Practical information for visitors
We are open to new people who are enthusiastic about developing Suderbyn,
strengthening the community, and actively engaging in working towards an
​environmentally sustainable and socially just world.
If you are thinking of visiting us, please read this basic information about Suderbyn.
All of us who live in Suderbyn contribute our time and energy to developing the ecovillage as a place and as a community. Creating a new model of society, is a challenging but inspiring task. It takes a lot of effort, time and commitment. We who live here contribute not only to keeping Suderbyn running well, but also to the social wellbeing of the community. We ask our visitors and guests to be considerate and respectful of our lifestyles and values.

Here in Suderbyn, we live simply and in harmony with nature. We are not against innovative technologies and we use them ourselves when needed, but we do appreciate traditional knowledge and low-tech solutions which empower us and allow us to make more things ourselves instead of buying everything from far-away countries.

This is not a perfect ecovillage, of course, but we are trying to live ecologically, sustainably and creatively; to respect nature and each other. 

** Current Availability to Accept Visitors**

We are currently unable to accept new applicants for 2021 because we have reached the limit of our hosting capacity. This can always change, however, and we will update our website if/when it does. 

Prices

All of us living in Suderbyn pay for our rent and food, and so do our visitors, even volunteers.
The rent depends on the room size and comfort. The rents vary from 2000 to 3850 SEK per month for rooms. Renting a spot for a tent is 1100 SEK per month, and for 300 SEK per month you can also rent a tent from us (so, a total of 1400 SEK per month).
The food is 1900 SEK per month and is 100% ecological, vegan, and very good quality. Everyone can eat what, when and how much they want, though we try to be more aware of our consumption habits.

Test living (1 month) costs 4000 SEK including food and accommodation.
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For shorter visits (less than 21 days), a bed is 150 SEK/night, a tent is 100 SEK/night, and food costs 150 SEK per day (breakfast: 30 SEK, lunch: 60 SEK, dinner: 60 SEK).

Working volunteers who contribute 4 or more hours of work per day, pay a reduced bed cost of 130 SEK/day, tent cost of 50 SEK/day and food cost of 75 SEK/day (includes 3 meals).

For information regarding short-term visits, please contact us directly for rates and availability: info@suderbyn.se

Volunteering work

Those who live in Suderbyn permanently are asked to contribute at least 10 hours of volunteering work per week, though most of people invest more of their time as we build this home together and we want to take care of it and the community. Volunteers are requested to work at least 4 hours a day.  It can be cooking, construction work, cleaning, working in the garden, creating art, organizing social events, helping in the office and contributing to the projects of our NGO. 

Sheets, towels and working clothes

We have towels and sheets which you can use, but please make sure to wash them before you leave. Or, if you leave early in the morning, ask someone from the community to help you. Feel free to bring some work clothes/shoes, but we also have community work clothes which you can borrow.

Ecological and Biodegradable Products

We try to use only ecological food products and biodegradable personal hygiene products, such as shampoo, tooth paste, etc.,  and we expect the same from our guests. If you do not have 100% natural (biodegradable) personal hygiene products, you can buy them in Suderbyn. We urge you not to use non-biodegradable products because they will end up in our water supply.

If you want to move in

If you are thinking of moving to Suderbyn, the best is to first come for a visit to see the place, how we live, and how we work together. If you like it and feel that you would like to live here, you are welcome to come back for "test living" for 1 month (in exceptional cases you can come to the test living directly).

​After the "test living" you leave Suderbyn for a week to reflect and make a decision if you are going to stay in Suderbyn or not. It is important to have this week so you can compare another life with Suderbyn.

During this time, we in Suderbyn have a meeting to reflect on how your test living went and how your presence affected the community, and then sociocratically vote about you coming back. If you decide that Suderbyn is the right place for you and we decide that you are the right person for us, you can move in and live with us. Although we appreciate people staying for longer periods, It is always possible to leave if you feel that your learning journey should continue elsewhere.​

Permanent membership​

In the current structure, every community member pays for their rent and food. Regrettably, we don’t have the means to provide a scheme of sustenance for our members (yet). One of our goals is to make it possible in the future and who knows, maybe we would be working on it together.
That being said, there is also a possibility to become a member and co-owner of our cooperative Suderbyn People-Care when the following requirements are eventually met:
  • Having lived in Suderbyn for at least 6 months
  • Making a one time donation of 10 000 SEK to Suderbyn Earth-Care foundation that holds the land
  • Making a refundable contribution of 5 000 SEK to Suderbyn People-Care Cooperative
  • Signing a membership contract with the cooperative

The membership gives access to lower prices for food and rent as well as a decreased minimum hourly community contribution of 10 hours/week.

More details...

All communally bought and served food is vegan. Every weekday, one or two people cook for the community and on Sundays we usually have a pancake brunch.​.
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We promote a healthy lifestyle. Smoking is allowed only in specifically designated areas, never indoors. No drugs or hard alcohol are allowed in Suderbyn. Please read our Co-Living Principles for more details
We have two cats living with us, which is good to know if you have an allergy. 



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We do not want active medical residues (e.g. pharmaceutical medicine, hormones, and antibiotics) in our garden and water supply. In case your body contains such materials, you will need to use a dedicated toilet. 
We enjoy "fika", a typical Swedish tradition of having afternoon tea/coffee and cakes, and when new people arrive, we often host a fika to welcome them.
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We use compost toilets, separating urine and solids. But if you need to pee, the best is to just do it in the garden
​(at least 50 m from the pump station).