Jarna

Travel to Jarna – a small eco community. The closest concept I can come up with is communal living. They are creating a self-supporting community that includes housing, school, hospital,etc.

We heard from Kristoffer Luthi, Vice Managing Director of Ekobanken. The general concept behind this bank is that it is set up as a community bank – banking for sustainability. They started in 1998 – totay have total balance of $32 Million USD. They practice ethical banking/ social financing. Their members are not seeking interest income, but make deposits in support of financing sustainable projects.

“In the centre of our work are cultural, social and ecological initiatives from people who wish to contribute to a positive development of our society. “

They work transparently and openly disclose who they have financed, making it possible for savers to see who they are supporting. They have strongly supported projects around education and care of the elderly, cultural projects and the environment.

We shared lunch in what appears to be a cafeteria enjoying a biodynamic vegetarian buffet. The food through this whole trip continues to be outstanding, with each place working hard to provide wonderful fresh and locally produced items. Since we are at the start of summer here, few fresh vegetables are available unless hot-house grown. Lots of potatoes.

We learned a bit more about the bio-dynamic gardening – very similar to organic growing techniques, with the specific difference of addition of “preparates”, specific plants that provide a balancing nature to the compost. The system appears to be even more in tuned with working with nature in growing.

A train from Sodertalje to Gothenburg, and then Gothernburg to Falkenberg – arriving in Falkenberg at about 9:00 (still very light out!) --- bus to the hostel: Kulturgaden Bjorkenkullen in Bratadal. This hostel is located on a historic farmsted – a couple having converted the space to a green operation. That may be a separate post!