Growing Food in Freezing Finland | My First Year

Is it possible to grow food in Finland's short growing season? Of course it is! In this video I compare southern Finland to Ireland, where I lived and grew food for self-sufficiency for 7 years. Will I be successful?

[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.

[humppanen]

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.

[lizlorraine]

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.

[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

[OMT]

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.

[nickolay]

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.

[Marek-rgzw]

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.

[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 ❤

[glenysperry]

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

[rdezki]

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!

[ilfaitfroid]

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

[MikkoRantalainen]

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

[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 😅

[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.

[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.

[DNAppm]

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.

[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.

[ristopaasivirta]

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!

[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! ❤