I arrived in Kurjen-tila, a small and cozy eco-village in southern Finland, with a suitcase full of expectations and a hint of dread. It was August 22, and the end of the Finnish summer was painting the landscape in warm hues and smelling of nature. The sun set late, around 9:30 p.m., giving a golden light that seemed to welcome my steps into this unknown but surprisingly familiar world. In a short time, Kurjen-tila became home. A home made of industrious hands, the sounds of nature, collaborative voices, and planet-friendly gestures.
To live in an eco-village is to embrace a way of being rather than a way of life. Here, every action seems part of a bigger picture: rainwater harvesting, compost creation and care, potato fields fertilized only with what nature provides, lush gardens nurtured by permaculture. Every plastic bottle, can or piece of paper finds its place in a cycle of continuous reuse. Everything is designed to integrate with the environment, not dominate it. Kurjen-tila has taught me that a more harmonious and environmentally sustainable way of living is not only possible, it is already a reality.
As a European Solidarity Corps volunteer, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in every aspect of this life. I prepared community lunches in a kitchen that pulsed with conversation and laughter; I worked on the renovation of an old barn, soon to become a space for yoga, permaculture classes and meetings. In the fields, between planting, harvesting and tending crops, I experienced the value of manual labor and connecting with the earth.
One of the most rewarding moments was to partecipate in running the summer cafeteria, a small haven of delights: the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sweet taste of Pulla, the typical cinnamon rolls, welcomed residents and curious visitors. days often ended in the village sauna, a sacred place for Finns, where body and mind found refreshment after hours of work in the sun or soaking in the cool northern breeze.
But Kurjen-tila was not only work. It has also been a human discovery. Living and collaborating with volunteers of other nationalities and villagers was a deeply enriching experience for me. Every dialogue was a window to a different world, every laugh a bridge between cultures. Sharing dreams and visions, facing challenges and celebrating small goals together made us a community, united by mutual respect and a sense of shared responsibility to the planet.
I will never forget the Ruska, that magical time when the Finnish autumn turns red, orange and yellow, transforming the forests into impressionist paintings. It was as if nature itself wanted to give me yet another lesson in beauty and resilience.
This experience taught me that there are no boundaries for those who wish to learn to live in harmony with the world. If you are curious, eager to make a difference and ready to get your hands dirty for a better future, an experience like this could change the way you see the world, just as it did with mine. Kurjen-tila will always remain a part of me: a great little home in Finland where the present is already a taste of the future we can build together.
