Eva(45)

I worked ten years as a procurement manager at an organic wholesaler in Rotterdam. I knew the entire chain from farm to table, but wanted to produce myself. In the Netherlands, land is unaffordable — a hectare of agricultural land costs 75,000 euros in South Holland. In Västra Götaland I bought a farm with eight hectares of fertile land for 2.8 million SEK, about 240,000 euros.

The KRAV label is the Swedish equivalent of organic certification, but stricter. Certification took a year, with regular inspections by KRAV auditors. The advantage: KRAV products are in demand among Swedish consumers and supermarkets like Coop and ICA give them shelf priority. Additionally, there are agricultural subsidies through Jordbruksverket for organic growers.

Folkbokföring at Skatteverket took five weeks. I registered my business as an enskild firma with F-skatt. The Swedish tax authority is surprisingly helpful for beginning entrepreneurs — I received a personal phone call from a handläggare (case handler) who guided me through the system. In the Netherlands I had never experienced anything like that.

The growing season in Västra Götaland is shorter than in the Netherlands — from May to September — but the long summer days compensate. In June, crops get twenty hours of daylight, resulting in intense growth. I grow tomatoes, courgettes, lettuce, herbs and strawberries. At the local bondemarknad in Alingsås I sell directly to consumers.

Rural life was an adjustment. The nearest supermarket is twenty minutes' drive, and in winter I have to clear my own driveway of snow. But Swedish neighbors are helpful — my nearest neighbor Björn lent me his tractor for plowing and invited me to the local bykväll (village evening) where we drank fika and practiced Swedish.

After two years the farm is running. I supply three restaurants in Gothenburg, sell at two markets per week, and have started a subscription box service. Income is modest but growing. The important thing: I do work that matters, on my own land, at my own pace. That's not feasible for a normal budget in the Netherlands. In Sweden it is.