Self-sufficient family enjoys simplicity during Christmas
By Timo Siukonen
In the midst of the conspicuous consumption that typifies the Christmas season in much of the Western world, a critical observation is whispered from Rasimäki in Northern Karelia: “That which is monetarily profitable, cannot be ecologically gentle.”
Lasse Nordlund, 43, the owner of the rural house, says that his family shuns the customary way of celebrating Christmas. He feels that spiritual depth is not to be found in the midst of material goods. “We are amazed how our society, which behaves in a destructive manner, proclaims Christmas peace to nature and to people.”
Nordlund largely lives a life of self-sufficiency with his spouse, trained teacher Maria Dorff, 30, and their children, Viljami, 7, and Aamu, 2.
Their lifestyle includes organic subsistence farming, a minimum of use of external energy and money, modesty, taking great joy in life, manual labour, and inventiveness in the everyday tasks of life. Renunciation is also needed.
“Growing food begins with the good composting of outhouse waste and food scraps”, Nordlund explains. “The soil is tilled with a pitchfork. I collect firewood with a wheelbarrow and a hand saw.”
Nordlund spins woollen yarn with a wooden spinning wheel that he built himself. He knits sweaters and socks, and sews his own leather trousers. Flax grown in their field is spun for making fish traps, baskets are woven out of willow, or old sauna whisks.
The family eats mushrooms, berries, and other natural foods. They also eat fish, and on rare occasions, meat. The food is prepared without salt, and they rarely shop for groceries at stores. They buy milk directly from a nearby farm.
Nordlund’s diet is exceptional. He eats much rutabaga, and hardly any grain products. “My diet suits me, but it might drive others out of the house.”
Nordlund’s interest in self-sufficiency arose in the mid-1980s. He noticed that he was unable to define his place in society after finishing school. He lived in Germany at the time.
An issue of conscience became a problem: “Can I be involved in developing a society if I feel that it is built with no foundation?”
He found the answer in self-sufficiency.
“When a person produces everything he needs himself, he reaches a state in which it is possible to choose how to target his labour input, free from the monetary economy.”
Gradually his experiences gave birth to theories, which led to a written summary in 1991. Nordlund travelled around the country by bicycle, giving lectures.
“Then I wanted to become thoroughly self-sufficient and test my theories in practice. I was surprised at how meagre dependence on money can become: 30 to 50 euros a year.”
That is how little he spent during his bachelor years.
In November 2008 his book Elämämme perusteista (“On the Foundations of our Life”) was published in Tampere at the Pispala Centre of modern Art.
He hitch-hiked to the venue from Valtimo, with his food in his backpack.
In his book, Nordlund writes about the relationships between work and machinery, energy and money, and man and energy.
“Contrary to popular belief, we have not succeeded in making our energy acquisition more efficient in primary production through technology or more developed distribution of labour.”
“A tractor that pulls a plow with seven blades certainly looks efficient”, Nordlund notes.
“But it supplies our nutritional energy much less efficiently than a person working in a garden by hand.”
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 21.12.2008
TIMO SIUKONEN / Helsingin Sanomat
timo.siukonen@hs.fi
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| 23.12.2008 - THIS WEEK |
 Self-sufficient family enjoys simplicity during Christmas |
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