In the 1980s, the local government of Åland bought the home of the late Sven Karlsson. Sven—a boatbuilder, inventor, fisherman, farmer, and carpenter—had lived his entire life on the farm, weathering all the changes the 20th century brought with it while still sticking to the lifestyle of his ancestors. Having lost one of his legs in a hunting accident in his youth, he got creative in his daily life, using a motorized bike, installing water chutes between the stables and well, and constantly bettering the designs of his nets, traps,…
