The Old Dairy

The Old Dairy is a half-day husky tour that takes you from our home at Matara Creek through forests, across frozen lakes and into the open countryside of Meltosjärvi.

There is a story behind the name. Matara Creek itself is located on a former dairy farm, where our home and husky homestead are now located. The trail then takes you to another former dairy farm, historically part of Jokela Farm, which belonged to the Kalljärvi family. The farm was later divided, and approximately 45 hectares are now part of Matara Creek.

In other words, this is a journey from one old dairy farm to another — travelling through the same kind of countryside that once connected the farms, their fields and the people who lived and worked here.

We begin at Matara Creek by meeting the dogs and preparing the team. Your guide will introduce you to the dogs, explain how the sled and team work together, and give you practical instructions before you set off.

From Matara Creek, the route follows forests, frozen lakes and smaller waterways towards the old dairy farm. As you travel further from the homestead, the landscape opens up, with large fields surrounded by forest and scattered trees. It is a very different view from the more enclosed forest trails closer to our kennel.

Today, the approximately 45-hectare Matara Creek property at the former Jokela Farm is part of our family life. During the warmer months, we spend time here and are developing the land as a small-scale growing place. We currently grow vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, onions and salad greens, with plans to expand the garden in the future.

We are also dreaming of bringing sheep to the farm and gradually developing this part of Matara Creek into a small working farm alongside our sled dogs. The open fields, surrounding woodland and space make the old Jokela Farm particularly well suited for this. It is a long-term plan, but one that fits naturally with the history of the property and the way we want to live here.

Living and growing food here also means sharing the land with the local wildlife. Moose, hares and other animals are regular visitors, and protecting the crops from hungry neighbours is part of the everyday life of a rural property in Lapland.

The open fields and surrounding forest create beautiful views throughout the seasons. In winter, the same landscape becomes part of our sled dog routes, allowing you to experience the property and countryside from a completely different perspective.

Depending on weather, snow and trail conditions, we may stop at the property for warm drinks, snacks and a fire before continuing our journey. When conditions make it more practical, refreshments will instead be served when we return to Matara Creek Homestead.

The route gives you time to settle into the rhythm of the dog team and enjoy travelling through the countryside by sled. You will experience a mixture of forest trails, frozen lakes and open rural landscapes, with the dogs doing what they love most — moving together as a team.

After returning to Matara Creek, there is time to meet the pack, take photographs and ask questions about the dogs, their training and their lives as working sled dogs.

The route and refreshment stop may vary according to weather, snow and trail conditions.