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November 2014 Vol 85:09 $4.95
Sweden’s green scene: eco-living and technology
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Permaculture in Värmland
Maria Ågren interview
Sustainable design
The Holiday Season is fast approaching, so don’t miss out on your chance to extend your personal Christmas and New Year Greetings to all your family and friends in the December issue of Swedish Press. Avoid the Christmas rush, and the cost and time of sending out greetings cards, by booking right away. Yes please include my Christmas greetings in the December Swedish Press! Large $ 180 Medium $ 90 Small $ 60 (3.4”W x 4.5”H) (3.4”W x 2.2”H) (1.6”W x 2.2”H) God Jul & Gott Nytt År or Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Please send us your names, message and payment well before November 10. Email your order to info@SwedishPress.com or mail this order form with your payment to Swedish Press, PO Box 188, Blaine, WA 98231, USA or 1950 Cypress Street, Vancouver, BC, V6J 3L8, Canada • Toll Free at 1 866 882 0088
Swedish Press is the world’s leading magazine on all good things Swedish. An authority on design, business, culture and travel since 1929, Swedish Press delivers insightful news and commentary in a visually striking format. With a nod to the past, and a peek to the future, Swedish Press is your go-to source for updates and inspiration from Sweden. SWEDISH PRESS (ISSN 0839-2323) is published ten times per year (Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July/Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec/Jan) by Swedish Press Inc, 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite #101, Blaine, WA 98230 for $35 per year. Periodical postage paid at Blaine, WA 98230-9998 (No. USPS 005544). US POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Swedish Press, Box 188, Blaine, WA 98231 OFFICE: 1950 Cypress Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 3L8 US MAILING ADDRESS: Box 188, Blaine, WA 98231 WEBSITE www.swedishpress.com E-MAIL info@swedishpress.com TEL +1 360 450 5858 TOLL FREE +1 866 882 0088 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tatty Maclay tatty@swedishpress.com CO-EDITOR Anton Fredriksson anton@swedishpress.com ART DIRECTOR Joan Law Fredriksson joan@swedishpress.com MARKETING STRATEGIST Alisha Fredriksson alisha@swedishpress.com
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CONTENTS ( November 2014 ) 4 Letters to the Editor 5 From the Editor’s Desk 6 7 8
Lifestyle 18 Top Sju 19 Film: Fröken Julie
Swedish Headlines Headline News: Election 2014 – The votes are in News at a Glance Swedes in the News
Business 7 Business News 9 Company File: HelioSpectra Feature 10 Ridgedale – design for a greener life
REPRESENTATIVES Calgary: Carin Pihl +1 403 931 0370 Thunder Bay: Elinor Barr +1 807 344 8355 Toronto: Gunilla Sjölin +1 905 727 9837 Winnipeg: Ellen Boryen +1 204 897 1216
‘Sleep Tight Cradle’ by Sofia Chinita & Karin Pereira. Photo © greenfurniture.se
Hemma hos 20 Design: The many colors of Sweden’s green furniture scene 21 Treats à la Henrik 22 Lär Dig Svenska 23 51% Swedish – an artistic document
ADVISORY COMMITTEE Björn Bayley, Peter Ladner, Brian Antonson, Christer Garell, Anders & Hamida Neumuller SWEDISH PRESS SOCIETY President: Lennart Österlind Treasurer: George Cook SUBSCRIPTION rates per year $35, 2 years $65, 3 years $95, 1 year abroad $105. Digital edition $28. Subscribe Toll Free at 1 866 882 0088 or at www.swedishpress.com. VISA and Mastercard accepted. ADVERTISING visit www.swedishpress.com/advertise-us for advertising rates. Call +1 360 450 5858 or +46 725 607800. SweMail TRANSLATIONS to English of the Swedish parts of Swedish Press are available free of charge every month. Visit http://members.shaw.ca/swedmail1/ © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent of Swedish Press is strictly prohibited. Unsolicited material is welcome, but never the publishers responsibility. Enclose stamped self-addressed envelope for return. Statements and opinions expressed by the writers and claims in the advertising are their own and do not necessarily represent Swedish Press.
Photo: Ridgedale Permaculture
Interview 12 Maria Ågren – Director General, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Heritage 15 Mårtensafton 16 Swedish roots, Oregon lives 17 Maclayhem
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In the Loop 24 Landskapsnyheterna 27 Canada, US & Beyond 28 Calendar and Events
Skuleskogen. Coast with magnificent views. Photo: Michael Engman
On the cover: An elderly man holding a green young plant symbolizing growth and ecology. Photo: Igor Yaruta
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Letters to the Editor Dear Friends, I think you do an excellent job and thank you for helping me keep in touch with my roots. The Swedish articles are a challenge but I have an ancient dictionary – no computer! Good luck. Sincerely, Anne V. Axelson Vancouver, British Columbia Hej, hej, Joan, Thank you for taking care of the renewal of our Swedish Press subscription over the phone. In 2001, my husband, Michael Collison, served as Interim Minister of Knox Presbyterian Church in Dannevirke, the hub of a farming community in the south-central part of the North Island of New Zealand. Only after preparing for this, did we begin to realize that this area was the one part of the country settled by “Scandies” in the migration of the late 1800’s….. As a blue-blooded Swede from both sets of immigrant grandparents (and several great-grandparents) to the USA, and raised in Seattle, this piqued my interest – and my Canadian husband’s just as much! We very much enjoyed noticing interesting ways that the Scandie, British and Maori cultures intersected in this area....
Our experience was just a sample of the dispersion and influence of Swedish and Scandinavian peoples and cultures to all corners of the world. We know that there are other examples of such historic intersection with other places beyond North America and Europe! We would be delighted to see more features in Swedish Press of such historic and cultural significance. Bästa hälsningar! Christine Collison White Rock, British Columbia Dear Swedish Press, Many years ago I gave my Dad a subscription to Swedish Press for his birthday in November. He immigrated to Canada in 1928 from Småland at age 14 to join 2 siblings who had come earlier. There were parents and 12 siblings still in Sweden. I have kept the magazine after his death in 2010. This November my daughters and I will meet my cousins Karin and Madelaine in New York where we shall visit the Bronx (interesting that Jonas Bronck was from Småland) and perhaps the Gudrun Sjödén store. Thanks, Beverly Maertens-Poole Camrose, Alberta
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE • STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION • PS Form 3526 1. Publication Title: Swedish Press 2. Publication Number: USPS 005544 ISSN 0839-2323 3. Filing Date: 09/23/2014 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 10 6. Annual Subscription Price: $35.00 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite 101, Blaine, Whatcom, WA 98230-4058 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Offices of Publisher: 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite 101, Blaine, WA 98230-4058 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Joan Fredriksson, 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite 101, Blaine, WA 98230-4058 10. Owner: Swedish Press Inc, 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite 101, Blaine, WA 982304058, Claes Fredriksson, Joan Fredriksson, Anton Fredriksson, Alisha Fredriksson, Arkus Fredriksson, 1950 Cypress Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3L8, Canada 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None. 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months.13. Publication Title: Swedish Press 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: 09/01/2014 15. Extend and Nature of Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date) b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Mailed Outside County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 831 (741) c. Total Paid Distribution: 831 (741) d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Free or Nomina Rate Outside County Copies included on PS Form 3541: 227 (167) e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: 227 (167) f. Total Distribution: 1058 (908) h. Total: 1058 (908) i. Percent Paid: 78.54% (81.61%). 16b. Total Paid Print Copies + Paid Electronic Copies: 831 (741) c. Total Print Distribution + Paid Electronic Copies: 1058 (908) d. Percent Paid: 78.00% (81.00%) 18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: Joan Fredriksson, Title: Owner, Date: 09/23/2014
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From the Editor’s Desk
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am lucky enough to live in a part of Sweden where it feels like the majority of people are striving to live a greener, more sustainable life. Being surrounded by inspiring individuals and organisations who set up initiatives such as farmers markets, a country store stocking local produce, furniture recycling centres and social media groups encouraging swapping and sharing makes it easy (well, easier anyway) to make conscious choices and consume less. But there’s only so much the individual can do without the support of local councils and government legislation – a fact that was brought home to us in our community last year when the commuter train to Stockholm was threatened with closure. Thankfully, a huge protest against this seems to have had the desired effect, but, had the closure gone through, thousands of commuters would have been forced to take to their cars every day, despite their best intentions. For this month’s ‘green’ issue interview, we spoke to Maria Ågren, head of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, about topics ranging from recycling to wolf hunting. I travelled to Värmland for an inspiring visit to an old farm which permaculture educator Richard Perkins and his partner Yohanna Amselem have transformed into the Scandinavian hub for holistic management and permaculture design (and if you’re not sure what those terms mean, all is revealed in the feature on p. 10!). Another form of design at which Swedes shine is environmentally conscious furniture design. We highlight some award-winning examples in Design (p.20) and look at an innovative, and also award-winning, company called HelioSpectra, which produces intelligent light technology for greenhouse growing. Green greetings from Swedish Press!
Tatty Maclay Editor-in-Chief Tatty@Swedishpress.com
My daughter Freya with two examples of our more successful attempts at vegetable growing – marrows grown direct in our (horse-manure heavy) compost heap. Photo: Tatty Maclay
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Swedish Headlines Election 2014: The votes are in By Malin Dunfors
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he Swedish general election on September 14 was expected to be an all Red-Green affair, with the Social Democrats returning to power in coalition with the Greens and the ex-communist Left Party. In the end, the Red-Green coalition did win, but failed to secure a parliamentary majority. With a voter turnout of 83.4 per cent, the Social Democrat-led bloc captured 43.7 per cent of the vote compared to 39.3 per cent for the ruling centre-right Alliance. The far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats became Sweden’s third-largest party, with close to 13 per cent of the general vote. Early reports on election night indicated that the Feminist Initiative party had passed the four per cent
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threshold required to win a parliamentary seat. But in the end, the party only got 3.1 per cent. Out of the Swedish expatriate community, less than 20 per cent voted – a serious threat to democracy, according to Olle Wästberg in an opinon piece for the newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Wästberg currently heads the Swedish Governmental Commission on Democracy. The reactions in the foreign press were mixed depending on their political affiliations, but several outlets expressed concern over the Sweden Democrats’ electoral success. Many also concluded that the results showed Swedes, despite enjoying a stable economy — the envy of other European countries, wanted a return to traditional Social Democratic policies, even if it meant political instability. On October 2, Stefan Löfven was sworn-in as Sweden’s new prime minister and the following day he
made his inaugural speech and government declaration. “If he succeeds to sit for four years and steer through many of his policies, he would have pulled off a major feat based on the difficult political state the country’s in,” said Tommy Möller, Professor of Political Science at the University of Stockholm in an interview with “Godmorgon, världen!” (Swedish Radio’s weekly current affairs show) on October 5. “Already in a couple of months, we will see the new government face the tough challenge of getting their budget approved by the parliament,” Möller explained and added, “I don’t think we should be entirely surprised if we will get to see another governmental crisis or possibly, a re-election. And I’m far from the only one who holds that view.” Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven ( front 6th R) poses with his new government in front of the parliament building in Stockholm October 3, 2014. © Darren McCollester/Getty Images/AFP
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News at a Glance Nobel prizes announced This year’s Nobel prize winners were announced recently in Stockholm, with the popular Literature prize going to Patrick Modiano, a household name in his native France, whose novels, screenplays and children’s books deal with the themes of identity, memory and loss. Other prize winners include the Physics prize to Isamu Akasake, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura for the invention of blue LED and the Chemistry prize to Eric Betzig, Stefan W.Hell and William E. Moerner for advancing light microscopy. The Peace prize, which was announced in Oslo, went to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzay for their work for children’s rights. For a full list of winners, visit www.nobelprize.org.
Sweden leads move to go cashless Visitors to Sweden will notice how little cash actually changes hands. Kroners in the form of coins and bills only make up 3% of the economy. Public transit often doesn’t take cash and parking can be paid via text message. With the average Swede making four out of five transactions electronically or by debit card, even churches are installing card readers to solicit donations from their increasingly cashless congregations. The move towards a cashless society has far-reaching implications. The underground economy, which depends heavily on the anonymity afforded by cashbased transactions,
Compulsory schooling to 18 The new Red-Green Swedish government has announced one of their first new proposals, to extend compulsory schooling in Sweden to the age of 18. Stefan Löfven’s Social Democrats and the Green Party presented their first joint proposal, agreeing that schooling should be extended by two years, teacher salaries should be increased and class sizes made smaller.
Sweden steps up Ebola efforts Following criticism from charities and other organisations that the country is not doing enough to help tackle the Ebola virus, Sweden has agreed to send a team of twelve doctors to west Africa. The government is also sending a further 12 million kronor in aid. ‘As the situation in West Africa is so dire, we are working hard to see what Sweden can do to help further,’ said Swedish health minister Gabriel Wikström.
[Business] News is impacted. Tax evasion also becomes increasingly difficult, with more and more transactions recorded electronically. Perhaps most surprising is the drop in bank robberies in Sweden which fell from 110 reported incidents in 2008 to just 5 in 2012. This is not the first time in history that Sweden has led a transformation in payment methods. In 1661, Sweden became the first European country to issue bank notes. Fastest growing coffee chain in NY Swedish coffee chain, Fika, is taking New York by storm, opening up an additional ten locations over the course of this year. The new stores will bring the total number of Fika coffee shops in New York City to fifteen. “We are tripling the size of the company in less than a year,” explains founder and co-owner Lars Åkerlund.
Along with his wife, Lena Khoury, the couple opened their first Fika shop on 41 West 58th Ave back in 2006. The sudden growth comes after an injection of funds from investors who took a 50% stake in the company. Known for their espresso brewed using a “Swedish method” and handmade chocolates, the company is also exploring other revenue streams. Their newest location at 824 10th Ave is awaiting approval for a liquor license which, in addition to its usual operations, will allow Fika to host profitable private events.
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[Swedes] in the News Turist Oscar contribution Ruben Östlunds film Turist (Force Majeure) has been chosen as the Swedish contribution for this year’s Oscars best foreign film category. The film, which premiered at the Cannes festival in May and was released in the US in October, is Östlunds fourth feature film and the second time the director will compete for Sweden for the prize.
Sedin brothers launch charitable foundation
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Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT
tar Swedish hockey playing brothers Henrik and Daniel Sedin, together with their wives Johanna and Marinette, recently launched the Sedin Family Foundation in Agassiz, British Columbia. The inaugural community gifts presented in the Fraser Valley have benefited the Kent Elementary School, the Kent Community Recreation and Cultural Centre and the Mission Possible Cycling Program.
Ingvarsson awarded SWEA film scholarship
Photo: Benjamin Zadig
SWEA’s Los Angeles chapter recently awarded their annual film scholarship, worth $7500, to Swedish director and documentary maker Caroline Ingvarsson. The scholarship is intended to make it possible for young film makers to develop their knowledge and contacts in LA over a three month period.
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‘Racist’ Pippi edited Swedish television channel SVT is to remove racist references from the Pippi Longstocking tv-series “Här kommer Pippi Långstrump” prior to its re-release on DVD and television. The
series was originally broadcast in 1969 and included Pippi referring to her father as a ‘negerkung’. ‘Astrid Lindgren stood for completely other values than insulting other people,’ said Nils Nyman, CEO of rightsowners Saltkråkan AB.
Nilsdotter named ‘Årets Teknikkvinna’
Karin Nilsdotter, CEO and part-owner of Spaceport Sweden, was recently named ‘Årets Teknikkvinna (Woman in Technology) 2014. The prestigious prize is awarded by Saab, who chose Nilsdotter for her vision and ambitious plans and called her ‘an excellent role model for young girls in the world of engineering.’
Top Swedish skier dies in avalanche
Andreas Fransson, one of the world’s top skiers, was killed recently in an avalanche in the Andes together with Canadian skier JP Auclair. The skiers were working on a documentary in Chile with two other Swedes, who were not injured, when they were swept away by an avalanche while climbing Monte San Lorenzo.
Company File HelioSpectras gröna ljus By Monika Nordqvist Sedan starten 2006 har det svenska bolaget HelioSpectra blivit världsledande inom intelligent ljusteknologi. Med sin unika användning av LED-ljus har företaget revolutionerat både forskning och växthusodling så att energiförbrukning minskar och man får bättre kvalitet på plantor.
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en kanadensiske forskaren och biologen Sylvain Dubé flyttade med sin familj till Sverige 2004. I bagaget hade Sylvain med sig över tio års erfarenhet av kommersiell växthusodling och studier i hur ultraviolett ljus påverkar växter. Hans forskning resulterade i uppfinningen av en LED-baserad smart ljuskälla som gjorde att plantor i växthus fick bästa möjliga tillväxt. Uppfinningen blev grunden till bolaget HelioSpectra, som 2006 startades av Sylvain i hans nya svenska hemstad Borås. Sedan starten har HelioSpectra utvecklat två lampor som finns för försäljning till både privatpersoner och företag. Den ena lampan är lämpad för forsknings-ändamål och den andra för odlingsbelysning. Lamporna är utrustade med lysdioder, LED, som har olika ljusfrekvens, det vill säga färg. Med hjälp av olika ljusrecept kan växtodlarna få fram plantor med högre kvalitet, bättre smak, längre livslängd, minska svinn samt spara energi. Det unika med HelioSpectras lampor är kombinationen av sensorer som känner av hur plantorna
mår, och hur lamporna använder ljuset med en avancerad programvara. HelioSpectras uppfinnigar är skyddade av patent och flertalet patentansökningar. För producenter och konsumenter beskriver HelioSpectra att det finns flera fördelar att använda deras produkter. Till exempel så minskar energiförbrukningen med upp till 50 procent, och plantorna får en bättre kvalitet. Detta ger också minskat spill i växthuset, längre livslängd i livsmedelsbutiken och hemma hos konsumenterna. Tekniken ger också tåligare plantor som klarar transporter och förvaring bättre, ger förbättrad smak och större näringsinnehåll. HelioSpectra har tagit emot ett antal utmärkelser för sin innovativa och miljövänliga teknologi. Till exempel var bolaget ett av tolv nominerade bolag i Greentech Innovation Award 2014 som är ett
[HelioSpectra] utav branschens mest prestigefulla utmärkelser för företag som arbetar med att utveckla produkter för växthus- och trädgårdsodling. Företaget har också fått utmärkelsen SACC New York Deloitte Green Award 2013 HelioSpectra har vuxit från att vara ett litet uppstartsbolag som snabbt fick uppmärksamhet för sina unika uppfinningar till att få in kapital från investerare såsom svenska riskkapitalbolaget Industrifonden. Företaget har också flyttat från sin hemort Borås till Göteborg och idag finns det på plats 14 anställda med fem olika nationaliteter. I juni 2014 börsintroducerades HelioSpectra och VD:n Staffan Hillberg svarade då på varför det var bra att investera i bolaget – “Det är en starkt växande marknad och vi som konsumenter vill kunna köpa färska grönsaker och frukter året runt. Exempel på det här ser man i New York där man bygger växthus ovanpå livsmedelsbutiker”.
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Ridgedale – design for a greener life By Tatty Maclay
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here’s a calm energy mixed with a certain end-of-term weariness when I visit Ridgedale Permaculture, a flagship permaculture farm and teaching facility near Sunne in Värmland, on the last weekend before it closes to visitors for the season. 15 students and nine volunteers from all over the world sit down to a wholesome lunch in one of two hand-built yurts, before heading back out into the damp October chill to construct 2km of 1.8m high moose-proof fencing and slaughter 44 9-week old own-reared organic chickens for consumption on the farm. In less than a year since Richard Perkins, one of the world’s leading permaculture designer-educators, and his co-owner and partner Yohanna Amselem, bought Ridgedale, they have transformed an old Swedish farm into a dedicated Regenerative Agriculture and Permaculture hub, the first of its kind in Scandinavia.
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Since April, among countless other projects, they have: planted numerous varieties of trees and plants, including fruits, nuts and berries, on a Keyline layout, established annual vegetable gardens, planted a willow coppice for firewood, introduced rotational grazing of cows, sheep, chickens, rabbits and goats, converted a hay barn into student accommodation and run seven on-site educational courses. Little wonder they’re now more than ready to enter the winter period of (relative) rest. Permaculture, for those unfamiliar with the term, is, simply put, a method of ecological design, construction and management that develops sustainable agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems – i.e. working
with, rather than against, nature. One of the core elements of this is Keyline design, a way of managing the supply and distribution of water, using contour plowing. When you look at the aerial views of the planting at Ridgedale, with their curved lines, it’s clear to see the technique in practice. Other simple examples of this holistic management approach can be seen all around the farm – from
the way the vegetables are grown direct into (free) horse manure, to the way the greenhouse will become a light-filled shelter in which the sheep can overwinter once the tomatoes and cucumbers are harvested, to the hens’ mobile coop, which
allows them to move to fresh pasture daily. Though their unconventional methods have raised some eyebrows among the authorities (‘There will be a lot of form filling this winter,’ says Yohanna with a wry smile), the local farming community have been interested in and positive about their endeavours. ‘We absolutely want to be part of the community, not seen as something separate,’ says Yohanna. Richard’s journey towards Ridgedale began when he studied organic agriculture in the UK and saw how the education of fellow students on the adjoining conventional agricultural course, mainly sons of farmers and therefore the farmers of the future, seemed mainly to consist of studying machinery manuals and chemical application. Disillusioned, he set off travelling and first came across the concept of Permaculture in Australia around
1999. He has since studied and travelled extensively and works professionally in every major climate zone. Speaking of which, would it not have been easier to set up a fully self-sustaining farm in a country with a milder climate than Sweden’s? ‘No,’ says Richard. ‘A cold climate is good – all pests and diseases die off in the cold winter months, and I like having a defined six months on, six months off.’ An experiment in growing rice in their Swedish climate zone 3/4, however, didn’t fare so well – cultivating cloudberries is a possible future trial. But whether we live in Värmland or Vancouver, what can the average non-farmer do to reduce our negative impact on the environment?
‘Well, there’s not that much you can do in your back garden,’ says Richard, ‘but making conscious choices as a consumer, meeting your local farmers and getting involved in the community is a good start.’ ‘And,’ adds Yohanna, ‘discovering the joy of growing your own food is something you can do even with a tiny outdoor space.’
One of the main obstacles to using healthy, sustainable agricultural practices, which directly effects our choices as food consumers, is irresponsible and illogical government legislation. ‘I would look at ways to stop
subsidised farming, giving farmers more freedom and responsibility to make their own decisions,’ says Richard. ‘I would also change the law to allow animal processing on site for local consumption.’ ‘I believe the future of farming is people based, not oil-based,’ says Richard. And in this small corner of Värmland, as one team set off to move the cows in for milking and another fetches the chickens for slaughter (‘their one bad day’), such a future looks both promising and possible.
Photos: Ridgedale Permaculture www.ridgedalepermaculture.com
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