— Since 1796
From one generation to the next.
The farm's history reaches back to 1796, when it was acquired as a family estate. Since then it has passed from one generation to the next. Cattle farming ended in 1986, and in 2010 the farm converted to organic cultivation. Each generation has brought new ideas and left its own mark.
The hosts of the farm
Markus Eerola is responsible for cultivation at Knehtilä and serves as the farm's master in the eighth generation. The work is guided by a long-term approach in which soil health, nutrient cycling and the local ecosystem are the starting point for everything. Minna Sakki-Eerola, the farm's mistress, has built the heart of the service business. The old barn has been renovated for celebrations and meetings, the restored piggery houses a café and shop, and a diverse range of events takes place throughout the year.
— Recognition
Environmental perspectives guide everything we do.
In 2015 Knehtilä was named by WWF the most environmentally friendly farm in the Baltic Sea region, and in 2021 it was awarded Organic Enterprise of the Year. Environmental considerations have guided all operations since the 1990s.
WWF — Baltic Sea Farmer of the Year 2015
— Fields and ecosystem
Soil first, slowly and on purpose.
“The farm learns, experiments and adapts — just like people do.”
At Knehtilä the fields are not a separate production surface, but part of a wider ecosystem. Soil, water cycling and biodiversity are the foundation of long-term activity. Change is slow — and that is intentional. The future is built in collaboration, through networks, alongside research, and by testing both new and old ways of working.
“Knehtilä has never been finished. It has always been on a journey — growing, renewing and building for future generations.”