Parenting in the Cabin? Deforestation? Quitting YouTube? 

As I mentioned in the video, I've uploaded an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the transformation of our kitchen! Watch us tear out the old and build something new in the cabin. Check it out now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kalleflodin 😃

It's green algae. It means that more food gets into your pond. Minerals and food probably come with the new influx of water. And more food means more algae. There is only one solution here, more aquatic plants and especially underwater ones that will use this food to grow and create oxygen. If you need help, let me know. A long time ago I had a company where I built natural swimming pools and ponds.

Your son is fortunate to be able to grow up in such a beautiful place with parents who love him and where he will learn a lot of skills that will help him throughout his life. Thanks for the video, Kalle.

I’m so glad the YT algorithm suggested your channel! I completely understand about balancing privacy and YT, and I’ve only got 3000+ subscribers!😂 I’m American 🇺🇸 and my husband is Swedish🇸🇪. We just bought a home in Sweden with over 11 hectares of land. It’s soooo beautiful there, and I can’t wait to join him in Sweden, but I am first pursuing financial independence while still living & working here in the USA. It’s hard being apart, but knowing what’s waiting at the end of the grind makes it so worth it. Seeing your videos and other Swedish content creators keeps me motivated as well. Really appreciate all you do!🙌🏻

People are nosy and sometimes rude, so many things are none of our business. Definitely only share what you feel comfortable sharing. Love your videos! Glad you guys will continue for a while longer. 💛

I relate to this video so much. I have done something similar in Northern Canada. I bought a condo in the city when I was 23. I grew up in a small town and thought the city would be more convenient and entertaining. I hated it. At 30 I bought an acreage in the countryside. Spent seven years designing and building an off-grid house with built-in greenhouses. Our weather and seasons are very similar to Sweden, as are the mosquitos. It was a long difficult journey and I wouldn't trade it for anything. My son was born in 2021. He loves to follow me around and see what I'm doing all the time. His mother is a stay-at-home mom and they bake and do gardening during the day and we play in the evenings. There is nothing better you can give your children than the freedom to roam in nature. Your son will love your place, and you'll be surprised out quickly he understands how you live and want to help with everything. I think my son is the only three-year-old I've ever seen who can explain how a solar power system works. And most importantly, the advantage you're giving your son that others can't is an understanding that he can take care of himself and his family on another level. I am putting money aside now, so when my son is 20 I can give it to him and tell him to find land of his own and I will help him build his own home. You have started a family, but you're building a legacy. That is the hallmark of being a good man.

You are a father now. Your first priority is to care for Christine and your son. Take better care of yourself (eating, sleeping). That’s your first job now. (This was said with the greatest love for you and your family.)❤

I'm glad you keep your son private. Sharing openly about miscarriages - is sharing about an experience. But the birth of a child - and the child - is about a human being, not just an experience. There is, and should always be a line between being open and private - and that line is important to be aware of and respect on an individual level 💚

@5:14 The dog licking baby's feet 🥺 So cute 🥰

My husband found it a bit challenging in the newborn phase because the baby was so reliant on me (especially with breastfeeding). Now that she’s 14 months she’s daddy’s biggest fan. He’ll be toddling around following you in the yard in no time!

Maybe you can arrange a species hunt with the subscriber event. Even if your forest is not in threat right now, teaching people how to protect forests and species is really important (and in my opinion, very fun!) 🥰

Oh, and in addition to what the other comments said about the water (oxygen, PH, etc.): the water isn't actually blue, it's light reflecting from the bottom of the pond which travels through enough water that its red component is absorbed. The water has become more clear, which means you have more light going in, which in turn increases the ability for the algae to do photosynthesis.

Something you could look into regarding the algae in your pond; The brown water is caused by tannins from organic matter from the forest. Tannins are acidic, so I would suspect that the groundwater has changed the pH of the pond, making it more suitable for the growth of algae.

I love people living close to the earth. Thank you for sharing your experience.

You always have such interesting content, Kalle! Finding balance in life is challenging, but it is possible. When things get too fast or overwhelming, that is the time to slow down, take a deep breath, and just be. You have made a wonderful life with Christine and your son, and will continue to take good care of them. A simple life is a good life, for sure! Love from Pennsylvania, USA 💕🌷🐻

Hello Kalle!! It’s such a joy to see you and Christine with your gorgeous baby boy!! You’re making amazing progress with the kitchen renovations!! I know life at the cabin is challenging at times, but also beautiful and peaceful!! Enjoy these moments because they fly by so fast!! Take care!! God bless you, Christine, your beautiful boy and the dogs!!😍😍😍🙏🙏🙏

nice to see your a dad and the family is well GOD bless you and your family , thank you for sharing

It is easy to imagine that you can feel very exposed to the world with all that you share; however, I will have to say that as a viewer, your personal stories have been very inspiring and very enjoyable to experience somewhat vicariously. I’m sure we would all enjoy seeing more of your expanded family - you’re beautiful little son - but I can very well imagine that can feel like too much exposure

The color turqoise is often indicate calcium that means the pH has changed and invited the algae to grow.

Oh, Kalle... I love how honest you are with everything and I completely understand why y'all are not sharing everything about your son. And I totally respect that 💓Privacy is such a rare thing for anyone these days. I know I had so much more to add to this post, but I can't even think of any of it now that I'm posting... lol! I hate that... 😅Anyway, I hope you and Christine will be able to live together with your son soon, and even though we have not seen his face, a tiny new life is so precious... I don't even have to see his face to know that ❤And, on a side note... I may just have to become a Patreon... haha! 💗

Kalle i know at this moment in time with your new son and getting the cabin more livable for your lovely little family you May not have time but,but going forward please please try and prioritize sleep it is one of the number one things that if you have to little can be detrimental to your health, one of the easiest ways of improving health is prioritizing and getting enough sleep.❤

Thank you for answering my question about regret🙃. And you are so right. I keep pushing back my dream of starting a hand made business and the years are just flying by ..... I have to give it a chance. Thank you for the effort you are putting into your videos. All the best in the new family life. Oh, and one more thing - speaking of regret - enjoy every moment you can with the baby. I used to want to see my son running around and playing, but the baby days fly by and they are so precious, and you never get them back. So enjoy them!

Here in subtropical Australia I have mosquito fish in my pond...you may be able to find a type of fish who can survive your winters...

Hello Kalle, We have algae in our irrigation tank.. this year I tried using the dried algae as fertilizer for our plants, flowers, etc. .. wow, the natural fertilizer was incredibly good for the flowers, they bloom exceptionally well and are strong in growth .. P.S. We live in Germany Bavaria in the Altmühltat, where there is the blue water that is fed by springs, in which very similar algae grow, like yours. The algae are fished out 1-2 times and then a farmer from the area picks them up and distributes them on his fields because he also knows about the special fertilizer properties, my father recently said...

And of course great job with the kitchen and the pics for the cook book are amazing! Best of luck!

Deforestation happened in Canada also but now our governments have instilled new laws to protect our forests. Its not perfect but much better…

I.ll be glad when you get into more gardening .I planted beans but something is eating the plants.My husband was the gardener but he passed away so im learning to do things on my own.I enjoy your videos,its a nice break for everyday tasks. Wait till the baby starts smiling about 4 to 6 months .They are so cute .Splashing in the bath .Love the dogs .Hope you and Christine are doing well.Take care and hope to see you live again.

I find a good sleep mask works well for those months of the year when the sun comes up very early. The cheap polyester ones can feel a little sweaty but a good padded cotton one is very comfortable, and it's simpler and easier than trying to darken the room. I sleep much better and longer with it.

It is happening in our pond as well in warm seasons as we have artisian water feeding our pond and it is because of the quality of water and all the minerals in it. They will die down in winter. We clean the pond with swimming pool net and pull them out when it is growing a lot. But we can’t touch it in spring as frogs have their eggs during that time until summer that they are grown up and start leaving the pond.

If much more people chose to live such a life, you would find yourself in a crowded forest. Let them (us) dream, and preserve your peace and quiet 😊 Loved these 40 something peaceful minutes watching and listening to you 💚

Lovely video as always. So pleased the well and kitchen are your fave projects, even after the well problems! So looking forward to coming back there soon and experiencing the long days and catching up with everyone x

Dear Kalle, you have to keep an eye on the algae in the pond. If there are too many, it's not good .... And: please, allow yourself a break. Take care of yourself, you are important! ❤

Awesome. I enjoy all that you shared. You are a hard working young man with determination and focus. We could use more of your kind. Blessings your way.❤

You may also want to a fountain or some type of water agitation for the pond. Mosquitoes do not like moving water and will not lay eggs there.

Kalle. Your videos are an absolute joy to watch! Thank you for sharing your life, challenges and achievements with us. You have brought a lot of peace and inspiration to me and my life. The world is a better place with people such as you in it. Love and blessings to you and your family, from a little village in England 🇬🇧 xxx

Kale- you might find this amusing. While watching your Q&A video, a commercial came on for custom luxury yachts! Seems like RU-vid needs to work on its advertising algorithm. 😊

Thanks for this Q&A episode, Kalle! I really enjoyed it. Loved your answer to the isolation question, especially this quote" "filled with the sounds I want to hear and I need to hear".

Unfortunately the forestry companies own the land and they planted the trees as a commercial crop. Luckily in Sweden, forest cover has increased around 40% since the 1920s. The trees are planted and grown solely in order to produce wood, just as wheat produces bread. This is completely different to ancient forest, most of which was lost many many years ago. Sadly some areas of 'old growth' forest are felled in order to clear the land for commercial plantations. Part of the solution to this is stringent governmental regulation (Sweden is already ahead of many European countries in this regard). Additionally individuals/charities/initiatives could buy huge swathes of land (especially land containing old forest) to protect it from farming of any kind and let it gradually 'rewild' itself.

Kalle, thank you SO MUCH for talking about the deforestation! It's absolutely horrible what's happening. We have almost no forests left - everything is plantation by now, and our biodiversity is in serious danger. This is not talked about nearly enough - it honestly feels like people don't dare to talk about it, partly due to such financially strong corporations. It's time for to speak up and make a change! ❤

What a beautiful pond! The cabin is progressing so well - it’s getting what we call ‘more user friendly’. Can you construct screens for the windows? Beautiful baby boy!😍🇨🇦

The pond looks great. The cabin is really coming along.

these videos are so relaxing. refreshing side of youtube for sure

Regarding the water, the vegetation and the color. This is due to the higher oxygen levels in the water (in short).

Thank you for an amazing video. I really needed it at this moment. Your talk on Life is to Short really hit home. I am currently in a difficult work position, where things are completely based on budget, not what is best mentally or emotional for employees. I am a supervisor for a First Aid Station. I have always put the well being of my employees and Pt. First. When work keeps preaching budget, and budget first, employees well being second, it make it so difficult to stay in a good place. Especially when you are the employees go to for maintaining mental health. I have told my husband this is just not how one should live, or work. A change needs to happen to get away from this toxic environment for all of us. Fingers crossed it came happen. Thank you for your videos and always keeping me going.

I’ve been following your vlogs for a several year already. I love your honesty. And I fully get when you talk about trying a different lifestyle. I’m originally from Finland, but I lived 27 years in the center of Dublin working as a professional musician. But somehow, especially after the pandemic, I started to have a desire for a different lifestyle. Last year the universe threw us a curveball and we grabbed it and ran with it. We now live in beautiful South Burgundy countryside in France and just about to start a renovation project on our new home. Its a completely different pace of life and I love it. It’s hard to see myself living in a big city again.

When your son gets bigger like walking or running your going to have to protect him from the pond ❤

Kalle - my personal opinion is to keep the baby out of your videos as much as possible while he is young. When he gets a bit older and wants to be involved then maybe a bit more. Quick shots and then include what he does during your narration. Again, only my opinion. Stay well!😍🇨🇦

Thank you for your sincerity. Thanks to your hard work, your living conditions have much improved, but please don't neglect your health. With regular meals and more sleep (I know it's hard with a baby but try...), you'll get the strength needed to complete all your projects. I can't wait to see the cooking book 😋. Take care and see you in the Midsummer video 😊 !

i LOVE YOUR VIDEOS AND SO REFRESHING AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY

Deforestation is a sad story in the north of sweden 😭

Ah, now I know how to spell nyfiken !! I heard that word all of my childhood from my farfar and farmor ! :) That brings back great memories.

Do research about parent influencers who put their kids' lives on social media. Some of the stories are horrifying. Kids deserve their privacy. My favorite family YTubers will mention their children or show a quick glimpse of them organically to the subject of the video, but they aren't the focus of the channel. I know you and your partner will do the right thing for your child.

Lite tråkigt att man ska behöva betala för ert content å bli medlem !😮

Nice video thanks for sharing.

Thanks, really a nice and fun video to watch! Vi ses 😀🚲

I would be very careful with saying there are no ticks. I'm as north as you are, just in Finland. Two decades ago, we had no ticks - but they've been steadily been migrating more north over the years. The same issue is presenting itself in Sweden, with increased cases of TBE and likewise more and more observations in the north.

Yes, life is different with a child 😂 so true… in a great way! Enjoy every moment!

As soon as your son starts to walk you will always have to have an eye on him, because of the pond. Ponds and pools are very dangerous for small children, they can even drown in a puddle (not kidding). He will have to be supervised outside every single minute unless you build a save fence around the pond.

Very cool 👍

Just a thought about the RU-vid channels. Your channel is one of the best ones I came across.

Needing more time and money? Isn’t that the truth…. Doesn’t everybody? Or most should I say. Yes having kids will change one’s life beyond imagination…. And you shouldn’t feel pressured sharing what you don’t feel comfortable sharing…. It’s your life….. if people get annoyed, that’s on them 😊 Hope your kitchen renovation turns out well….I’m not that nosy to need to know how it is coming. I can wait until you wish to share and if not, I’m not meant to know 🤷🏼‍♀️….as long as it turns out to your and Christine’s liking …stay well. ❤

On your dogs, please don’t trust them. They were only “children” for several years, now you have a child who takes your attention. We had an Irish setter for 8 years before we had our daughter. And while the dog was gentle and curious, one day while I was holding her in my arms with my husband beside me with one hand on the dog every thing was fine and suddenly she lunged forward, I tried to twist her to the side but was not quick enough and she bit her. So be extremely careful. The cure for both your algae and mosquitoes problem is more movement of the water in your pond. Like a bubbler or a floating, solar powered sprayer. You could also add some gamboozies (a type of fish that eats mosquitoes.

How fortunate that u have to have the artisan spring water..u won’t run out and I love the color of the pond..treasure every moment with your baby..they grow so fast..my sons have grown up but I am close with both of them..thank god I have good sons..some day u will look back and long for these days..so embrace these early days..and enjoy..by the way u need to be looking now for rare plants..don’t wait till the last minute..start now to protect the forests for your son and all Swedish children for the future…u wait till the last minute u might get screwed..

You can grow yarrow and rub the leaves all over exposed areas of skin as a natural deterrent. Of course it’s difficult to deal with mosquitoes with the pond They live type O blood

Hit the subscribe and like button, folks! Kalle, I wish you all the best and blessings onto all of you! ❤

Maybe, K, you need to make that greenhouse and continue green things into the winter.

Hello from New York City a few years ago, I heard of a fish that kills all the mosquitoes in the pond. I would check it out. I’m not sure of the name. Congratulations on your beautiful son. Maybe you’ll reveal his name soon. ? Hello hello from New York City

Love your life

Oh! I am so glad that there aren’t ticks in Northern Sweden. I plan to visit there next summer. My mother was Swedish and Danish. I visited Denmark last summer and LOVED it sooooo much! I cannot wait to visit Norrbotten Sweden, where my Grandmother’s family was from. I have Chronic Lyme Disease, and have battled it for years, now. I’ve had a PICC line and IV antibiotics, and tons of other antibiotics. So much treatment. The last thing I want is another tick bite, since I am finally on my way to wellness! ❤ I am so relieved that there aren’t any ticks there! Yesssss!

I imagined Sweden to be more environmentally conscious than letting forestry companies clear cut whatever they want. I live in Maine, the northernmost state in the continuous United States. Maine is 88-90% covered in forests. I am sure clear cutting happens but you have to go through several regulations first.

Nice video Kalle!! Hope to see Chicco Mattos in your podcast in the future! 😁😉

Guys, let's help this guy and his family. He really works hard and deserves it. Become a member and subscribe to Patreon. Stay with God.

It’s a great idea to live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but most won’t be successful doing youtube and finding work remotely is rather difficult.

I’d be worried about a steady stream of water so close to the house. I don’t know much about it but I’m always worried about flooding under the house. When I was growing up we had a problem with water accumulation under the house until one night we all had to run out because our house was sinking. We thought it was an earthquake but when we stood outside we saw that only our house was rocking and dropping. We never lived there after that. The house was demolished. So when I see continuous running water so close to the house I freak out.

KalIe, it appears you have string algae which occurs in the presence of high PH and phosphorus possibly due to run-off or the disturbance of the earth and water purge that occurred with the drilling. This algae will suppress oxygen and suffocate any pond fish you have so you want to remove it and I believe there are some natural additives, such as barley to help balance the PH. Another idea is to get some floating aquatic plants or plant a floating garden which will aid to remove the nutrients out of the pond and prevent algae from growing. But before you proceed to do anything, I would sample the water with a test kit and/or take a sample of the algae to your local extension for positive identification. Ponds are a wonderful addition to your landscape but it will require some maintenance until you can get the PH managed. Maybe stock some fish eventually to attract and feed some migratory birds passing through.

Can’t you put screens on the windows so you can leave them open with No mosquitos

If you put your greenhouse in the sunny spot its risk it getting to hot. Som shade is good in tre greenhouse. Most plants cant handle over 30-35 °C. Plus if you put your greenhouse so its get some winter and spring sun you kan use it longer. Same thing about digging down the greenhouse 50-100 cm then you get higher ceiling and warmth from the ground

Never worry about sharing such private things you should never feel bad about that. It’s really not any bodies business. You are both already so generous enough to share your beautiful life. You are allowed to keep something s for yourself 🪴🪴🪴🪺🪺🪺🌷🌷

I think that algae form from high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen. Who knows how and where that could have come from. The dark brown water before the well water was introduced looks like tannin. Tannin comes from the leaves and plant life in the forest. Somehow the well water has levels of those compounds and who knows where that could have come from. I am just guessing. I know a little. I know just enough to get into trouble. I am a retired biologist.

Greetings from Germany

It also looks a bit like thread algae. We have this in our big pond. In summer it is almost taking over and we have to remove some if we still want to swim in there. Is it fabric like when you take it out? 3:04

Well, dead leaves from trees can make water tea coloured as far as I’ve learned. If clearer water is now replacing some of the tea coloured, this can explain why the water changed colour. The new green vegetation can contribute to it looking turqoise, a mix between the blue sky reflection and the green pond plants perhaps. The pond water flora and fauna will soon find it’s balance again after the change and the new eco system will get stable. Do you have any fish in the pond? It would be interesting with some videos focused on the life of the pond. It could be very beautiful videos to watch.

Water lilies would help stem the overgrowth of algae.

Gee , what a video! 🎉 I so hope that everyone here watching Kalle has subscribed! This channel deserves every support imaginable 🙏

Can you buy screen material that you can staple or build onto a frame you can stick in the window?

Hi Kalle, You have some great ideas from viewers what to do about the Algae. Can you have the algae testet?

That algae is weird, because from artesian water it shouldn't have happened. Happens, where there is a lot of phosphorus and nitrogen. It would seem logical, if it was, for example, water contaminated with sewer waters... But artesian? No idea. You should probably check if there is contamination, if u have a chance to do it cheap.

It is called filamentous algae. Something has changed in the chemistry of the pond ie too much or too little phosphorus or nitrates. Google it.

Just a question, the round logs that you have framed your vegetable garden with, are they old telephone poles? At least here in Sweden, I don’t know about elsewhere, they were as far as I’ve learned often preserved with creosot, which is very poisonus. If they are telephone poles I suggest you remove them and a lot of the soil around them, if you want to grow healthy vegetables.

Hi Kalle, I listen seriously to you and appreciate all of your efforts. Warm greetings to your "wife" and to you and your little boy. Maybe you can explain, why there are still so many houses in Sweden, that seem to have such a bad insulation, although Sweden has to deal with extreme temperatures. Why are Swedens not just using bricks? Especially, when you want to keep your forests and this in the time of climate change in addition? Just wondering...

Svar till lotteri frågan: om ni inte redan gjort det så ska ni öppna en fond för er son. Där lägger ni in födelsedagspengar, extrapengar osv fram till 18 år, väldig säkerhet för er son i vuxen ålder att ha som insats till lägenheten osv. Tips!! Ni är bäst, lycka till! ❤❤❤🎉

I think it’s becoming more interesting.

The toughest part is when the kid will start reaching 4-5 years old. Unless he will have a brother living without friends in a remote area will be not easy. Kindergarten and activities will be very far away and I take it there is no other small kids in the village. 😕

There are certain plants that naturally repell mosquitoes. I'm one of those people that attract those little vampires. Also, there are granduals that can go into your pond, but I don't know how toxic they may be.

Hi Kalle, I love your content and have been a long-time fan. Regarding deforestation, I own a lot of forest around Sollefteå (I'll be visiting Sollefteå next weekend if you’d like to grab a coffee? :) ). The lumber industry is playing a crucial part in achieving the net-zero transformation in Sweden. As you mentioned, there are strict rules protecting key environmental interests. Partly due to this, I recently converted a large portion of the land into a reserve. However, part from the temporary visual impact, the process is well-managed. I believe Sweden has some of the strictest laws and guidelines when it comes to forest protection. All the best. //Engineer J.

Isn't an indoor bathroom a priority over a kitchen?

Oh, yeah the algae. ;) Algae are just super good at using up any kind of fertilizer. Much better than higher plants. I would expect that all the earth that got disturbed during building the ditch resulted in a huge excess in nutrients. I would expect this to balance out eventually. The good thing is that a) you have running water to that's much better than a normal pond and b) it just looks ugly, but isn't unhealthy at all.

❤

Do people ever help move/transplant endangered species into different areas in order to help prevent logging in those areas? I assume they do, but probably cant talk about it. What do you know about it (if anything)?

Keep mosquito eating fish in the pond. Check if you can introduce some domestic Swedish fish which are natural in the area. This is not possible to do if the pond freezes to the bottom in the winter though. Talk to some expert about it. Attract birds to stay in the area by adding more bird nests. Many birds eat mosquitos. Talk to your plant shop about mosquito repelling plants, but make sure they are not poisonous to kids.