Finnish Eco-Agrotourism Association – ECEAT Finland

Finnholm farm grows ecological horticultural produce in the fields and, from spring till autumn, also in a greenhouse. From June till September, the farm shop sells vegetables from our garden, including tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, French beans and lettuce. The total arable land area is approx. 1.5 ha, of which around one sixth is used for horticultural crops.

Accommodation is available in Strandbo rental cottage built in 2010 (89 m2). The cottage has beds for 6 (+ a cot). Two bedrooms, a sauna, toilet and shower. A soapstone fireplace in the kitchen/living area. The cottage has a private shore area and pier.

The rent includes the use of a rowing boat (outboard engine available for an additional fee), a sauna heated by an electric stove, and two bicycles. A play area and outdoor games for children. A masonry barbecue outside the cottage.

The cottage’s interior decoration features local artists’ works and home-spun textiles. To cater for visitors with allergies, smoking and pets are not allowed.

Our story

Historically, the old archipelago croft of Finnholm was part of Söderby Mansion. The farm has belonged to the same family ever since the Crofters Act came into force in 1918. During the Second World War, Finnholm also housed a family of evacuees from Eastern Finland.

The smallholding has always been home to several generations. The older generation moved to the ground floor of the main building once they could no longer manage the stairs, while the younger and more nimble family members lived upstairs.

The currently family on the farm consists of my mother, aged 93, my husband and I, and our youngest daughter who runs a summer restaurant across the water in Padva. The family also includes two Landseer dogs and a cat.

The buildings of the farm also date back to several periods. The current main building was built in 1928, the old crofter’s cottage as far back as 1839, and the outbuildings painted with traditional red ochre in the 1940s and 1950s. The most recent buildings were put up in the 2000s.

Surroundings and activities

Ulkoluoto is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Its neighbours across the sea are Kemiönsaari and Raasepori. The local environment offers shores with alders, spruce, birch and pine forests as well as oaks. The cottage folder provides information about the fish, fungi, plants and berries in the area.

There are inviting paths nearby, and hikers can borrow a map found in the cottage. Recommended pastimes include cycling, rowing, supping, hiking, swimming, fishing and bird-watching. SUP boards available to rent. A guide (VMB-fishing) can be booked to collect the visitors from the cottage and take them out fishing. On cold winters you can ski and skate.

Activities in the local area:

• Pettu archipelago farm on a neighbouring island
• Teijo National Park (35 km): marked hiking trails, canoes and kayaks for rent.
• Bicycle hire at summer café Vinssi (12 km)
• Riding at Melkkilä stables in Perniö (34 km)
• For more information, see the tourist information at sarkisalo and visit.salo

Directions

Finnholm is located approx. 50 km to the southeast from Salo (GPS coordinates: 60,01N, 22,51E).

• Train: Salo 52 km
• Bus: Niksaari 10 km. Salo – Perniö – Niksaari (Förby)
• Motorists/cyclists: Follow road 1823 (from Perniö-Kemiö road) for 12 km, turn left to Niksaarentie, continue on this road for 3 km to Ulkoluoto bridge. Follow Ulkoluodontie road for 6.2 km. Signpost FINNHOLM 800 m. When you see the mail box 80 1-4, you are there.

Opening times and prices

• Open: cottage rental round the year (advance booking), farm shop from June till September
• Prices: EUR 80 to 180/night (entire cottage). Ask for our prices or check the company’s website. Sheets + towels EUR 15/set, final cleaning EUR 75/visit.
• Bonus for ECEAT Finland members and visitors arriving without a motor vehicle or a flight: Free use of a SUP board for an hour

Ecological and cultural actions

• spawning ponds for frogs
• biodiversity on drain margins
• winter feeding of birds
• deadwood left in the forest for micro organisms
• bat communities are nesting in the roof structures of the buildings
• the small forest area is allowed to grow as naturally as possible
• outbuildings are painted with the traditional red ochre
• boat bottoms are cleaned mechanically on dry land rather than painted
• a composter for biowaste
• Your hostess, Karita, completed a Green Start training programme on responsible tourism in early 2021. She is also a member of the Western Finland Organic Association, Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association as well as the local Natur och Miljö association in Kemiönsaari.

Future

• cooperation with a kayaking guide (for example Nordic Activities&Solutions, Björkboda)
• potentially providing our own kayaks to rent