Nestled in the serene Finnish countryside, Kurki Eco Village is more than a hub for sustainable living; it’s a place where people become family, hands learn the language of the earth, and cultures blend like colors on a canvas. My time here as a volunteer has been a tapestry of hard work, discovery, and connection. From watering the soil in the “Love Garden” to sharing stories over Polish foods, every moment has deepened my appreciation for community-driven living.
Weeding the Love Garden: Patience, Purpose, and Peas
The heart of Kurki’s agricultural efforts is the aptly named Love Garden—a space where care for the earth translates into thriving crops. My first task? Liberating the soil from invasive weeds choking the growth of vegetables. Armed with gloves and a determination to learn, I spent hours kneeling in the dirt, carefully distinguishing between harmful plants and fragile seedlings. It was meditative work, teaching me that nurturing growth often requires removing what no longer serves.
Planting rows of pea seedlings in the cleared earth. As I tucked each seed into the soil, I imagined their journey from humble beginnings to vibrant vines. The garden team explained how peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, a perfect metaphor for how small acts of care can create lasting impact. Now, watching those first green tendrils curl upward, I feel a quiet pride—a reminder that growth is never instantaneous, but always worth the wait.
Flavors of Friendship: Cooking Polish Cuisine with Ola
Volunteering at Kurki isn’t just about work; it’s about exchanging traditions. Enter Ola, my Polish friend, whose passion for her homeland’s cuisine turned the shared kitchen into a portal to Poland. Our collaboration peaked one Friday, when she invited me to help prepare a classic Polish spread.
We started with jajka z majonezem—simple hard-boiled eggs slathered in creamy homemade mayonnaise, garnished with a sprinkle of chives. As I carefully peeled the eggs, Ola shared how this humble dish was a staple at her family’s table. Next, we grated vibrant beetroots and carrots jam for a salad, tossing them with a hint of sugar. The colors alone—deep crimson and sunny orange—felt like a celebration on the plate.
But the star of the polish week was Ola’s barszcz czerwony (borscht), a ruby-red beetroot soup with a tangy, earthy depth that danced on the palate. As it simmered, she recounted how every Polish family has their own variation, passed down through generations. Then came the pierogi, the iconic dumplings she crafted with practiced ease, while Ola demonstrated how to fold them into their signature crescent shape. “In Poland,” she said, her eyes lighting up, “making pierogi is a ritual a way to show love.”
Helping her cook wasn’t just about chopping vegetables or stirring pots; it was about honoring her heritage and discovering how food can weave people into friends.
Building Foundations: From Isolation to wood Walls
Beyond the garden and kitchen, Kurki’s ethos of self-reliance extends to construction. My afternoons were spent assisting in building a communal space, where I learned the art of building walls. Starting with insulation, we layered materials meticulously, balancing thermal efficiency with eco-friendly practices. Then came the satisfying process of erecting wooden frames and securing plasterboard a dance of precision and teamwork.
Conclusion: Roots and Wings
My time at Kurki Eco Village has been a lesson in how growth manifests in countless forms whether in pea seedlings, simmering soups, or sturdy walls. Here, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a lived experience woven into every action and interaction. I’ve learned that “community” is both a verb and a noun, and that the most meaningful journeys are those shared with others.
To anyone yearning to reconnect with the earth or with people from worlds unlike your own I urge you to volunteer, to dig your hands into the soil, and to say “yes” to the unfamiliar. You might just find, as I did, that the simplest acts—weeding, cooking, building—hold the deepest magic.
Kurki Eco Village, Finland – where every seed planted is a promise to the future.