Evje's Story
About 20 years ago, we packed up our life in Oslo and followed a dream northward – to Evje Gård in Sigdal. Not just to become farmers, but to create something bigger: a place to live and gather community, built on organic principles and a belief that people and nature thrive best when they work together.
The first years were largely about learning. We brought in specialists and experts who held workshops and seminars on organic farming, health, holistic living and personal development.
The farm quickly became a place where curious people met, ideas were shared and new knowledge took root – quite literally from the soil up.
As we grew into the roles of farmers and guides, we began offering our own courses and projects. Participants and students from across the world found their way to Sigdal. Interns put down roots for a season or two. Agroecology students came to learn, and left again with hands full of soil and minds full of ideas. Others came searching for something more personal – a pause, a direction, a new understanding of themselves through courses in personal development and leadership.
All of these people have left their mark on the farm and the farm has left its mark on them.
It is this living exchange between people, knowledge and soil that has shaped Evje Gård into what it is today – an organic cultural centre we are proud to call home.
Feel free to follow our journey
Anders & Nicola
Anders Næss holds an MBA from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, as well as a Master's degree in Ecological Economics from Nord University. He is currently finishing his PhD in ecological economics. In addition, he has a background in music and theatre arts.
In 1994, he began his personal development and leadership training through The Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DTMMS). Anders integrates his expertise in economics, ecology, and leadership in his role as manager of various projects both on the farm and beyond.
A sought-after public speaker, he has developed distinctive and engaging seminars that blend his knowledge of ecological principles with his musical talents.
Nicola Samad grew up in London, where she received education in theatre arts, specializing as an actor, director, and dramaturge. In 1995, she moved to Norway, where she continued her work in both theatre and film until around 2010.
In 1999, Nicola began her personal development and leadership training with The Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society (DTMMS). Today, she draws on her deep knowledge and extensive experience to design and lead spiritual development programs, retreats, and yoga courses.
Life at Evje
Our Bee Family
In 2015, we took our first step into the world of beekeeping – and it changed us more than we had expected. The bees have taught us patience, humility and respect for nature's own rhythms.
It has been, and continues to be, both challenging and deeply rewarding to learn about beekeeping.
We are truly grateful to have knowledgeable local mentors by our side – without them, the path would have been far steeper.
The bees are not merely honey producers. They are indispensable pollinators who contribute to life and diversity throughout the garden and across the fields around us.
Watching them move from flower to flower, knowing they are working invisibly but tirelessly to keep the ecosystem going – it is a daily reminder of how interconnected all life truly is. And as thanks for the collaboration, they reward us with an abundance of delicious, local honey that keeps us sweet throughout the year.
Vegetables & Herbs
From May to October, the kitchen garden at Evje is a buzz of life and colour. We grow a wide variety of vegetables and herbs – from root vegetables and leafy greens to tomatoes, courgettes, cabbage and aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary and parsley.
Following a plant from seed to table is a joy that never gets old.
The garden helps us become more self-sufficient with food, and complements the commercial field farming in a natural way.
Nothing here goes to waste – surplus is preserved, pickled and dried to stretch the flavours of the season as far as possible into the darker months.
We are also fortunate to live in an area of rich nature right on our doorstep. The forests and fields around Evje offer wild berries, edible mushrooms and wild plants throughout much of the year.
Foraging what nature itself provides, is for us, not just a source of food – it is a way of connecting deeply with the place we call home, and a reminder that we are never far from the original.
Contact
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