Directory

Sakura Oü is a quince orchard in Päka, Estonia, run by farmer Lehari Järg. Most of the work is done by Lehari himself, with one or two extra hands helping out during the summer months. Each quince is picked by hand. The orchard is managed with a light touch. Outside of the early growing season and harvest, the trees require little intervention. Young trees are supported with organic fertiliser made from chicken manure — a simple method that, according to Lehari, works like a charm.

Saloniemen Juustola in Laitila, run by Riitta and Jouni Saloniemi since 1998, has grown from a small herd of goats into a full-scale organic creamery. Today they produce award-winning cheeses and yogurts, as well as some natural cosmetics. Over the years the farm has also introduced Finncattle and a few workhorses, and Riitta is even considering adding sheep. “As long as the heart beats and tells us to keep going, we will,” she says.

Viltgården, based in Fagervik Bay in Inkoo, works with wild game from Finnish forests, mainly deer and moose. The meat comes from local hunting teams in Uusimaa and Varsinais-Suomi and is cut and packed by their own small team at Viltgården’s slaughterhouse in Inkoo. Their approach is rooted in careful, selective hunting and a deep understanding of wildlife populations. By working in step with the forests and their inhabitants, Viltgården offers an ethical, transparent alternative to farmed meat.