Finnish woman fights rural abandonment with innovative reuse of family farm

Heli Pöyry moved back to her family’s rural home in Hirvensalmi, Finland, becoming the sixth generation to live in a house that would otherwise be vacant. With the rate of rural abandonment in Finland currently at three properties per day, similar to last year, Pöyry is troubled and believes the situation requires new ideas and methods to utilize these properties and their old buildings. These methods need to appeal to the youth and future generations, she says.

In July, Pöyry opened a flea market on her family’s farm, selling items like old cow drinking cups from the barn, which she calls “generations’ treasures.” She has been fascinated by the sense of nostalgia visitors experience.

Pöyry, who has two decades of experience in design and product development, is currently working on a Master’s thesis about reviving abandoned farms. The flea market is part of this project. She collects visitors’ ideas for further development in a thick, black notebook, and also accepts suggestions online. People have suggested ideas like shooting courses for women and hunting-related activities. Many have also proposed traditional party venues built in barn lofts, complete with restaurants.

While there are already many such venues, Pöyry encourages more unconventional activities. She proposes ideas like champagne production or a biochar factory.

Arto Pirttilahti, chairman of the Finnish Village Association, identifies three main reasons for the abandonment of farms: inheritance issues, financing, and bureaucracy. He believes that if these obstacles could be removed, more people could have the opportunity to start living in rural areas. He cites bureaucracy as a major issue, especially when the last owner of a property passes away and the property is marked as a vacation spot by tax authorities, making it difficult to convert it back into a permanent residence.

Properties near lakes and cities are still in demand, but financing is much easier to obtain for property in urban areas than in rural areas. In sparsely populated areas, double collateral is often required for properties, which can be a significant deterrent for potential buyers.