Satu Kumpulainen
Innovator
sokummun luomu Ltd
Finland
Social
Farming
Rural village
The innovation journey
Satu Kumpulainen runs the organic sheep farm family business Isokummunluomu Ltd. that also offers nature and animal assisted wellbeing services for people with learning disabilities and mental health rehabilitators.
She is a fifth-generation farmer on a farm that has exceptionally been passed on from mother to mother. Satu bought the farm from her parents in 2006, after they had expressed a will to pass on the farm, she was thinking what to do next in her life. Since then, there have been organic sheep on the farm, inspired by Satu’s interest in handicrafts.
By chance, Satu heard a lecture about Green Care activities. She was immediately inspired to do the same on her farm, having experienced the healing power of nature and animals herself.
She has been offering Green Care work activities since 2013 in collaboration with a psychiatrist and psychologist, under the trade name Isokummun sheep farm. A paramount part of the care is the presence and work with the farm animals in a rural environment. Isokummun Sheep Farm is the first company in Finland to receive the nature care quality label.
The innovation impact
Satu has been actively involved in developing and promoting Green Care activities in Finland. In 2020, Satu’s farm participated in a youth camp activities pilot funded by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, with great experiences.
Since then, Satu has continued to cooperate with one school class in Sievi municipality. In addition to offering well-being services, Satu’s Farm is a pioneer in organic farming. They produce organic meat and wool, offer services to maintain traditional rural biotopes and are passionate about preserving Indigenous Finnish sheep breeds. The farm was rewarded the Organic Entrepreneur of the Year and the Sievi Municipality’s Agricultural Producer of the Year award in 2018.