Spring is now sprouting for the third time since the move here at the end of 2012! From Sundbyberg, Älvsjö, Odenplan, Gröndal and Sollentuna, it was finally a lifelong dream that came true - the step out into the countryside in Odensala. We were looking for a place that was beautiful and quiet but also with commercial opportunities. At the same time, it must not be too far from public transport. Herresta Lada filled this with style! The first week was, however
Tord's side job at Herresta Lada
challenging; a curious shrew ran over my wife Heléne's face when she was sleeping - then I thought the moving load would return to Sollentuna pronto. In addition, it rained into the living room the second week. But it worked out - two quickly acquired cats immediately began to do their duty in limiting the mouse population. Kalix & Nova are called the predators!
Now we look back on two exciting years of tentative attempts to land in the middle and find a form that is fun for us, takes a reasonable amount of time and is attractive to attract guests here. And we are having a blast in this beautiful place!
Attempts to start farming and animals for own use are slowly progressing. There were two beehives last year and the honey harvest a feast! This spring's project is to build a chicken house and get some chickens together with two neighbor ladies. Our cooperation with the neighbors is both fun and time-saving - so it becomes collective chickens with shared custody, you could say! Starting to grow was harder than I thought as I had no previous experience, but shame on anyone who gives in! The herb garden is now slowly growing and then we will see what happens - we have started a larger planting project on the south side of one of the barns.
Improvisation theater at Herresta Lada
The barn itself is very nice, but how do you get things going so that it is used and contributes to positive experiences? Previous owners had a café and interior design shop in combination with accommodation. We aim more for wedding parties and conferences apart from the accommodation which we retain. We have a cafe and shop from time to time depending on the time. And slowly but surely, the work and marketing are beginning to have an effect. Here, however, a lot of work remains to be done to make it known and utilized.
Activities of various kinds are perhaps the most enjoyable – filling the barn with life by arranging an ecological cafe, art exhibitions, yoga sessions, courses of various kinds and, most recently, a folk music evening. It's especially lovely when someone takes responsibility for the arrangement and we ourselves can also enjoy being guests. We are now starting to receive more and more requests from local entrepreneurs who want to sell their products, hold courses and other things. It gives more flavor for the future!
This is my first blog post. The idea is to tell about our experiences of how the transition from city to country can take place and how to slowly build a new business with its own carrying capacity. Hope you want to follow our tribulations and moments of happiness. Warm welcome!
Tord