Guesthouse Puukarin Pysäkki

Our ecological and sustainable guesthouse is located in east part of Finland, The Karelia area. Our story begann in middle of 80´s, and we hope it will go on with next generation.
The inn was built by Anita and Heikki Ovaskainen in 1990-1991 on the Paalajanvaara slope field. The idea of the guest house was born in the 80's, when the Ovaskainen´s had "summer children" via the 4H Federation, at Peltola farm. The children enjoyed themselves so well that the summer after summer the children were at Peltola farm.

As early as the late 80s began to come for change in rural life , so Anita and Heikki began to reflect on their own farm and options for the future of agriculture and livestock farming alongside . In the early years, Heikki worked as a teacher of forestry machine school. The Guest House was held mostly open on weekends and by appointment.

The Family´s all children were occupied by different responsibilities: Onni took care of chickens, Annie and Elina were in the kitchen of the guest house and the service side , Emma did the accounting and Ville took care of agriculture. Whether it could ever sting in junior high school the young girl's mind when the guys told me of a summer day , they were on the beach all day, Ovaskainen´s children on hay making.
Guest House Rinteelä came as a part of the guest house Puukarin Pysäkki in 2000 and was renovated in 2005. While renovating Rinteelä Anita and Heikki wanted to preserve the 50 century style and spirit on downstairs. At Rinteelä guest house has also been thought of recycling and ecology. For example, from the toilets the waste goes to the basement to be composted. An additional accommodation capacity was welcome and the very next summer, the house was busy throughout the summer season.
Beside entrepreneurship Anita and Heikki have been active in various community and voluntary organizations. They raised five children for the world , one of them, Anni , returned to her roots. Anni Korhonen and Jarno has continued to Anita's and Heikki's commendable work. In 2012 a generational turnover has been made where facilities like forests , animals, and equipment were transferred to the younger generation .

For taking the managing responsibility of the Guest House has been natural for Anni while she is a restaurant industry professional. Jarno has the responsibility of the agricultural work and the guest house property maintenance.
Furthermore, the operation of the management is based on ecology, sustainable development, the Karelian culture and nature. Entrepreneurship is such a good frame to create a good tomorrow.

Anni´s and Jarno's values are based on respect for nature , so the environmental impact of the guest house are carefully considered and the impacts for surrounding natural environment have been minimized. The fields are organically grown , the heat produced by wood chips , sheep maintain traditional landscape by grazing, maintained the old habits of working and recycled waste from the inn . Ecology is shown in small acts of everyday life, such as doing the laundry by soap nuts .

Guest house and farm employs entrepreneurial couple in addition to one full-time and three assistants seasonally. Net sales at the farm and house building has a total of EUR 170 000.

Anita and Heikki help to further the state, and the inn's work, the main task is to be a grandpa and grandma for Ansa , Miina-Martta and Jysky.