Malin Axelsson
Ambassador
Ödevata Gårdshotell
Sweden
Environmental
Farming
Rural area close to city
The innovation journey
Nestled in the heart of the Småland forest lies Ödevata, a countryside hotel with a rich history. Initially a sprawling farm, the premises later served as a workhouse for neglected family fathers, a refugee camp during World War II, and even a state penitentiary before being left abandoned for a decade. The history of Ödevata Gårdshotell is filled with captivating tales.
In 2005, Malin Axelsson and her husband Magnus purchased the neglected farm with the vision of transforming it into a truly distinctive destinate-ion with modern small-scale agri-cultural systems.
Today, Ödevata Gårdshotell is a vibrant holiday destination where visitors can experience nature, go fishing, embark on hikes, learn about biochar production, or merely unwind in the comfy and innovative “Conservatory of the Future”, a large glass house that hosts an aquaponic agricultural cultivation system. Ödevata Gårdshotell offers hotel rooms, lodges, cabins, and camping, to approximately 4000 guests each year.
The innovation impact
Ödevata Gårdshotell has high ambitions and wants to become Sweden’s and, in the long run, one of the world’s most sustainable tourist ventures. The hotel aims to be climate-positive and uses solar cells and electric vehicles. The owners of the hotel engage in permaculture, grow ecological vegetables from their own garden, produce bokashi with biochar, and run an aquaponics system.
Ödevata Gårdshotell has initiated its own Eco-program, 2021-2026. The program is concerned with reducing waste, purchasing environmentally friendly products, preserving, and constructing buildings sustainably, managing its power consumption, and using environmentally friendly heating systems, transportation, and water usage. The hotel aims to raise environmental awareness among its guests, by sharing knowledge and serving as an exemplary model of sustainable practices.
Ödevata Gårdshotell is committed to sustainability and leading the way in creating sustainable tourism and lifestyles.