon farm tubes and double polycarbonate sheeting. It was developed by our north mainland community development company and withstands up to 120mph winds. They have sent kits as far as the Falkland isles. I love the joy of trial and error gardening as well as your videos. I too have wild strawberries from a plant gathered in Scotland in the 70s, when the blackbird leaves some.Wishing you a good summer.

[@ItreboR63I]

@@mariac4602 challenge accepted ........... daily

[@Marek-rg4zw]

Have you considered doing something about the lupines on your land? :) As they are one of the big invasive species just spreading. But of course understand that it is more important first to secure food.

[@glenysperry3421]

A family, pet, gardens, so lovely. What a beautiful part of the planet. Great ideas to share and inspire others. Well done.

[@wilfwilliams]

Love this it’s the Bob Ross of horticulture. I have no intention of growing ( or painting!) but I love the soothing tones and pace of the video. Works very well for me as entertainment, and a welcome break from reality. Thanks ❤

[@SlackHoffman]

Great 👍 Comment and fully represents my thoughts 💭 too . This dudes voice has a lovely lilting cadence 🤙☘️

[@ilfaitfroid9739]

I lived in Finland for a while. Potatoes grown there were some of the best I have ever eaten in my life. I don't know if its the soil or the long days of sun. Definitely worth planting some

[@anneofgreengables1619]

They definitely are.

[@TommiNummelin]

In my opinion it's mostly about long days, but some credit must go to the varieties grown. Smaller farms go for tasty ones even if they don't yield as much crop per hectare, and that's just lovely. I'm happy to pay a little extra for that!

[@NusquamAcNihilum]

I live in Turku and have hopes that my future is similar to your current life 😊 The flower that you showcase in your fields: "Lupiini" (Lupinus polyphyllus) is actually an invasive spieces. They change the groundsoil alchemical properties that drive out most if not all native flowers 😢 so for your future flower fields, you might need to do something about all the lupiini 😅

[@SariJärvinen-c5c]

I live on an island 350 km north from you in Baltic sea. I grow most of my own food here in raised beds but also in the fields and in the greenhouse. Potatoes, onions, garlic, leeks, beans, beets, carrots, lettuce, white cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, pumpkin, raspberries, strawberries, pears, apples, plums. Mushrooms, blueberries, lingonberries, raspberries, sea buckthorn, herbs from the forest and islands near by. I sow the cabbages in the heat bed outside. Cucumbers straight into the ground in june, tomatoes and aubergines, leeks inside the house. I store them in the cellar, i use the Slavic style.

[@LucasRichardStephens]

I live in Norway on a small holding, 9 acres, I put off buying a tractor until I had saved enough to buy a new one. There are some films on my channel. It cost the same as many second hand tractors, but is small. It is however very good. It is difficult to know whether it is worth the hassle....but once you have one, many things become possible that were daunting tasks done by hand. You will have to clear the snow either way, it is a real perpetual expense , not to be underestimated, either in time or money or both.

[@r2dezki]

Oh boy, there's so many things we can grow here in Finland. I would recommend potatoes, swedes, parsnips, carrots, peas, black currants, red currants, onions, chives, salad and spinach. Maybe even some grains. I wish you well in your gardening!

[@Tiax776]

Strawberries are pretty good in Finland since the long days mean the plants store more sugar into the fruits / berries.

[@DNA350ppm]

You have almost built a "warm-bench" - a traditional way to start early vegetables. To encrease the warmth you put a layer of compost at the bottom, preferably with cow-dung. At the library you will find books describing the method. Until the 1960's many farmers used methods that remind of "high farming" as described in John Seymour's books. Many crops in Finland profit immensely from the short summer-nights in Finland. I'm glad you get wild strawberries to eat fresh.

[@DNA350ppm]

Maybe a heritage-pig like the "Linderödssvin" as a pet-farm-animal would be as efficient as a tractor, to "pig the land" (Seymour's expression) not to butcher it. I'll try to find the right words in Finnish. 🙂

[@DNA350ppm]

Information in Swedish on the Linderöds-pig from the preservation-initiative, below translated with the assistance of Google to English and Finnish (just as a first orientation, I'm not sure the terms are spot on.) "Välkommen till Föreningen Landtsvinet Linderödssvinet är en lantras som är anpassad till ett äldre huvudsakligen självhushållande bondesamhälle och passar bäst att även i dag användas i ett liknande sammanhang. Vill du vara med och bevara linderödssvinet så köp genbanksdjur och anslut dig till genbanken. Rätt använda blir linderödsgrisar en viktig del av ett naturligt kretslopp. De äter maskar och larver, ogräs och rötter, bearbetar jorden och gödslar den." (Denna gris är robust och trivs ute året runt.) *Welcome to the Landswine Association* The Linderöds pig is a land (rural?) breed that is adapted to an older mainly self-sustaining farming community and is best suited to be used even today in a similar context. If you want to help preserve the Linderöds-pig, buy gene bank animals and join the gene bank. Properly used, Linderöds-pigs become an important part of a natural cycle. They eat worms and grubs, weeds and roots, till the soil and fertilize it. (This hardy pig thrives out-doors all year round.) *Tervetuloa maarotu-yhdistykseen* Linderöds-sika on maarotu, joka on sopeutunut vanhempaan, pääosin omavaraiseen viljelijäyhteisöön ja soveltuu parhaiten käytettäväksi nykyäänkin vastaavassa ympäristössä. Jos haluat auttaa Linderöds-sian säilyttämisessä, osta geenipankkieläimiä ja liity geenipankkiin. Oikein käytettynä Linderöds-sioista tulee tärkeä osa luonnollista kiertokulkua. He syövät matoja ja tikkuja, rikkaruohoja ja juuria, viljelevät maaperää ja lannoittavat sitä. (Tämä sika viihtyy ulkona ympäri vuoden.)

[@luskaneseprince]

I'm so happy you found wild strawberries from your backyard, they're the best berries that exist! 😊 Your videos are very calming and inspiring, I always look forward to seeing how you and your family have been! Oh and other commentors mentioned too, but if you want to keep a little meadow for the butterflies and bees, please consider removing the lupines! They are invasive species and will eventually suffocate all the other plants that are native to Finland, because they increase the nitrogen levels of the soil. Butterflies can't use it for anything and bees struggle reproducing after visiting the plant because it's toxic to them. It has spread like wildfire all around Finland and it's too late to get rid of it entirely, but you can help by removing it from your own meadow at least! ❤

[@ApocalypseRider]

One option to buying your own tractor is to ask farmer from neighborhood to help cultivating and plowing. It may cost something, but definitely cheaper than buying and maintaining own equipment for such rather small plot of land

[@rabenhexe964]

I love seeing that glow of excitement that you have whenever you are sharing your projects with us. What a beautiful place you have together with your family. Although your channel may be intended for entertainment purposes, I end up learning quite a bit in regards to the Finnish countryside.

[@MikkoRantalainen]

To be honest, I'd watch longer episodes or more episodes if you just publish more. Keep up great work!

[@Cheshire_Cat_007]

Definitely, love these.

[@hoopstar6043]

You sure make quality videos. And yes, they are inspiring and entertaining too!

[@chickenlady3155]

Well I'm in rural Sligo this summer, and it's blooming freezing. None of the flowers we planted for 'Tidy Towns' have bloomed, and we've got out heating on at night. In late June! Finland sounds positively tropical...

[@2learn4ever]

I agree, it's been chilly some nights recently, on the east side here too but I refrained from putting on the heating. Tonight it's 24 degrees in the house, typical Ireland.

[@pepevonkek7803]

Ireland... Green and pleasant land. Over there everything grows. It's unreal how good climate they have. Meanwhile Finnish climate and soil is hostile. Bad soil, bad weather ultra short season etc etc. You probably can't even find earth worms from the soil. It's so bad!

[@kallioranta]

​@@pepevonkek7803Sure, the growing season's short, but there's nothing wrong with the soil. And where do you get the idea that there are no earthworms?

[@pepevonkek7803]

@@kallioranta for example Vihti area. Guys wanted to go fishing and couldn't find any worms. They had to buy plastic bate from Motonet. Personally I threw hundreds of seeds years ago and nothing came up. Only thing growing is grass 😂 Commercial fields of course have productive soil but average household can grow something only in greenhouses. At least thats my observation.

[@ristopaasivirta9770]

I don't know why youtube decided to recommend me a crazy Irishman last year but I'm glad it did. Been a pleasure to watch your journey through the winter and I'm absolutely delighted to see you in your first summer here in Finland. Thank you for sharing your journey and being an inspiration to us all!

[@SamsMotors]

He's English, but yes 👌

[@ristopaasivirta9770]

@@SamsMotors Oh damn. Thanks for clarifying. Just assumed he was irish as he lived there.

[@MikkoRantalainen]

At least here in Central Finland, hare is the biggest problem you have to consider when it comes to newly planted plants. Be warned that even a small gap under the fence will be enough for a hare.

[@rosedespoina]

Amazing video as usual! I'm a small grower myself and every year is a new experince, like just this year I tried raddish for the first time. It grew so fast! Many things can be planted in the late fall already such as carrots. Sounds insane with the finnish winters, but every spring they still start to grow :) Remember to cut down all thos lupin flowers you have, they are very bad to the eco system and are considered an invasive speacies in Finland.

[@heli0ns]

I'm glad this summer has been a kind one to welcome your family here in Finland! It wouldn't be the first time we've seen snowfall as late as June. Hope you've had a pleasant midsummer, or juhannus, as well. :) Touching upon the tractor issue, my family and my father's family before him definitely needed one to keep the homestead up and running year round. Be it from plowing snow, fields or moving fallen trees after a storm. (And occasionally helping a neighbour get his stuck tractor out of a ditch.) It's definitely something worth one's time to get into knowing your way around, I would say.

[@valerieforsyth8278]

Wow that basement room is perfect!

[@NatureGirl1932]

I have battled Chronic Lyme Disease for years. Being that there are so many deer, mice, and rabbits in your area…be especially careful of ticks. It’s not just ticks, though. It’s ticks, fleas, mosquitos, spiders, mites, lice…basically anything that can bite an animal and then transfer to you. But I would say that ticks are definitely nature’s dirty needles. I’ve been watching your channel for a very long time. Love your videos! Can’t wait to see your garden flourish in Finland!

[@akse]

That location where he is living is especially known for having a lot of ticks. They spread the brain fever disease which they have vaccine against but also the more devious is that bacteria that I believe can cause the Lyme Disease.

[@NatureGirl1932]

@@akse That sounds terrible. In the Lyme Disease Community, they are now defining Chronic Lyme Disease as, “Poly microbial, multi systemic, chronic infections.” It’s never just Lyme Disease. It’s all of the co-infections that go along with it. It’s all of the infections. Because it’s never just Borrelia bacteria.

[@UncleHam1337]

In Finland you get free vaccine for Lyme´s disease if you live in the risk areas.

[@ihanba]

@@akse Yes, Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) is a nasty disease you don't want to get. Daniel and his family will be entitled to a free TBE vaccine if they live in one of the risk areas listed on THL's website. But of course you still have to be cautious of ticks and Lyme disease.

[@jackwbishop]

Fascinating that Finland, so much father north than Ireland, has higher average temperatures in the summer. I suppose because Ireland is so exposed to the Atlantic, and the oceanic climate vs. continental.

[@nonniperkl6273]

It is the gulf stream which warms Finland

[@CLFL14256]

@@nonniperkl6273 and Ireland, supposedly ;).

[@jackwbishop]

@@nonniperkl6273 I think it's the gulf stream which makes Ireland milder: less temperature variation, both heat and cold. Same as the UK to a lesser extent. Finland has a continental climate, because even though it has a coastline, the Baltic sea is sheltered from the gulf stream. So it gets colder in the winter and hotter in the summer, much like North America.

[@mukamuki]

@@jackwbishop Actually Gulf Stream pushes warm air over the Skandinavia and Finland. Finland is very warm compared to continental climate just east of us. If I remember right it is at least 5 C warmer than just few hundred km east of us. In summary Finland has warm winters with occasional cold periods and summers are mild with occasional high temperature periods. And this depends on how Gulf Stream pushes warm air over Finland. Coastline is more warm and rest of the country is boreal climate.

[@toinenosoite3173]

@@mukamuki If I have understood it correctly, the Gulf Stream has an impact of about +2 degrees in Finland, especially in winter. A notable difference to be sure, but nothing compared to how much it impacts e.g. Norway and Sweden. Do you know how much it influences the climate, and temperatures, in Iceland, and for that matter Ireland?

[@SIB.0792]

Love seeing your progress! As a builder I'm a little concerned about the raised bed against the foundation. Capilar moisture can rise up through the foundation. You could use "patolevy". It's a dimpled black plastic barrier for foundations.

[@blechtic]

Also, adding a back wall would help keep the heat in and prevent the wall/foundation from being watered. And keep birds out.

[@Mari-ok6xg]

I was thinking of this also with the cellar. There often is very little air flow and watering the seedlings makes the room damp. Will that accumulate moisture?

[@itseperkele181]

Adding to this, you really shouldnt have anything growing against the foundation of the house. If I remember correctly, the building code requires at least 20cm of gravel between the foundation and anything organic. If the whole house is like that, against dirt and grass, the foundations are gonna rot in a decade. Seriously, dig around the whole foundation (rent a digger, that way its gonna be a days job instead of shovelling for 3 weeks), wrap it in a patolevy and maybe even put some styrofoam on there for insulation, fill with gravel (kivituhka).

[@Loll0saurus]

@@itseperkele181 Only true in clay based areas, which has pretty much defined the whole finnish building code. The scenery makes it look like it's on sandy hill, which doesn't have that problem as long you don't let the side of the house be too lush.

[@camillar.6920]

​@@itseperkele181om

[@denakelley4363]

This is basically how we do it in Anchorage, Alaska too. Here the accepted wisdom is to wait until the last week of May to plant outside so we start many of our seeds indoors under full spectrum grow lights. We also have a large greenhouse.

[@CarsofTheArctic]

A 70s tractor is a bomb proof choice if you ever end up choosing and buying one. Asking any older farmers for brands and models gives you a good starting point on how to find your own tractor. The fact is that up 'til the 70s most of the tractors had to be made in a way that a common farmer can work on it and repair it if it ever breaks. It was later on from the 80s and forward when the idea of getting money from aftersales in the form of "specialized" maintenance came up, forcing some of the tractor owners to bring their machines to a workshop for repairs that previously could be done at the farm with basic tools.

[@artoh2863]

I don't know if you are vegetarian, but regarding food don't forget fishing. There are great fresh and salt water fish here, and you can fish year round

[@2learn4ever]

You have indeed been very busy, and making great progress. Great to hear from you again.

[@ACorpseWithoutSoul]

It is very important your family wake up that place again. Beautiful house and nice plot. Enjoy there in your life with your family. ❤

[@Matu007]

Happy Juhannus from Estonia, I hope you celebrate it

[@carolbulmer8253]

Hi, Daniel. I’m impressed with the grow light setup in your basement and in the outdoor growing mini greenhouse. I love your dog!

[@hannikulju9990]

Outdoor low-greenhouse can also been protected against night-frost with candel-lights inside storm-lantern. They must be within a metre from each other and they work because greenhouse is not high. That's a tip if you have more frost. We do ude candels also inside bigger greenhouse if it is possible to have one or two gold nights later in August. You have a clever system already. I hope you avoid deers. Deer never eat lupins, so it's a pity you can't anymore grow them around your potato-field. That's a working "avoid-system". They smell that flower and avoid it.

[@Dave111009]

Happy midsummer!

[@smiller6925]

The length of daylight must go some distance in offsetting the shortness of growth time.

[@tadghmaw7013]

With regards the tractor I would encourage it. An older machine (1980s or earlier) will be very simple and I think that you would have no problem learning the basics with regards mechanics. I had no mechanical knowledge but bought a few old tractors and I love working on them. You don't need many specialist tools and the knowledge / tools you do need is transferable to other things in the spirit of self sufficiency. Learning about basic mechanics is so much easier these days thanks to KZbin. Good luck with everything I'm based in West Cork have been watching you for a number of years.

[@Amigazor]

I find myself looking forward to your new videos every time I finish watching the latest one. Awesome stuff! Greetings from a fellow finn, so happy that you guys moved here. 🙂

[@kimmikke_]

With your positive attitude, gained experience and clever brains, there is nothing you cannot solve or achieve - Carry on sir!

[@oozb]

One thing to consider is the amount of extra sunlight due to the late sunsets and early dawns. It affects plants in several different ways.

[@deehalpern8988]

Oh my goodness! You have been so busy. Everything is looking wonderful. ❤

[@MoebiusEffect]

We recently moved to South Estonia from the UK so your videos are both interesting and invaluable to us, thank you. Oh and our potatoes are coming along nicely, just got to keep an eye out for the beetles!! Best wishes.

[@michaelmcclafferty3346]

Well done Daniel. Thanks for an interesting and entertaining video.

[@DuBstep115]

If you buy old 70s Valmet 502, you literally dont have to do anything to it besides filters and oil. You can get one for 4-6k Other option is to buy older Honda ATV, bulletproof and can do almost everything that small tractor can do

[@DNA350ppm]

An old Valmet or a Zetor could be useful, you could use wood from your own yard, to fuel it, in an old-fashioned way, generattori-kaasu, häkäpönttö. Still many elderly farmers know how to fix those old tractors, they are not computerized, plain mechanical and there are enthusiasts and scrap-yards that might have all you need as spare-parts. There are many elderly Finns who aren't much for throwing anything potentially useful away. They are called "romukauppa". The tractor-choice is good question for discussions with Finns who actually like real talk but not small talk.

[@upnorthandpersonal]

Or a 1960's Massey-Ferguson or McCormick (just bought a 434 myself).

[@DuBstep115]

@@upnorthandpersonal Given the popularity of 500-700 series of Valmets in Finland, I would stick with it because of availability, parts and knowledge. There are 6 McCormick for sale vs 260 valmets

[@DNA350ppm]

@@upnorthandpersonal In Finland or elsewhere?

[@upnorthandpersonal]

@@DNA350ppm Finland.

[@SamRostol]

Thank you for this video, it's an excellent resource for others living in similar conditions. I live on the same latitude as you, and 780 meters altitude, and we have just shy of 6000m2 where a bit less than half is available as growing land. The winters here are ferocious, but during this first growing season (without previous experience growing food) we're seeing harvests of potatoes, garlic, beetroots, radishes, some carrots and onions, salads and some peas. We're extending and planning for next year already :D So thank you for sharing your journey, please do keep producing videos!

[@margarettt7675]

Although 60 degrees is far north, similar to Anchorage, the Gulf Stream warms the area to a significant degree, so that the climate seems similar to the southern prairies in Canada, where ocean effects are not directly felt. Latitude is only one factor in climate. Your climate and growing season reminds me of Ontario near north in Canada, about 46 degrees, much further south than Anchorage.

[@sarahcrooks6780]

We're coming up to two years in Co. Leitrim, after purchasing a four acre field. We have a large polytunnel (our problem is rats rather than mice!), veg garden, goat shed, small barn, and so on but it's all new, there was nothing here when we first arrived. The set up cost is huge - and we still don't have a house but that should, hopefully, happen next year. In the meantime, though, we have our own eggs, goat milk, and some fruit and veg. There are solar panels so we aren't on the grid, which is a real bonus during storms, when other people can find themselves without power. Year on year, we're seeing progress. It often seems slow to us, though neighbours and friends say we've done a lot in a short space of time. It's hard at times, especially in the winter but I can't imagine living any other way now. It's a way of life I'd recommend to anyone and there's a growing community of us in this neck of the woods.

[@finowa]

You're such a positive, fun, wholesome dude that I can't help but yell "YAAY! I LOVE YOU!" whenever you end a scene. I'm a straight guy by the way, thought I'd put that out there, but your attitude is positively lovely!!!

[@danyoutube7491]

@17:06 How big is the ventilation gap? Might you have a bit of wire mesh, perhaps from the fencing for the vegetable garden, that you could cut to size and fix over the gap? In any case it's rather impressive that the blackbirds figured out how to get in there, though unfortunately the damage was probably all for nought as there is unlikely to be much insect/worm life in those potted on plants that started life in the cellar! In our little garden I find them a problem in searching through the woodchip mulch on the beds, tossing bits onto the gravel path and vice versa :)

[@debbymorgan1499]

Good to see mossy bottom up and running again regards from n.z. Now's our winter time

[@CultOfMU]

I grew up in a farm about 50-70km north of yours now. Back then family had two Ford 5000 tractors, one from late 60's and other from early 70's. So both little bit older than I am. I remember when we bought a 1977 Ford 7700 and it was like a space ship to me in the 80's. Also much more complex to maintain. Whatever tractor you choose, pick one that has cabin. It is not only a comfort reason as well as safety. Too many men have died when their tractors rolled over for whatever reason and they got crushed or pinned underneath. Those cabins are meant to act as a rollcage. Our "newer" 5000 had cabin and it was later fitted with front loader. I believe my parents still own that particular tractor, even tho they have been retired for a decade already. It even had a back hoe at some point but the farm was also a big one :) A tractor with rear snow plow and a trailer of some sort would be a good start. Front loader would be extra but very useful too for moving heavy things around. At least for me, plowing snow with a smaller plow on the front would be easier, I've never had to do it in large scale myself.

[@CultOfMU]

You could ask around your neighbours what brand / models they have, especially if they are a DIY person. Also someone might be willing to sell one if they have several tractors :)

[@LostInEurope]

Hi Daniel. We have a 70 year old Nuffield at our land for snow plowing and other tasks. Old stuff is pretty simple to work on with basic mechanical skills but you will have to buy a small selection of massive spanners... This is my first tractor and in the first weeks of ownership I had to remove the entire rear lift system to get it working with no prior knowledge. Cost nothing, only my time. They are great fun to drive and own 😊 Congrats on the crops by the way 👏

[@recyclop4058]

Welcome to Finland! Only just now YT decided to recommend this video to me. Really nice to see some well produced homesteading videos in our climate and environment. I'm doing bit of experimental lazy gardening in centrum of Parainen/Pargas. No stress, low investment, using mainly what I happen to have and so forth. Looking forward to learning some tricks from you and getting inspired early enough in the spring to start the seedlings :) Anyway, I hope you're doing good and enjoying the living. I suppose you're located somewhere near by. If so, please don't be hesitant to reach out. I'd be happy to help and build up social network. (Not that I'm that social person my self, but my wife in law is and knows absolutely everyone around:) ) So once again, welcome to Finland and the world's largest archipelago (by the number of islands (and rocks)).

[@smuil-c7u]

We bought a 1962 Massey Ferguson tractor for our 5 acres in Wales. Old tractors do get issues but the engines are very simple compared to newer ones and are endlessly repairable. We had no mechanical abilities and are managing. There are Haynes manuals for all the vintage Fergie models. Plus all modern Massey Ferguson parts and attachments such as mowers will fit old Fergies. You may well find vintage tractor enthusiasts to advise you. Our tractor has proved to be worth its weight in gold and we couldn't manage without it.

[@MrXA360]

Hi. You asked about investing in a tractor. I grow in finland some potatoes and courgette outside plus chillies in a small greenhouse. My handiest machine is a 2wheel tractor, or "sarvitraktori" in finnish. It's very simple and quite cheap. It can till my beds in summer and blow snow in the winter. Many also use it to tow a small trailer, they are rather nimble in small spaces. It might be also used for plowing snow if the area isn't particularly snowy and/or big. We get a lot of snow so I use a quad bike for plowing.

[@ydin9]

I'd be bit worried about trapping moisture in the basement or against the brick work outdoors. You don't want mold problems. But charming work. Also it's a bit late but consider rhubarb and forcing techniques for it. It grows well even in Finland

[@akse]

Something to think about yes.. though when the weather gets warmer the door can be opened for light and that dry spring air to dry up the room?

[@ydin9]

@@akse certainly something to monitor regularly at the very least, I don't think the basement is that big of an issue as the tank emits heat enough to dry but when you lay something against brick or rock work outdoors it may cause issues. Moisture is pretty magical in it's properties to seep into rocks even.

[@lesleywebb9615]

Thank you for another brilliant video. It is great to see the progress you are making. Love to you all.

[@seybumarek1769]

We are from area that might go below zero when plants are outside already. First we always planted greenhouse - paprikas mostly. overnight we left one candle burning for the whole night. Enough to make the whole thing not freeze. The greenhouse was ~2.5 x 2 meters.

[@lilesosannaflower9956]

I'm near Boyle and its freezing cold here at the end of June, terrible year, you did the right thing moving to a country that actually has summers.

[@CultOfMU]

Weatherpeople are promising (or threatening) up to 30C temperatures next week.

[@debbieretzlaff2912]

Love the basement starting room & the cold frame! I think cold frames are so practical & reasonably priced! We have a 1951 Ferguson, TO-20. It is a simple and reliable tractor. We’ve owned it for 25 years and we have done all of the maintenance on it and it runs well!

[@clarkefountain2258]

The observation skills and puzzle solving skills are part of the reason farming and farmers have a skilled occupation. Of necessity, farmers are very smart!

[@Itslvle]

Just in case it's useful for the potting green house: they make gas pistons for automatically opening green houses if it gets too hot. No electricity, no fuss, just gas that expands inside the piston. I'm sure it's fairly common knowledge but blew me away with such a simple elegant solution. Automatic greenhouse opener or in Finnish "kasvihuone automaattiavaaja". Somewhere between 25-50 euros. Though I assume you're more of a hands-on type of person and it's only for spring use anyways. :)

[@harmlessgrey]

I'm sorry that people complain and criticize you in the comments. I find your content inspirational. Thank you for creating it.

[@oldtimer7635]

Who's complaining?

[@tiuhtiviuhti7998]

Glad to see you are well on your way with first crop in Finland. I absolutely loved the mini green house! It is definitely possible to grow food in Finland. As you mentioned we Finns have been doing that for a long time. I am fairly new with this food growing myself and I only have my fifth growing season on the way. I have almost everything deer protected with a fence but I have found few personal favourites that so far have been left alone by local roe deers. Although every individual seems to have a different taste so there are no guarantees. I have been growing blackberries (Siberian variety) and raspberries outside fencing without problems so far. Also Jerusalem artichoke has been giving huge crop every year with little effort and no fences. I had to protect rhubarb, gooseberries and currants for their unfortunate location at the edge of male deer territory. He likes to scent mark them with his horns. But they are never eaten so they would probably would have otherwise been ok without a fence.

[@mgdubya27]

I learned the hard way that deer will jump the fence without a sweat. Make sure it's high enough.

[@Rafu01]

Valmet 565 is a nice old machine and not too fancy. No cabin so you don't feel too much like you are doing it with a machine. Simple tech from 1965 and made in Finland. You do need a warm overall and karvalakki when using in winter but that is what still gives that handmade feel.

[@jvalfin3359]

More extensive use of greenhouses/polytunnels go a long way here, even more so when comparing to warmer climates. The most important objective is to be ready for the big 3 months when plants are actually growing. The worst thing about short growing seasons is that there's not much room to make mistakes. The worst thing that can happen to your crops is "Takatalvi", snow that can come up in the beginning of summer. It can devastate your crops

[@DNA350ppm]

It is, btw, normal for new Finnish settlers to live in the Sauna until they have enough time to fix the main living area in the House, that is, it can take years. First things first, in Finland. 🙂

[@suzannestack7784]

I've been seeing more people go to double row fencing for deer rather than high fences. It seems that the deer can't see exactly what and where the fences are and their instincts of not getting trapped in them is what keeps them from going in. So two 5' mesh fences 1.5 m apart does the trick. They use this alley for other purposes like a dog run, or chicken/duck run ( which also happens to be a bug catch before the bugs migrate into the garden from outside). Stuff to think about.

[@oskar6747]

5:42 Wild strawberries are the only kind I like. I think it's the same as with bilberries/blueberries. Bilberries grow in the forest and have wonderful taste and colour, but blueberries grow on farms and taste bland and sometimes weird and have no colour.

[@viktoriaberg8706]

Very clever with the growlights. I'm in Swedish Lapland and have growlights all over my flat to keep the house plants alive in winter! 😄 From outside it looks like a ufo landed... But it also keeps us less tired in the winter, so it's a good thing.

[@ciaobella8963]

I hope you can find a neighbor or someone to help you install the fence. It's a heavy job and would go faster and easier with another person helping. Your property is such a blessing. I wish you, your wife and child a very happy life in Finland, and in particular, I wish you a fruitful growing season. Sending my best from Italy.

[@linalindholm5623]

Happy Midsummer 🌸🌱🌸

[@ruthohare9840]

We had to invest in a couple of hundred meters of deer proof fence to protect not just our veg garden but also the food forest and coppice. So that's the deer dealt with, what we've lost trees and crops to (ALL of our potatoes last year) is VOLES! There are predators, owls, fox, weasel but they can't keep up with the insane number of voles. I'm seriously considering getting a farm cat or two.

[@debbibowen]

Most terrier dogs will hunt them too, if that is more to your liking.

[@solitarybea]

cats, at least in my experience, barely put a dent into the vole population. but certainly reduce the number of songbirds, and leave plenty of "gifts" in fluffy soil and compost of the garden. would not recommend.

[@djinniferstonecastle7540]

I have had cats that specifically hunt rodents and others that really go after birds. Maybe it is genetic? A good mouser momma makes rodent killer babies? For sure the songbirds are more seasonal but rodents are all year long.

[@Heliophanus]

@@djinniferstonecastle7540 All cats go after birds. Some just know not to do it while being watched.

[@mchlle94]

So cool! Is it enough space for all the seedlings you'd like in the future? A tip: place some slats on both sides and the top back part of the greenhouse, connected to the wall, to close it off from birds and critters but still get the heat from the rock and the house.

[@janewills3379]

I am in total agreement with you about the deer. We had 23 acres of prairie land in central/south Alberta, Canada. The very best way to keep the deer out of your garden is fencing. No harm done to anyone. We had problems with Richardson Ground Squirrels and voles but they were dealt with by burying wire mesh around the fencing. We loved the wild animals. Just a note of precaution, the wild animals bring wild fleas and ticks with them. Thanks for your videos! 😊🇨🇦

[@Fin_nish_usr]

In Finland, we utilize four-wheel drive vehicles equipped with snow removal equipment. Additionally, the cost of replacement components is relatively economical.

[@patbrady9531]

Pete Larson from Just s Few Acres Farm has s long history of repairing his vintage tractors. His passion is farming simply and being resourceful. His herd of Irish Dexter cows (approximately 30). His farm is in western Nee York state. He, like you, loves to share his simple, respectful approach to life. I believe you could have a good conversation with him about tractors and learning about keeping them in good repair.

[@clover-toadnature9705]

Quote from an American outdoor magazine, field and stream: “Most experts agree that a whitetail could clear an 8-foot high-jump bar (or garden fence) from a standing start without too much difficulty. Give that same deer a running start, and you can add 25 to 50 percent to that height, making a 12-foot leap entirely possible” So I would advise a fence of at least 2.75 meters, since they will generally only jump higher if they feel threatened.

[@Rieskale]

I'm a bit late but still, welcome to Finland! Really exited to follow your journey here and love the mindset you have. Cheers!

[@neulasia]

i, too, would love to see the lupins gone and local oregano in its stead, great for bees & butterflies, looks as lovely in bloom and smells heavenly. if you get chickens the herb is a great pesticide in their nest boxes. and obviously it's tasty on pizza. 😊

[@KenSentMe-]

Better to get some air humidity meter to the basement, so you can see and control the humidity to prevent slowly coming moisture / mold issues. Wouldnt be the first house in Finland which had become unliveable due basement moisture issues. Usually that space is kept as dry as possible. One idea to keep pre-growings warm could be to build greenhouse outside and then to build big mass wood stove inside of it. On youtube can be found very interesting "rocket mass heater" type stove, which could be ideal also for greenhouse usage.

[@lynnelliot7256]

If you get time take a look at 'living traditions homestead' they made a deer fence that works. They put up 2 fences, about 6 feet apart around their orchard part of the homestead, the run chickens and ducks in that, they call it the chicken most. Love watching your videos🌻☺️

[@lynnelliot7256]

Chicken moat

[@Rafu01]

You can apply Riistakeskus to pay for the fence material if you need to protect garden from deer. They "own" the animals and that is why they also take part in fence building in some specific cases. Did you check that option allready?

[@EtherealGrows]

20:35 in Belgium, pretty much yes. The average farmer here usually is a mechanic, plumber, welder, carpenter, bricklayer, nurse, ... all in one. Not saying they are experts in every trade, far from it even. It's just a matter of not having a choice really, when stuff breaks down, you try to fix it. Hiring experts to fix everything for you would simply be too costly.

[@paularuotsalainen979]

Congratulations for the excellent results of your thorough planning and hard work, Daniel 😍 Wishing all the best to you, your lovely family, and your projects!

[@CompostHeap]

Great seedling room! You mentionned equivalent latitude as Anchorage in Alaska, as it happens I follow the progress of Eric and Ariel ( Simple Living Alaska), who have just started their new garden somewhere between Anchorage and Fairbanks, who also needed to protect their seedlings from the elements and the local wildlife. It will be fascinating to watch both your gardening experiences. Wishing you, and yours, all the best. Take care. Love your boisterous dog... C

[@caseyjaymes1204]

An option that many people aren't aware of is a walk behind tractor. I'm familiar with BCS and Earth Tools here in the USA, but I would bet there is something similar in the Euro market. They obviously don't do everything a 4 wheel drive tractor will do, but it's a major upgrade from doing things by hand and drastically cheaper than a compact tractor.

[@j.e.l2793]

So wonderful to see you live and grow both a family and a self sufficient garden at the same latitude as me just west across that litte pond of ours. Two thoughts of mine: Deer can jump quite a bit higher than one expects, but they don't jump if they can't see where they're going to land, so perhaps use those parts of the fence that faces open spaces on both sides as trellis for example rasberries, blackberries, roses, hops and the likes. Bushes like elderberries and sea buckthorn are also good at creating a dense wall which the deer won't jump over and at the same time they create food for you. Yes, the deer do enjoy snacking on the roses and berries, but that's better than snacking on your crop inside your garden. Secondly, those beautiful tall blue and pink flowers around your home, lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus), are an invasive spieces here in Scandinavia, which were introduces here in the late 19'th century from North America. Please be careful not to spread their seeds elsewhere, like with compost or such. It's fine to put leaves and flowers in your compost, but not the seeds or parts of the roots. Here in Sweden we have to send those parts away for special destruction, in an atempt to stop the spreading. Unfortunately it's a battle we're loosing.

[@carolined3058]

Very nice setup in the basement and I really like the cold box

[@BioGartenReich]

Love your video! I could listen to you for hours. You are so motivating and positive. Thank you for your videos und all the best for upcomming projects!

[@IRSA1]

Neverseen you happier and so full of hope ! With that kind of mindset, you are bound to succeed.

[@jussahuttunen7784]

Great video as always! Insulating the basement door and little bit of fixing to close those airgaps on top of the door should definitely help to keep more warmth inside 👍

[@DanKeeley]

If you make sure you get old as in age rather than hours that'll serve you well in terms of repairs. Old engines are much simpler and designed to be worked on. Great way to learn Excellent video very applicable!

[@tapiopalin2779]

Remember, surely somebody has already informed you about those " lovely" flowers! It's a recommendation to get rid of those for ecological reasons. Lupines will kill all other original flowers. Soon it will be too late to cut them as they spread their seeds everywhere. Those flowers have to be burned, not to put into compost. Otherwise very good, keep the spirit!

[@Hurduri]

Not to mention they're also toxic.

[@gaelle4328]

Agree, love them but they are invasive.

[@KalleKilponen]

And it's especially important to understand that they're toxic to bees and other pollinators, which is the main reason they should be removed asap.

[@carolaspinall1562]

@@KalleKilponen never new that!

[@auntiepam5649]

@@KalleKilponenI never heard of that and just did some investigating everything I see says they are not dangerous to bees. Not an expert just reading what others say. The book 100 flowers to feed the bees lists lupines as a good flower for bees.

[@meltemfahliogullari]

As always very inspiring✨ I would indulge another 30min if there was more, the video’s flow is amazing, I don’t think i would be bored if it was longer. (Just of our experience with your longer videos). Also the place has come a long way!😍