The city of Helsinki buys the Haltiala farm in 1934. The farm has a long history that stretches back to the 16th century. The fields of Haltiala and Niskala are the oldest continuously cultivated areas in Helsinki, and they have been used as meadows, pastures and fields since the Middle Ages. The traditional rural landscape and history of the area are a key part of its appeal. Haltiala and Niskala form Helsinki's largest unified recreation area, which also includes Niskala Arboretum and Kellarinmäki.
In recent decades, animal and cafe operations have been carried out on the Haltiala farm, but the development of the area has been moderate and no comprehensive reform has been carried out.
Young Kyösti Karjula sees an advertisement in Maaseudun Tulevaisuus for the rental of the 540-hectare Lännen Karjatilan in Lumijoki. He seizes the opportunity, drives his Fiat 127 to Vesilahti and signs a 10-year lease with Juhani Lagerstram.
The farm only operates as a cattle farm for a short time, until it is converted into a seed potato farm in 1982 and a potato farm in 1988. Since then, potatoes have been one of the farm's main crops.
Ownership of the farm is transferred to the Karjula family.
In 2011, strawberry farming starts on the farm, and in 2013 there is a generational change. Approximately 110 hectares of arable land will be transferred to Karjula's four sons, who have a strong desire to continue developing the farm and ensure the production of high-quality domestic staple food in northern Finland.
Klaus Karjula becomes the owner of the farm. His goal is to build Lännentilan into a place that customers can trust in terms of both products and service. At the same time, determined work begins to develop an experiential farm.
At the beginning of the year, the brothers will take over the management of Kurkela Rieskaleipomo, which will be renamed Lännentilan Leipomo. The goal is to make it the best-known and most popular rieska brand in Finland. Viljami Karjula will start as the bakery's CEO. At the same time, Lännentilan's reputation is growing strongly on social media. Tens of thousands of people already visit the farm in the summer, and the number of followers will increase to almost a hundred thousand by the end of the year. Read more about the bakery: www.lannentilanleipomo.fi
The City of Helsinki is launching a concept competition for the Haltiala farm to find an operator that will develop the area into a vibrant recreation and visitor destination open to all. The competition will focus particularly on the ability to combine the area's history, nature and modern experiences.
At the end of the concept competition, Lännentila Oy will be selected as the developer of the Haltiala farm. Lännentila has been building a similar experiential farm concept in Lumijoki for several years, and their plan is impressive in its comprehensiveness. The plan combines farm traditions, experientiality and a low-threshold meeting place for everyone.
The renovated Haltiala farm will be opened to visitors on 1 June 2026. The goal is to develop the farm, together with the people of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, into a place where it is easy to come and spend time in a peaceful rural environment, alone or together. A home farm for all residents of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
