Alva Herdevall is a Swedish author (Heirloom Skills: a complete guide to modern homesteading - which has been hugely popular in Swedish, is now available to pre-order in English) as well as a self-confessed plant lover, homesteader & permaculture designer". Once a city girl (Alva also lived in Malmö for many years), the writer moved to Krusenbergs farm in Uppsala where she and her partner Anders Rydell have created a country life with their small children and four legged friend.
Days are spent 'odling' (toiling the soil and growing flowers, fruit and vegetables) - the results of which include a beautiful array of sunflowers, sweet peas, peonies, dahlia and other blooms as well as great gluts homegrown tomatoes, courgettes, beans and squash. Whatever the family have left over is preserved for the winter or sold through their honesty store and 'pick your own' farm. Fresh eggs and honey are also available to buy.
Inside, evidence of the recent harvest can be seen overflowing in the kitchen and as a centre piece on the dining table and brightening up windowsills throughout the home. Here's a peek into Alva's beautiful world in the Swedish countryside.
In September the forests and fields are ripe with edible delicacies. Swedes love to pickle and preserve whatever they have leftover and savour pickled cucumber, beetroot and other preserves on sandwiches or as a side dish throughout winter. Alva has a larder full of homemade jars - many of which she lists in her book.
Do you preserve fruit and vegetables too? If so, I'd love to hear about some of your favourites!
Alva's home is a wonderful, warm, eclectic mix of vintage and antique finds, books, plants, pattern and prints.
Yellow kitchen cabinets and a kilim rug in reds and blues bring warmth and cosiness to the kitchen.
Anders built the outdoor kitchen and table, now laden with homegrown produce. Flowers and other produce are also sold through their farm shop (below).
What a lovely life!
See more pictures from Alva's home and garden over at @krusenbergsodlarna and find out more about their store, wedding floristry and workshops here.
Does it make anyone else want to move to the countryside? There's nothing quite like a little dreaming on a Monday!
Take a tour of other Scandinavian country homes in the country home archive.
Stor kram!
Niki
Credits:
1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15 @krusenbergsodlarna
4, 5 by Roland Persson for book Modern Självhushållning published by Natur & Kultur Fakta.
2, 3, 9, 10, 12, 13 Idha Lindhag
Shared with kind permission.
I absolutely love this house! I tried my hand at fermenting some daikon last year. I added a chopped chili and some cumin seed to the radish. I found it delicious and enjoyed it with many meals. Unfortunately my family was not onboard because of the gas smell emitted every time I opened the jar of fermented radish! Honestly though it tasted wonderful. Thanks for another great home, Amanda
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh so much! Sounds delicious to me - and in my experience, if the rest of the family are put off, it just means more for you! Winning!
DeleteSo charming!
ReplyDeleteHappy you enjoyed this lovely house too!
DeleteThis is so lovely to see! Thank you for sharing! it's so nice seeing another style of life, especially in the countryside.
ReplyDeleteReally pleased you enjoyed this snapshot into swedish country life :)
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