Helena Nidecker

Helena Nidecker, The Forest Cabin

Helena Nidecker originally comes from Switzerland, where she grew up with a close relationship to Sweden, as her mother is Swedish. There were many long summer vacations in the areas around Nybro and on Öland. That Helena eventually bought both a home and started her own business in Sweden is, however, somewhat of a coincidence. The story begins with her and a friend buying a ship that they were going to renovate. The problem was that they needed somewhere to store it and at the same time be able to start the refurbishment. They began searching for suitable properties and stumbled upon the farm Skogshyddan, which is located a bit outside Fårbo in the Misterhult area. The farm turned out to be perfect for the purpose. There was not only a large residential house but also barns and outbuildings with plenty of space for both the ship, tools, and everything else needed for a boat renovation. In 2010, Helena and three other friends bought the farm, and the seed that would later grow into the Mobile Saw had been planted.

The fact is that a lot of sawing is needed when restoring a wooden boat, and to facilitate the process, Helena purchased her mobile saw. That the mobile saw turned into a business is also a coincidence. To be able to insure it, a business insurance was needed, and it cannot be taken out without being a registered company. Helena was thus more or less forced to start her own business. Fortunately, it turned out that there was a great demand for help with smaller sawing jobs, and Helena began to receive more and more inquiries. In 2018, the Mobile Saw was started and is now well-known in the area.

Helena still divides her time between Sweden and Switzerland, where she occasionally works as a boat builder and skipper. She describes that there is a big difference in culture between the countries. In Switzerland, people are very stressed, and there is a high pressure to perform. Here in Sweden, people are more relaxed, and there is a strong sense of community, despite the distance between neighbors. ”Here, people help each other, and when you get help, it is very appreciated,” says Helena.

According to Helena, the best thing about living and working in the Misterhult area is the feeling of freedom, the beautiful surroundings, and the people. Here, one has a free and simple lifestyle, but at the same time, space to develop and grow. There is a large network of engaged and helpful people, which allows for a lot to be accomplished together.

Helena's best tip for people who want to move here or who are newly relocated is to immediately try to get in touch with people in the local area and start establishing a network. It is invaluable to have people to ask for help, and it makes it much easier to truly become a part of the community and fellowship.

Something you absolutely should not miss, whether you are a resident or a visitor, is to rent a kayak and paddle in the archipelago.

Read more about Helena's mobile sawmill: mobila-saw.com

Text and image: Jenny Svendsby