And so we made our way to the little hamlet Håltebyn, north of Årjäng. This is where my brother has been living since about four years, on the farm started by his girlfriends family. Now it's run by all of them together. It's a rather unique story: the inlaws bought an old farm with the land and have been working to renovate it ever since. The goal is to have a bit-of-everything farm up and running together with holiday homes as well as (mental)health courses. Currently they have:

• two (amazing!) little houses for rent
• a cozy cafe for coffee, cake and meals
• 140 bee colonies
• 3 pigs (and more pig in the freezer)
• about 50 chickens
• 15 odd sheep
• a modest field (with surprise vegetables)
• 3 ducks

Find them on: www.hagenfamiljefarm.com | Google Maps | Booking.com

We stayed in our own van, next to the terrace space outside. We spent about a week hanging around, helping out just enough to earn us the coffees we took from the cafe. One evening we went to the lake to BBQ over an open fire and try the sub-boards. And we did a loop by bike but got caught in heavy rain. Unfortunately the whole week has been grey and rainy. Though I guess at least here we could shelter inside.