"First evening at the new house. I was wondering who was swimming in the pond and saw a mother elk with her baby coming from the water. I was bursting from the beautiful scene as another elk came. And then another. They are still splashing while I write this. Windows open to the summer night. Scent of a log, sleeping pine forest and homies splashing in the pond. Quite a welcoming."
Sanni Orasmaa, 2019
Mustikkarinne - in English Blueberry Hill or Blueberry Slope - is located in Taipale village, in the Suomusjärvi and Karjalohja's Enäjärvi areas, approximately one hour from Helsinki and Turku city centers. Our region draws from an ancient culture. The first inhabitants came here between 7000 and 5000 BC.
This is both home and a work space. Our premises include a log lodge, a hall, est. 7 acres of pine forest, and a pond fed by a natural well. This seems to be a safe place not only for us humans but also for much wildlife. Both deer and elks swim in the pond in the evenings, We have even seen a lynx stretching by the water shore.
Both deer and elks swim in the pond in the evenings, we have even seen a lynx stretching by the water shore.
Mustikkarinne's main house was built by a man who carefully followed nature’s signs. The trees were cut from the premises following the moon calendar, then dried at the yard. When the builder couldn't find the correctly shaped plane, he made one to plane the logs himself.
Throughout the process the builder always made the tools first and then did the work. In many parts of the process the whole village helped to make this one man's dream come true. Recently a student came who told me he had been helping in constructing the bed rooms. The floors were filled with cutter as the ceiling was isolated with Ecover. And no, this was not the 1940’s, this was just a few years ago.
The place for the well was found by willow witching and by looking through a ring. There are wildlife feeding spots in all corners of the plot. In the shed I found sacks of oats and peanut waiting for the winter season and hungry homies.
The house is heated with a solar- and wood-powered water heating system.
The house is heated with a solar- and wood-powered water heating system. Several little paths start from the front yard. Most were trod by animals, but soon one nature path will be shared with us humans too. The route leads past the pond and pine forest areas to spruces and little rocks.
The living room space, which we in Finnish call "pirtti", houses a small grand piano. The studio also has a large unisolated log shed that can host concerts, lectures and other gatherings outside the cooler months.
You are cordially invited and warmly welcomed to Mustikkarinne. Please book your visit ahead!