Three generations on a Lapland farm: “I moved back to my childhood home’s property—even though I swore I’d never come back”
Outi was never supposed to return to her childhood surroundings, but things turned out differently. After the mold-house debacle and one failed moving attempt, she and her family ended up back at her home farm. Now the family shares the old farm in Lapland, with Outi’s parents.
Residents: Physician Outi Sorsa, 41, and entrepreneur Ville Sorsa, 43, their daughters Aliisa, 15, Aili, 10, and Selja, 7, and Outi’s parents, Eero Perttunen, 75, and Sisko Perttunen, 70, plus Lilli the dog, Alma the cat, Neptunus the rabbit, horses Ulla, Atte, Mari, and Rikke, rooster Macho Fantastico, rams Paco and Pallo, as well as six hens and, in summer, a varying number of sheep.
Home: A farm located in Pelkosenniemi, featuring 14 buildings, including a 1940s house, a single-family home built in 1990, a 1930s cowshed, a lakeside sauna, and a fish shed.
Four horses graze in the meadow, and a flock of hens scurries around the yard. Somewhere off in the distance, a rooster crows.
Two heads peek out from behind the berry bush. Sisko and Eero Perttunen are gathering the fall’s currant harvest. In the distance, you can hear the buzz of a circular saw. Having graduated as a restoration artisan a year ago, Ville Sorsa is busy working on log construction.
It’s a September weekday at Mäkelä Farm in Pelkosenniemi. The children are at school, and the adults are busy with their tasks.
On this farm by the Kemijoki River, a large group of animals and multiple generations share everyday life. Ville and his wife Outi Sorsa—Sisko and Eero’s oldest daughter—and their three children moved to Outi’s home farm a little over a year ago.
Actually, the Sorsa family first moved here nine years ago, but that time things didn’t go as planned. Now they’re living on the farm for the second time.
“I wanted them to have a storybook childhood.”
From Helsinki to the countryside
It was Ville who suggested to Outi that they move to Pelkosenniemi. It was 2016, and the family was living in the Roihuvuori neighborhood of Helsinki. Ville worked as a preschool teacher, and Outi had recently graduated as a physician.
The family enjoyed Helsinki, but Ville longed for a deeper connection to the land. He wanted his children to learn traditional farm skills and get a perspective beyond city life.
“I wanted them to have a storybook childhood like in Astrid Lindgren’s The Children of Noisy Village. I also figured moving back to Helsinki later would be easier than leaving it if we stayed there throughout their childhood.”
So Ville suggested moving the family to Outi’s home farm called Mäkelä Farm. Her ancestors had lived there since the 1700s—almost from when Finnish settlement spread to eastern Lapland along the Kemijoki River.
Outi agreed, even though she had once sworn as a teenager that she would never go back.
“I had to reach my thirties before I was ready.”
Sisko and Eero were thrilled when they heard about their daughter’s plan. Multiple generations had shared the farm before.
They had moved to the farm themselves in 1990, after Eero’s father passed away, leaving his mother alone with a large farm. Sisko and Eero decided to join her. Sisko says she fell in love with the scenery the very first time she saw it.
Eero and Sisko built a new single-family house in the yard for their own family. Eero’s mother stayed in the old main house, referred to as the “old grandma’s house.”
Their family expanded in Pelkosenniemi with one more daughter. Besides raising children, they took care of reindeer and horses. The farm has raised Finnish horses for decades, including Saran Salama, a three-time harness racing champion stallion.
“Sometimes I wonder how we managed all of it back then,” Sisko says.
After a year, Outi and Ville decided to leave Pelkosenniemi behind.
The time was not right
Living under the same roof with Outi’s parents went smoothly, yet that first year in Pelkosenniemi was tough.
The children attended a school in Pelkosenniemi that was in poor condition. Classes took place in temporary facilities, and there was severe bullying. Outi and Ville’s Aarni struggled a lot.
Outi also had a hard time at work. She was newly licensed and found that working in a small health center without sufficient support was too demanding.
After a year, Outi and Ville decided Pelkosenniemi wasn’t for them. They didn’t want to move back to Helsinki, but Outi and the children needed a larger community, so they chose Rovaniemi.
“It was a lukewarm compromise,” Ville says.
“Our children found friends and hobbies in Rovaniemi, and Outi was able to do her specialization studies there.”
“Every sample was packed with microbial damage. It was a shock.”
A wild mold house nightmare
The 1950s house in Rovaniemi was supposed to be in good shape after a renovation, but Ville discovered water damage.
Its true condition emerged in a thorough inspection. Every single sample revealed severe microbial damage—a shocking discovery. Ville, who is prone to depression, was paralyzed by the news. Outi, who calls herself a survivor, decided she just had to keep going.
“I thought there was no point in sitting around. I pushed forward.”
The Sorsa family wanted to cancel the purchase, hiring a lawyer to help. The process dragged on for years. In the meantime, they moved into a rental.
“It took at least three years before we even got to the preliminary district court hearing. Then, to everyone’s surprise, the seller suddenly said they would buy the house back.”
Outi and Ville were hugely relieved, but it had been a costly lesson. Ville estimates they spent tens of thousands of euros on legal fees and rental costs.
“The girls wanted to live close to the horses.”
Returning to Pelkosenniemi
What would you think, Sisko and Eero, if we moved back?
The idea of returning developed gradually for Outi and Ville. Outi had finished her specialization, and Ville was unhappy in Rovaniemi and eager to change careers.
Their oldest son, Aarni, didn’t want to come back to Pelkosenniemi, but he could stay in Rovaniemi as a high school student. For the girls, the deciding factor was the horses. They wanted to be near them and were willing to move for that.
One thing was clear: their housing arrangement had to change. The first time, Outi’s family stayed in the old grandma’s house, which was in disrepair and too small. It needed to be renovated so Sisko and Eero could live there, letting Outi and Ville’s family move into Sisko and Eero’s house.
Since Ville planned to study restoration, he worked out a deal with his in-laws to refurbish the old grandma’s house as part of his program. The renovation took a year, during which Ville lived in Pelkosenniemi while the rest of the family stayed in Rovaniemi.
“After a year, my in-laws were able to move into their new home, and our family took over theirs. At the same time, I gained a new profession,” Ville says.
Outi and Ville both know they can’t manage it all without Sisko and Eero.
A new sense of purpose
This time around, many things have gone differently. A new school was built in Pelkosenniemi, and the children have settled in well. Outi is back at the health center, but now she’s a more experienced physician who enjoys her role. She works in Pelkosenniemi three days a week and in Sodankylä one day a week.
“Doing health center work here feels so much more meaningful than in a big city. I understand people’s outlook and everyday realities. These are my people,” Outi explains.
Living with three generations is rewarding, though it took some initial adjusting. Outi’s parents were used to doing things their way, and sometimes Outi and Ville do them differently, causing occasional friction.
“But they know how to run a farm and where to find the best fishing and berry spots. I’ve learned a ton from them,” Ville says.
Outi and Ville know they couldn’t do it all alone without Sisko and Eero. It’s a true collective effort. Outi’s parents help with both the kids and the animals. Meanwhile, Sisko and Eero appreciate Ville’s perspective and construction expertise. Thanks to him, the old farmhouse is now revived.
“He’s picked up and mastered so many skills,” Sisko says.
Ville teaches music once a week at Pelkosenniemi’s school. The rest of the time, he’s renovating old houses through his own repair and restoration business.
After dealing with the mold-house fiasco, Ville wants to help ensure that old buildings are correctly restored. Living here gives him even more purpose, as the area is culturally significant.
In general, life feels more balanced now.
“I changed careers and really love my work. As a family, we’re doing so well.”
“In our free time, we play folk music”
What’s your morning routine like?
Ville: Eero and Sisko are always up first, and Eero goes out on his morning check.
Eero: I let the cat in, feed hay to the horses, and give the rabbit fresh dandelion leaves.
Sisko: Meanwhile, I make coffee and get breakfast ready.
Outi: Ville and I get up at 6:30. I do a quick workout and go for a swim. We leave for work just before eight. The school taxi picks up the kids at ten.
What do you all do together?
Eero: We take care of farm chores, and we both operate the machines.
Sisko: We also process firewood together—Eero fells the trees, I trim branches. In our free time, we play folk music.
Outi: After lunch, we usually head out to handle the stable work together.
Ville: Outi gives me riding lessons, and my goal is to be galloping like a cowboy within a year.
Who’s the best cleaner in your family?
Sisko: Theoretically Eero, in practice me.
Eero: I’m neat and precise in my own projects.
Outi: Ville and I disagree on this regularly. I’d say it’s me.
Ville: It’s up for debate, but Outi’s the one who can’t stand a messy house. I usually clean to keep her happy.
What’s the never-ending home project?
Ville: Wallpapering the girls’ room and redoing the bathroom.
Sisko: I’ve kept handwritten family diaries since 1985. Typing them up always ends up on the back burner. But I’ll get to it one day if the good Lord allows!
Who calls the shots when it comes to interior decorating?
Eero: Probably Sisko.
Sisko: Coziness and practicality matter now that our space is smaller.
Ville: Outi doesn’t have much of an eye or an interest in decorating. I can see what looks nice, but I’m not that interested. I’m more focused on whether the triangular molding is done in the old-school style.
Outi: Sometimes I try to get into decorating, but my enthusiasm fades quickly. I value beauty, but decorating isn’t a priority for me.
How do you relax?
Ville: It’s hard to justify resting when you see your father-in-law hauling firewood outside. But everyone needs time to do absolutely nothing. We stop all chores at Saturday’s sauna time, and after that, Saturday is reserved for relaxing.
Eero: A good nap after a hearty meal works wonders. Nature walks and photography are my passions, along with playing the harmonica.
Sisko: I do crafts and watch my favorite shows. In the evenings, I love drifting off to sleep while reading.
