Dalarna | Sweden

Welcome to freedom creativity community in the Swedish forest.

Need a break from being a grown-up? Come experience living in the Swedish forest.

We’re Indra and Joel, the creators of onthefreeside—our very own wild little summer sanctuary deep in the Nordic forest. From April to September, we throw open the gates, welcoming people to experience the real Swedish summer. That means bonfires, tiny house builds, off-grid living, and most importantly, a community that knows how to have a damn good time.

What started as a dream to build a tiny house in 2021 has since grown into something much bigger. Over the years, we’ve expanded into hosting volunteers, retreats, festivals, and summer camps for adults who want more than the usual tourist bullshit. Here, you’re free to sit around the fire, forage for mushrooms, or cook over open flames. In addition, you can learn bushcraft, build something with your hands, have a rave in the woods, and then nurse your hangover in a hammock.

Above all, there’s no pressure and no pretense—just connection, inclusivity, a pinch of chaos, and a whole lot of fun.

We believe in a new way of living—one that’s deeply connected to nature. Too often, society pushes us to grow up fast, get a degree, and chase success. Somewhere along the way, we forget how to just play—no rules, no alarms, no expectations. Instead, we crave community, forests, and bonfires. And that’s exactly what we’re here to create.

How to get involved

Volunteering opportunities.

Come hang out with us and help us build a tiny house in our alternative living community in Scandinavia. Experience off-grid life, grow food, swim in lakes, and create something magical. Trading 25 hours of work a week for cozy meals, a place to stay, and memories you won’t forget.

Spaces and projects.

From tiny homes, house restoration, and creating a garden in Sweden to upcoming off-grid living projects in Europe, we’re creating a safe, queer-friendly, and inclusive community for people to live, learn, and create.

Summer camps.

Learn to forage wild ingredients, mix up forest-inspired cocktails, master fire-making techniques, build shelters, Cook over open flames, craft with raw materials from the earth, and sleep under the open sky. Live off-grid in the Nordic forest, no bullshit, just good people, crackling fires, and the kind of nights you don’t want to end. Disconnect from society & reconnect with yourself.

Success isn’t money or titles—it’s community, big hugs, late-night stories, belly laughs, fresh-baked bread, and birds singing outside your window. We’re creating a new way of living in nature—far out, real, and built on community, creativity, and connection. Out here, we build, we grow, we live—together, with dirty hands and full hearts.