Rantala family farm
Finland
In Rantala farm you get close to real Finnish countryside. Farm is near lake and it is possible to swim in summer daily and wintertime in cold water every day too.There is plenty of room for visitors. You can stay in main house or summertime there is possible to sleep in another building which is traditional place to sleep in summertime. We need help with different things, household, picking berries, taking weeds off from bushes etc. You can also take part to traditional Finnish actitivities. We are also helping our neighbors and there is different small jobs to do. Wintertime is more silent, but we will figure out something, so you will not get bored! We have some chicken, turkeys and couple of peacocks. Plus two cats and dog.
Currently I am living with my adult daughter and her two dogs. She is in charge when I am away.
I am allergic to smells and I appreciate if you do not use fragrances. Perfumes and after shaves are worst and I can not stay inside the house when someone using those. Same with smelling hair dressing products. So using those kind of products inside the house is strictly forbidden.
And please take care of not use perfumed washing powder or softener before coming. Sometimes woofers clothes must be washed 2-3 times before could stay inside house. Same with perfumes, after shaves and other fragrances.
It us better to not use them two weeks before arriving farm. This thing with clothes is especially ones who are coming from France.
And take care your deodorant is without smell!
I hope you take this seriously, because I do not want to turn anyone back from front door. Or put out to tent during stay.
Accomodation is in shared rooms, up to three people in the same room. For couples we are trying to arrange own room. We have usually many woofers at the same time and if you need silence, you can go out to nature. Which is close.
We have sauna almost every day and we are swimming in the lake year around.
Wintertime we have hole in the ice, which makes swimming easier.
With sauna there is four options. 1. Go to sauna with others with swimming suit 2. Go to sauna with others without swimming suit (Finnish way) 3. Go to sauna on your own 4. Do not go to sauna at all and use shower in the house.
We are trying to save energy with different ways. That means short showers, doing laundry when clothes are dirty (not after every use) and turning off light when leaving room or house.
We are also trying to respect neighbors privacy. That means that woofers should not enter other peoples houses or cottages without invitation. Yards and gardens are private areas too and it is not OK to go and take vegetables from neighbors garden. In Finland there is no fences around houses, but that does not mean that they are free to go and spend time hanging there.
If you do not know where you can go, it is always better to ask.
Usually woofers takes flight to Helsinki and takes train or bus from there. Train connection is from airport, with one change. First short trip is with local train. For bus you have to go to Helsinki center first.
We have airport in Kuopio and some woofers are flying to Kuopio. Sometimes price is reasonable, but usually much more expensive. I will pick you up from train, bus or airport.
Organic methods: All traditional methods.
Certifications: Certified in 1992
Internet access available
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Learning opportunities
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Raising of other farm animals
Beekeeping
Beer, cider, wine, or juice making
Bakery
Methods or systems
Biodynamic agriculture
Host type
Production farm
Certified organic
6.5
Hectares
|
16
Acres
Mikko
Member since 2017
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 97%
Response time: typically within 1 day
Finland
From Helsinki to Kuopio by train or cheap bus. Pickup from Kuopio. From Kuopio airport ( 20 kms) pickup.
Reviews
Billy
Belgium
•
January 2026
I have stayed about 2 weeks with Mikko during winter. I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Norway and Sweden to celebrate Christmas with Mikko and 2 other woofers during my stay which has futher broadened my horizons about the Nordic countries.
At the farm, I did some snow work, feed the animals, removing fences, doing errands in town and of course helping in producing "Talakkuna". The vibe at the farm is pretty relax and friendly. There's always more work if you ask, so no worries that there's nothing much to do.
Besides that, there's also the daily sauna and cold plunging(only for the braves) sessions, ice fishing and cross country skiing to immerse you in the local Finnish lifestyle.
I highly recommend Mikko's farm to whoever is interested to wwoof in Finland.
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Shubhang
Finland
•
December 2025
The experience was great !
I only stayed for a single night but wouldn't forget the experience at all.
Mikko and Julia are exceptionally warm people and treated me like their own family member also Rantala farm is located at a quiet yet pretty location.
Very easy to connect people and build memories with :)
Miles
United States
•
September 2025
The time I spent at Rantala was amazing! I don't have any complaints about my experience: Mikko and Juulia were incredibly welcoming, thoughtful, and flexible, and I already miss how relaxed and beautiful the space was. Even though I was there during one of the busiest times of the year, they were both very considerate of everyone’s pace and ability with the work. Most of my tasks revolved around making Talkkuna, caring for the animals, and picking berries (since my visit was in the warmer season). I also had the chance to help at local markets and join in fun activities like night fishing.
If you are open-minded, happy to lend a hand, and curious about unique experiences connected to Finnish culture, you will definitely enjoy your time here! I’m so grateful for my own experience, and I know I’ll remember it very fondly.
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Yuli
Israel
•
September 2025
I stayed with Miko and Julia for a few days. I received the warmest welcome. They met me at the bus station and at the end of my visit they took me back to the train station in Kuopio. Atmosphere on the farm - homely and family-like. A really warm and tidy house. The work was really fun: caring for animals, picking berries, working with honey and packaging local grain products. An atmosphere full of humor. Everything at a comfortable pace and taking into account everyone's personal needs. Shared meals and a sauna in the evening along with dips in the cool lake. Without a doubt one of the experiences I will not forget for a long time. Thank you very much Miko and Julia.
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Willet
United States
•
August 2025
Mikko’s farm was a wonderful experience and a great example of WWOOFing. There was a broad range of jobs and no set schedule, but there was always something to do, and we were encouraged to go for a swim whenever we wanted. Mikko was also very understanding when, during my visit, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease—he and his daughter helped me get to the doctor immediately.
Mikko’s farm is a great example of how you get out what you put in. If you're ready to help, want to engage with the farm and other WWOOFers, and are comfortable being a bit flexible and going with the flow, you will most likely love your time there and hope to return someday.
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Chiharu
Japan
•
July 2025
To Mikko and Julia,
Thank you so much for a truly wonderful month.
The time I spent on the farm was short but incredibly rich and fulfilling. Every day brought new experiences and joy, and I will never forget the people I met here (including the cats, dogs, and birds!), the food, the events, and everything I experienced.
I’m especially grateful to you both for welcoming me during the quieter winter season, even though there was less work. I know there are already many great reviews, so much of what I write might echo others’ experiences—but it was those very reviews that made me want to apply.
Let me share a bit about the daily tasks I did.
As mentioned, things are very different in winter than in summer, so depending on the season, your experience here may vary greatly.
We usually woke up around 9 AM and had breakfast around 10. Daily tasks included feeding the chickens, preparing firewood, organizing storage, and clearing snow. I also had the chance to help with making and packaging Talkkuna, one of the farm's specialty products, whenever there were orders. Saturdays were cleaning days, and we all worked together to tidy the space.
There wasn’t a strict schedule—aside from feeding the chickens, Mikko would let us know each morning what we’d be doing based on the day’s needs. We also went out to set fish traps, tried ice skating and cross-country skiing, and enjoyed every day to the fullest.
Breakfast and lunch were eaten freely whenever we liked (the kitchen was well-stocke
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