FEATURE STORIES

From City Limits to Country Freedom

Josefine and Mirja Egefjord once lived in a centrally located apartment in Skellefteå, but their growing desire for a life closer to nature led them to move. Since 2022, they live on their farm in Gummarksnoret, embracing sustainability, community, animals, and creativity.

The feeling that they had somehow outgrown apartment life came gradually. It escalated as it became increasingly clear that their living situation did not provide the space they needed for their interests.

- It was when we lived in the city and had converted the pavilion at the back into a small carpenter's shed that we realized that no, this is not sustainable, we probably can't live in an apartment anymore, Josefine recalls.

This led to a house hunt with the goal of finding a house fairly close to town with a rural setting. That they ended up on the very farm where they live today was something they themselves see as a lucky coincidence.

- We drove past the farm after another house viewing and said 'that one has our name on it', not knowing that it would actually appear on the market as an alternative, says Josefine. After losing the bidding on another smaller house, they learned that this dream farm was actually going up for sale. Mirja remembers how they put in a bid and then expected the bidding to take off, given the state of the market at the time.

- But that didn't happen. We didn't hear anything for quite a while, but then suddenly we got the message that the sellers actually preferred to sell to us. Since the farm was the sellers' parental home, they were very keen for the farm to end up in what they felt was the right hands.

- I think they understood and appreciated how we saw the farm, and that we would manage it well. That's why it feels extra nice - that we really got a trust. It makes you value it much more, says Josefine.

A new community

The move from the city to the countryside meant not only a new environment, but also a new social context. Josefine and Mirja made a conscious effort to become part of the village community right from the start.

- For us it was probably quite easy because we are so open as people. We joined the village group on Facebook even before we got the keys to the house - there we introduced ourselves and gave a more or less standing invitation to come by for a cup of coffee and say hello, says Josefine.

The community in the village has become something they value highly. It is a community that is very much characterized by cooperation where everyone is very comfortable with both asking for help and pitching in and contributing when you can help. As an example, Josefine mentions how they cover for each other and help with the animals when needed.

- We had to borrow a ram when we were going to have lambs, and when we were going to get chickens we got chickens. Since then we have been giving chickens to others. We also help each other to take care of the animals when someone is away.

Mirja agrees and highlights how everyone in the village helps each other with their respective strengths.

- We still haven't had to buy a tractor. We were even discouraged by our neighbor because we can borrow theirs. Everyone contributes what they are good at, so everyone benefits from helping each other and no one has to do everything themselves. A permanent summer feature in the village is the village flea market, which Josefine and Mirja helped to breathe new life into after the pandemic.

- We think it's great that everyone is so committed and that we get to be involved and inspire reuse, says Josefine.

Creative sustainability

Mirja and Josefine have taken on the challenge of becoming as self-sufficient as possible. Something that is clear to anyone who follows their farm life on the Instagram account, @livetinoret.

- We use everything we can, like fruit and berries. I hunt, so we don't buy meat at all but can trade for fish, or as recently, a pig. I think it's also become a bit of a sport for us - to challenge ourselves to be as self-sufficient as possible, says Mirja.

Since a five-year-old New Year's resolution, they no longer buy new clothes but stick entirely to second hand. Josefine has also found an unexpected but logical source of motivation for a more sustainable lifestyle. Namely, the dump.

- It's crazy what gets thrown away, so we've started encouraging people to give us furniture and things they were going to throw away. If it's a chest of drawers, we'll repaint it and maybe change the fittings. If we like the result and have the space, we keep it, otherwise we sell it at the flea market, says Josefine. "The main thing is that the dresser lives on. The focus on sustainability also encourages and invites creativity. Something that is clearly reflected in how they decorate their home.

- With reuse, you have to be open. You can't expect to find five matching candlesticks if you buy second-hand. And that challenge is really fun when it comes to interior design - being able to match odd things with each other, says Josefine.

Challenges along the way

Taking over an old farm and running most of it yourself has not been without its challenges. The rosy picture of life in the countryside has sometimes given way to a less flattering reality.

- The amount of snow and making use of all the berries, Josefine exclaims almost reflexively when she thinks of some of the challenges.

One of the biggest challenges came when they had to take care of lambs for the first time. They hadn't originally planned to have sheep of their own, but once they took on four summer sheep, they couldn't let them go. So the summer yearling status was upgraded to year-round sheep pretty much immediately.

- We'd only had the sheep for a year and were going to have lambs. Then we really managed to hit all the problems you can have in that context - a ewe got sick, the lambs had to be bottle-fed, there was a cold spring winter and problems with the feed. It was tough, says Mirja. Despite the challenges they faced, they see it as part of the package. That each setback makes the next one a little easier to handle.

- Now we are prepared for the next time, no matter what happens, says Mirja. "We've already tested the worst case scenario, so it can only get better.

Focusing on what's fun

Although both the farm and the house involve a lot of work, neither Mirja nor Josefine have let it overwhelm them. They have constantly reminded themselves why they moved to Gummarksnoret.

- We always try to focus on the things that we enjoy and that we feel good about doing, says Mirja. There are many musts, but as long as you take it easy, prioritize the most urgent and at the same time give yourself time to do what you think is fun, it works out. You shouldn't put a lot of unnecessary demands on yourself. They have also learned the importance of being flexible and open to changing conditions along the way during a project.

- We went into this with the attitude that we should not renovate our relationship, that it should give more than it takes, and I think we have succeeded with that balance. And we really like the process, which probably makes you appreciate the end result more, says Josefine. They have focused on one room or project at a time to avoid feeling like they are living on a construction site.

During the renovation, the house itself has been the main source of inspiration, as Mirja and Josefine want to preserve the character it had even before they moved in.

- You could say that the house decides for itself, and our style fits in with the house. It was liberating to be able to choose large floral wallpaper because that's what suits the house," says Mirja.

- We had a completely different style in the apartment, more industrial, while this house invites you to something else. And it has turned out so right. I've never felt so at home anywhere," says Josefine.

Text: Jimmy Hovrén

Photo: Tilda Olofsgård