We often mention our love for Åland and for the archipelago. It is our safe place, our spark in our creativity, but above all our home.
We islanders of Åland have lived in and with the sea for generations. Archipelago life has been our lifeblood, on which we have always depended. It has shaped us and made us the people we are today. We have depended on boats to reach different places and on ship cargo to gain access to various raw materials. We have had to learn about fishing and about life in the sea in order to obtain food and nourishment. We have had to learn from and with each other and to live together.
Living in the archipelago can sometimes give a feeling of minor limitations, and that is sometimes true. It takes more planning and foresight if you want to go somewhere. It also takes more willingness to cooperate to make our small community work.
But the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Living in an archipelago landscape, we think, is the best thing there is. Having the opportunity to see all our beautiful nature right outside our door is nothing short of delightful. Our shop on Åland is located in the Maritime Quarter in a red wooden house. Outside we see the blue sea, teeming with boats in the summer. Sailing ships resting along the jetties. Someone is out walking along the eastern coast. It is small, peaceful and safe. We have everything we need, and that is enough. We live, and we learn.
We champion our little islet in the Baltic Sea, the archipelago, and the nature and sea that surround us. If you who are reading this have not been to Åland – visit our workshop and shop in Mariehamn. Head out into the archipelago and discover Åland’s beautiful places. Breathe in the calm, the peacefulness and the joy found in the little things.
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