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Hongola Gård, owned by the Furuhjelm family, is an organic livestock farm in Urjala. The farm has reared cattle for over 300 years on the estate’s forest pastures, and still today the cows are permitted to move around these areas freely between spring and autumn. In 2017 the family introduced Black Angus cows, a Scottish breed, which are fed only naturally grown field grass. That means that the meat is formally classified as “grass-fed beef”. The farmhouse itself dates back to the 1600s, and is said to have inspired the Under the North Star trilogy by Väinö Linna, whose mother worked in the house. Hongola Gård hosts an annual harvest festival with local artisans and producers open for visitors.

Kaiholan Puutarha in Orivesi is run by Pia Kärki and Glenn Eloranta on land that once belonged to Glenn’s grandfather. They grow a wide range of herbs, edible flowers, berries, and vegetables, and also manage gardens for others. The couple likes to experiment with unusual varieties, from Thai cucumbers to Huacatay and golden garlic flowers. All production is done without tractors, single-use plastics, or chemicals, using natural methods and ecosystem services to support healthy soil.

Sanna Reponen is a small-scale organic farmer in Sulkava, growing garlic across almost her entire 500 square meter plot. She also produces small amounts of oats and feed for a neighbouring organic dairy farm. Her garlic is highly sought after, often sold out before the next season even begins. Sanna keeps a low profile online and on social media, earning her the mysterious nickname “the invisible farmer.”