Self-sufficient families thrive in remote Kilpisjärven Iitto, Finland

Kilpisjärven Iitto, a small village located in Finland’s northernmost region, is home to just the families of three brothers. In this remote area, mutual assistance among neighbors is essential, as grocery stores are far away. Living self-sufficiently has been a longstanding family tradition that the brothers strive to maintain in their lifestyle.

In one of the homes, Toivo and Tony Mannela share their insight into their daily lives. “The cornerstone of our dining table is meat from the forest, fish from the waters, and berries and mushrooms from the woods and marshes,” Tony explains. Nearby, 23-year-old Lasse Hoffmann grew up learning the ways of self-sufficiency. His family typically goes shopping about once a week, with the nearest store located around 40 kilometers away in Kilpisjärvi. However, they often choose to travel over 60 kilometers to Karessuvanto instead. “The number of milk cartons in the fridge indicates when it’s time to head to the store,” Lasse jokes.

Families in Iitto usually have enough vegetables and potatoes to last well into early spring, though the Mannela family has faced challenges in recent years due to potato disease, leaving them reliant on store-bought potatoes. “It’s disheartening to depend on purchased potatoes when we’re used to growing our own,” Tony laments.

Residents often hunt and gather together, sharing their catches among households. Each year, the success of moose hunting varies; when unsuccessful, families rely more on fish and other game. The Mannelas have seen demand for certain game, like the highly sought-after grouse, push them to sell their catches to restaurants rather than consume them.

Lasse Hoffmann aims to uphold the principles of self-sufficiency even while studying veterinary medicine in Uppsala, Sweden, where he keeps chickens and sheep from his family’s traditions in Iitto. He plans to continue hunting, fishing, and foraging as much as possible, envisioning a future split between southern Sweden and Iitto.