I live in a country community in Southern Finland, writes Toni Tanskanen, in a 150 year old log house. Our goal is to be independent of society as far as possible.
Finland loves off-grid
This is life long project for me. We have now 12 square metres of land for organic agriculture, soon we will have two finn-horses and one pony. also two sheep. our community works very well. There are three adults, three children (all one person’s), two dogs and two cats. In the spring we’re buying also three hives of bees.
My own plan is to do full time organic agriculture in the summer time, collect wild food from nature and take care of the bees. Also I’m gonna collect material from nature for handicrafts for the winter. I will make hats, baskets and many other things from reed(rush), willow, hemp, linen, and nettle fiber. Then I’m going to sell them to the people on the streets.
I’m now studying how to be a natural entrepreneur.
I have idea about creating an eco-village which isn’t one big building but a small village community which consist of common kitchen & sauna & washing place & main building and private singletons and duplexes. Those would be small low-cost huts, teepees, yurts and a such ancient dwellings.
I have decided that I won’t study anything that I’m not interested in anymore. And I am interested in self-sustainability, solidarity and helping people. I am interested in giving joy and happiness to people, not being in the rat-wheel as we say here in Finland.
I am mentally healthy, also socially and physically. I have no problems (half year ago I had some) which is a quite surprising and feel very good. My goal for my life is to live in THIS MOMENT and give, give, give! That way is also the only way to get as much as possible. But I get also when giving. I give light of my being and I get light of the beings of the others. And that’s MUCH. That’s the most precious thing we can give and get. I could die as happy person just now for I have got so much from the life itself.
I had lived only 23 years and Fully Lived only four years.
Although I aim to live like an ascetic, I don’t feel like that. When I’m eating and living more simply, I get more from it. I feel like as a true hedonist. I feel odd when I’m visiting in cities and seeing what poor games people are playing! I cannot help them. I can only help myself and be part of creating a new culture based on true joy, happiness and solidarity. I can only help those who are open to it and also same time they help me.
blessings, (I’m not religious, but spiritual; I am Not Christian, not new-age, … maybe mystic )
Toni Tanskanen (23 years old man, graduated from high school)
One Response
Toni you are so lucky to get this state of mind in 23.
I’m 59 Russian man, lived many years in USA and just begin to
look for this way.
I have some resources and looking for the right place and people.
You’d just speak out my ideas about the principles of organizing
of such off-grid communities (in USA they are mostly just eco-friendly condos).
My mother was from Nothern part of Russia and I’d spend my childhood in villages helping peasants, fishing, skiing so on.
It was my best time, although I know how hard this life is.
I don’t eat meat – that’s the serious moral and health restriction for me. I like North, but now live in nearby San Francisco – so called Bay Area.
I have some money to join some group, well “fisheterian” or vegeterian (I’m on the way – not vegan).
Have plans to invite new people? What about my age – I’m in a good shape, like skiing, swimming.
Drop me a line.
Alex