Farms and ecovillages

Copenhagen and North Sealand in particular is home to several organic farms with farm shops and ecovillages where a whole society lives according to a sustainable and organic life philosophy. Here are the important ones.

Christiania

Christiania in central Copenhagen is the region's largest ecovillage, annually visited by about one million tourists. Christinia is probably best known for the inhabitants' alternative lifestyle and confrontations with public authorities, but when it comes to protecting the environment, they take the lead compared to other Copenhageners.

The area's heating comes partly from solar heating in the buildings, which are built according to sustainable principles. In The Green Hall, which is one of Christiania's businesses, residents can buy recycled building materials from demolitions around the city. In addition Christinia has invested in 61 wind power units and energy-saving measures such as insulation.

The fact that Christiania is car-free, has not only given Copenhagen its first car-free area, where people can meet and play outdoors. It has also given Copenhagen the popular Christiania Bike, which since 1984 has transported everything from children and dogs to groceries.

Christiania's own guides offer guided tours. See website for more information.  

Dyssekilde ecovillage in Torup

Dyssekilde ecovillage is located in Torup between Hundested and Frederiksværk in North Sealand, close to Dyssekilde train station. The organic village has a population of 130 adults and 50 children who share a vision of a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable community.

The village has its own school and kindergarten, and it is divided into five housing areas with very interesting architecture. See, for example, the dome-shaped houses or a house built halfway into the ground. Many of the houses are built of recycled materials, clay, straw and wooden beams.

In many ways it reminds the visitor of Copenhagen's Freetown Christiania. Guided tours can be arranged. The ecovillage has a grocery store with North Sealand's largest selection of organic products, and its own bakery and cafe. Many artists and alternative practitioners are also active in the village.

Fuglebjerggaard

This organic farm in Helsinge, north of Copenhagen is run by TV chef Camilla Plum and brewer Per Kølster, her husband. She is author of many cook books, and he a competent brewer. On the farm there are chicken and cattle, corn fields, a fruit orchard, a vegetable garden, a mill, a brewery and a farm outlet - all strictly organic.

The shop sells flour, meat, vegetables, fruit, beer and all of it homemade and homegrown.

Grantoftegaard

Another organic farm is located in the idyllic village of Pederstrup west of Copenhagen. The farm is an active organic farm with lots of animals and land. Here the doors are open to the public when the sheep are milked, and the horses are shoed.

The organic farm outlet offers a large selection of organic products from vegetables, lamb and cheese made of goat milk to cosmetics and other gift articles. The old lunch restaurant Traktørstedet, which is situated in the village, serves homemade fish and vegetarian dishes based on organic products. 

Krogerup Avlsgaard 

Denmark's largest organic farm outlet is located in North Sealand, north of the town of Humlebæk. The farm is part of a company called Aarstiderne (Seasons), and everything sold here; groceries, cheeses and vegetables, is 100 percent organic and most of it grown on the farm itself.

In the back of the shop is a café, where light dishes are served, coffee, pastry and, over the weekend, a delicious brunch. The charming buildings are surrounded by a beautiful landscape less than 500 metres from Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

Watch fim about Green Copenhagen

Christiania

Dyssekilde ecovillage

Fuglebjerggaard

Grantoftegaard

Krogerup Avlsgaard