Here is a short clip about what I try to do to live more sustainably.
I think more than particular actions, it’s the mentality and awareness, and doing as much as you can and are ok with. Like limiting meat consumption to a few times a month if you’re comfortable with it and making sure to buy eco and local if possible, as this gives you a better idea of how the animals are treated.
We switched to electric as soon as we could afford it and installed an underground water tank to collect rainwater. I don’t own a car myself and take public transport instead. Or walk. I do take the plane every once in a while, but I guess while one can’t be a saint, every little bit helps.
Watching documentaries is also a good way of staying aware of what’s happening around the planet, therefore I have a little Facebook page with documentaries I watch and find interesting. The page is called “A Docu a Week”. Have a look if you like:
www.facebook.com/adocuaweek
This year I took part in the Fjallraven Polar 2024 competition with the below videos as a creative challenge (30.000 competitors signed up with seriously good videos, so not expecting much ^^*)
You can read more about the challenge here. I might or might not have jumped on it extra enthusiastically because it starts in Kiruna, a short snowmobile drive from my former home...
You can also see these on my Instagram account: _immortalangel
P.S.: turn the sound on to hear my exquisite mumble-rap =D
Challenge 1: "We'd love you to tell the story of your local environment. What does your home turf mean to you? What features make it unique? And in what ways might you ensure that it's looked after in the future?"
Witness me as I attempt my first #fjallravenpolar2024 #challenge1, flowing into the river of hopefuls gazing towards the arctic Valhalla glimmering from the North, and raising their souls from all around the world to secure a spot on the fierce husky-powered Snowpiercer.
Just like how my mind is wired, I wasn’t able to squeeze everything into one 60-second reel so you might have to suffer through a few more of these :)
Also: the weeding is not to get rid of local flora, but of invasive species like the Fallopia Japonica (which btw is edible) which is endangering the local nature.
Part two of the first #fjallravenpolar2024 #challenge1 a bit for fun, a bit for food :) Do visit Bled and Bohinj if you ever come to Slovenia, and the entire Triglav National Park as with over 40% of our country being protected area there is loads to explore!
Challenge 2: "How do you make your most loved gear last longer? Tell us about a garment or a piece of equipment you just can't let go of. How have you repaired, modified or looked after it, and what adventures has it
accompanied you on?"
(2.1) My first attempt at #fjallravenpolar2024 #challenge2 Ive been so trained to care about things at home, that explaining the routine cleaning and dusting of seemingly new items really wouldnt make for an interesting video. So instead I dug out a few videos from earlier this year when I was living and volunteering on boats for 3 months, where there was always something to fix, clean, or maintain. Enjoy! :)
Fjallraven asked “How do you make your most loved gear last longer?”
Well, they aren’t quite “gear”*, but they are certainly most loved amongst everything one could call a necessity to accomplish dog sledding (and honestly also most loved amongst everything else that exists in the world).
I lived and worked in Kiruna through the year 2022, mainly working in management, social media, bookings, customer relations, planning and taking care of the ill and old huskies, but a few times I managed to go dog sledding too. Thats why I really yearn to go back and properly enjoy what I was mainly just “selling and maintaining/loving”.
Since the #fjallravenpolar2024 #challenge2 duration limit is 60 seconds its all a bit squeezed and there is so much more one could talk about, but maybe it at least gives an idea of how life with 24/7 fluffpaws is like :)
Bonus: basic international commands for sled-dogs:
Go left = Go haw!
Go right = Go gee!
Go straight ahead (pass other team) = On by!
Oh, and all the footage is mine (like in all other videos) and guests signed a waiver so there is no rights issue.
*Dogs are family members and not tools, just in case someone gets the wrong idea cause i call them “gear” for this creative challenge. I loved these dogs more than I loved my own health and well-being.
Challenge 3:"We want to know how vou motivate ourself and those around you to spend more time in or around nature. What do you do, or what could you do to get closer to it?"
“How do you motivate yourself and those around you to spend more time in or around nature?” Well, I really don’t need motivation (I rather need motivation to be amongst humans <.<), but how do I inspire others to explore nature around the world? Well, see for yourself if this makes your wanderlust tingle:
What’s the very best way of experiencing the world?
A way that does not require vast amounts of money, but still gives you a truly authentic experience in the oddest of places if you dare to step out of your comfort zone?
3 ... 2 ... 1 ...
Volunteering!
As long as you have enough money to get there (and this can be dealt with in a variety of creative ways as well), food and accommodation are taken care of by the host, plus various activities and opportunities to explore local life.
What volunteering also allows you is to learn a ton of new and odd skills, experience different lifestyles and professions, get to know people from really all paths of life (and why they are the way they are), and learn a lot about yourself on the way (that’s a whole own chapter!). Music: Maphupho Fezeka by Onset Music Group & French Fuse through Instagram Music
Having been raised in a super duper proper household and then spending 5 years living in clinically clean Japan, it was “quite” a difference diving into Swedish forest life, especially as the first 3 months there wasn’t even running water in the hus. But guess what - it very well IS possible to live quite ok like that (well, minus the no-running-water, that’s just too much bucket dragging).
I do admire and miss the life where you spend most of the day outdoors regardless of the weather or the temperature.
And I was happy to share that lifestyle with everyone who came and visited us as well as those who followed my daily life online, as after all, that’s also one way of motivating people to put their forest boots on and venture out.
So how do I make nature my neighbour?
I don’t.
It’s much more fun making nature my home.
P.S.: I also run “The Swedish Lapland Group” on Facebook where I share info and help people plan their arctic vacation. You are welcome to join at:
www.facebook.com/groups/swedishlapland/
Bonus...if you use Instagram.
Everyone was flaunting their beanies on IG so I made my own beanie with horns and goggles!! And yes, thats a QR code down there :)
