Martin Samuelsson and Sofia Carlsson from Anderstorp took a closer look at the vegetable garden.
MatTuren is an initiative that began in Skellefteå Municipality in 2014. The core concept involves a group of local food producers inviting visitors to their farms. Guests have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the natural environment, as well as sample and purchase the farm's products.
Just as MatTuren celebrates its ten-year anniversary, the Sandlund family is joining the initiative.
– We were invited to participate and decided it was something we wanted to try, says Anne Sandlund, as wooden crates outside the barn are filled with fresh vegetables and flowers.
Later on Sunday, rain is expected to move in, as it has on most days this August. However, at midday, both the sun and the faces of the arriving visitors are shining brightly.
Among those exploring the vegetable selection is the Zöllner family from Örviken: Tina and André with their sons Ludvig and Carl.
– Burträsk is a lovely place, so we come here to explore the area, explains Tina Zöllner, listing a few vegetables that are on her family's shopping list.
– The fact that everything is organic is fantastic, and we really appreciate that. So we decided to check it out and support this family, she adds before her family continues to explore the harvest.
The rooster and hens vigilantly guarded the vegetable patch.
A couple already exploring the lush vegetable rows, where the farm's rooster and hens also roam, are Sofia Carlsson and Martin Samuelsson.
They typically live city life in Anderstorp with their sons Theodor and Vincent, but they also have a cottage in Boviken.
– I think it's wonderful to be able to show the kids this, Sofia says.
– We don't grow much at home, but at our cottage, we have a small greenhouse with cucumbers and tomatoes, and they appreciate that. It's exciting to show them something bigger and that there's more to vegetables than just cucumbers and tomatoes.
For Martin, the visit brings back memories of his childhood in Östersund.
– We had land and animals when I was young. It's like coming home, walking in the grass – it's beautiful!
Sofia praises the experience, saying,
– It's fantastic to see places like this thriving.
Tourist Anneli Grundberg is carefully considering which vegetables to buy. With their debut at MatTuren, Anders and Anne Sandlund's produce and flowers had the chance to be showcased to a larger audience.
The Zöllner family (Ludvig, André, Tina, and Carl) from Örviken appreciated the organic farming.
After an hour, the line around the vegetable boxes begins to dwindle, and that's when Anneli Grundberg finds herself facing an interview microphone. She's from Umeå but has a cottage just a few kilometers from Ljusvattnet.
– Ljusvattnet hosts many events, and I try to attend as many as I can, she says.
– I was planning to buy some fika from Annika (Lundström), but now I've ended up with a basket full of vegetables to balance things out! I've been meaning to do this, but it never seemed to work out until now, Anneli explains after securing her purchases.
In essence, these interviews represent a diverse range of voices that have gained a newfound appreciation for the joys of garden farming. It's also been a valuable experience for the hosts.
– Since this was our first time participating, it was a bit nerve-wracking not knowing how many people would show up or how much we would harvest, says Anne Sandlund.
– We were pleasantly surprised by the turnout, and some crops sold out while others didn't. Overall, it was a successful and enjoyable day.
Her most memorable moment?
– Seeing all the happy faces! A significant portion of our visitors were first-time customers. It was wonderful that they discovered Ljusvattnet.