Satu Renko
“I’m never hungry when I get home after a walk,” says Anne Pantsu, owner of ‘Kipakka Kettu’ and student of organic produce.
And no wonder. We have only walked 20 metres from the car towards the lower Kuerlinkka falls, when Anne bends down over some plants.
“Have you ever tasted blueberry flowers?”, she asks and shows me some red flowers.
“They’re like sweets, really honey-like. Blueberry flowers can be eaten by themselves or on top of salad for example. They also make beautiful cake decorations. You can eat the leaves without worrying,” adds Anne and pops some into her mouth.
Hmm, let’s try some. Not bad at all, I must say.
We continue walking. Anne explains that in the forest you can eat almost anything, as long as you know what you’re picking.
“Still, remember to take it easy at first. Especially if you have a sensitive stomach, it’s best to test just one herb at a time.
When we are close to the falls, Anne crouches down to show me a garden angelica.
“This is a herb used by the Sami people for many ailments. It’s easy to recognise and all of it can be used: roots, stalks, leaves, sprigs and seeds. Its stalk is round, whereas many umbelliferous plant stalks have channels in them,” Anne explains.
“It’s worth picking garden angelica before it opens out. It is at its best then, but remember to wear gloves. Liquid seeping from the stem can cause skin irritations that are like fire burns.
Anne makes organic products for both domestic use and commercial purposes.
“For sales produce I use a dryer, but at home I consume as little energy as possible, even by using the sauna’s afterheat.”
Right next to the garden angelica Anne notices some meadowsweet.
“These give off a beautiful fragrance when they bloom. Then the whole valley is full of meadowsweet scent. Its leaves can be dried and used for tea. Jaana Sara, owner of the ‘Pihvikeisari’ restaurant, makes meadowsweet cream, which I myself use for children’s growing pains.
Anne’s personal favourites are willow herb sprigs.
“Just add it to butter in a frying pan and season with a dash of salt! It’s like eating asparagus.”
Anne digs out a paper bag from her rucksack to collect some willow herb sprigs.
“I always put them in a paper bag or a clean, ventilated container. Your hands should be clean, even though the herbs are for personal use.
Anything more about cleanliness? What should I take into account?
“Don’t pick anything by the side of the road, obviously. You should be 150-200 metres away at least. Nor ever pick anything in contaminated areas, on industrial sites or close to mining areas.”
We wandered along a narrow path, along which Anne picks some plants here and there and pops them in her mouth. I keep an eye open for willow herb, but don’t find any.
“You’ll develop an eye for it,” Anne assures me and breaks off a couple of young willow herb sprigs.
We climb further up the rock ledge and find some spruce shoots – they are just like light green silicon pastry brushes.
After reaching the top, we sit down to admire the falls. Anne dug some cakes and a thermos of tea out of her backpack.
“I have made some blueberry powder from the mash left over when blueberry juice is made at the Karila ‘Navetta’ gallery. It used to be given to the chickens or left as compost. Blueberry powder is particularly popular with Japanese and Chinese customers, and I use it in my own cakes. The ‘Navetta’ gallery sold about 400 of them this spring.”
Anne does not reveal her recipe, as it is a secret. At least it isn’t tea: it includes common yarrow, meadowsweet and raspberry leaves.
“I haven’t bought supermarket tee for years now, I dry the leaves myself.”
Does Anne think that organic products can breakthrough into international markets?
“Yes, I think they will take off at some point. Asian visitors are especially interested in products from Lapland, not just from Finland or Europe.”
Anne’s tip for midsummer celebrations
An essential part of Finnish Midsummer celebrations is the fragrance of birch trees. The scent comes from a whisk made of tied birch branches, but thrashing it around will inevitably cause a mess. If you miss birch scent in the sauna, put some birch leaves into a gauze bag and let it soak in water. After sauna you can dry out the bag and reuse it several times over.
What can I pick?
On your own land you may pick what you like, but on private land you should get permission first. Herbaceous plants can basically be picked anywhere, except in national parks and nature reserves. Other non-herbaceous plants, such as spruce shoots, dwarf shrubs and birch fungi require the landowner’s permission. Commercial picking always requires a permit. However, Anne points out that it is polite to ask first, especially if you want large amounts or plan to sell it. You can download a permit from the ‘Metsähallitus’ (Forestry administration) website (www.metsa.fi/luonnontuoteluvat).
Drop by to see the Kuerlinkka falls
The Kuerlinkka falls are two impressive waterfalls near Äkäslompolo village in the Kolari district. The falls are located southwest of Kuertunturi fell along the Kuerjoki river, which turns wild in its final kilometres. About 500 metres before falling into the Äkäsjoki river, the Kuerjoki river forms two consecutive falls: upper and lower Kuerlinkka.
Address: Aavahelukantie 4, Kolari
GPS: 67.57466 (N), 24.04808 (E)
Source: suomenvesiputoukset.fi
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