Täpp Kerstin, 21, spends her summers in a cabin without electricity or running water, embracing a lifestyle close to nature. Despite challenges like harsh weather and the need for self-sufficiency, she finds fulfillment in real connections and hopes more people will rediscover the joys of nature.
Living Off the Grid: Täpp Kerstin's Summer in Nature
Living Off the Grid: Täpp Kerstin's Summer in Nature
Täpp Kerstin, 21, spends her summer in a cabin without electricity or running water, hoping more people will reconnect with nature.
The scent of the forest fills the air as Täpp Kerstin Arnesson, 21, serves homemade butter and cheese in the red cottage outside Malung. The sun shines, cows are on their way home, and the mobile phone? It's charged via a car battery—if it's used at all.
"Life becomes very real," Täpp Kerstin shares about her life in the cabin.
The Phone Becomes Less Important
The cabin has been in the family for generations, and Täpp Kerstin has spent her summers here since childhood, as also reported by SVT. Each day feels clear and tangible:
"If I don't bring the cows home and milk them, they get sick. And if I don't bring in wood, I'll freeze."
Life in the cabin influences her life priorities.
"Unlike the phone, real relationships become much more important here. When you're in the forest with the animals, hear the birds, and see the sun in the sky, the phone doesn't seem important anymore."
"It's the Most Tragic"
The family moves to the cabin in May and returns home in September. Water is pumped from the well, hot water is made with fire, and dairy products are made from scratch.
But despite the mostly wonderful experience, there are moments that aren't as enjoyable. Like when they need to put down a sick cow.
"It's the most tragic."
Nor when it has rained for five days straight and it's muddy everywhere, or when it's cold and wet—both indoors and outdoors.
Seeing a New Trend
She used to get questions about her unusual lifestyle. Now she notices more people wanting to live closer to nature, which she believes is due to the stress of the "modern society."
"But then comes a new problem: much of the knowledge about living close to nature has disappeared."
However, she hopes more will be drawn to the lifestyle—and not scared off by the thought that it feels too extreme.
"There's no obligation for it to be like it was in 1778. We can have cars, buy candy, and look at Instagram or Facebook," says Täpp Kerstin Arnesson.