How did I start renting out cottages?
In October 1999 I returned to Sweden after living and working for Swedish companies in Germany for 12 years. The business idea to start a cottage brokerage came during a holiday in a cottage in Linneryd, Småland. I started renting out two cottages: one in Linneryd and one in the Stockholm archipelago.
Over time, I developed "Lilla Huset i Småland" and brokered a maximum of 75 cottages over a period of 12 years. After being involved in the holiday cottage business for a long time, I decided to transfer the business to Novasol in 2012. I continued to work with them until 2021, after which I started a partnership with StayNordic. Now I have decided to start my own business again from February 2024. So welcome to contact me wishes Susanne Pilarp.
Locally produced lamb and "Fjällnära" cows
In addition to the cottage agency, I run a farm where I raise lambs and "fjällnära" cows, and offer both meat, skins and live animals for sale.
Lilla Huset i Småland
Mimmi, a Västgötaspets (a Swedish breed), who was my faithful companion, is lying in front of the door of Lilla Huset in Småland. The little house is actually located in the village of Sjuhult by Lake Rymmen, a very beautiful village outside Alvesta. Here you can take the opportunity to visit Högakull Nature Reserve which is a fantastic experience.
When I started to rent out houses in 2000, this small cottage was one of the houses in my catalogue, so the name Lilla Huset i Småland came actually from this little cottage as Lilla Huset means small cottage.
Most of the cottages I mediated then and still today are in Ljungby municipality as I live here and have here the largest contact network. But I also have cottages throughout Kronoberg and Jönköping County. Together with, among others, Ljungby Tourist Office, we marketed Ljungby and Lilla Huset's cottages at various fairs in Germany and Denmark. At that time and still today, Ljungby is probably the largest metropolis where there are most German tourists. The tranquility, nature and all the lakes attract the Germans.
"Fjällnära" cows, lambskins, lamb and calfmeat boxes
I'm passionate about animals and nature, and Gotland sheep graze on the farm. My dream had always been to have "Fjällnära" cows, so in 2016 I bought my first two heifers, one of them pregnant. I chose the "Fjällnära" breed to help preserve it in a viable living gene bank. All animals have a gene bank certificate certifying that they fulfil the gene bank's pedigree requirements and are entered in the gene bank register.
"Fjällnära", is a name for the most unrefined part of the mountain breed that is preserved in the gene bank by the Association of Older Boskap. The association is a non-profit association that works to preserve/protect the livestock near the mountains as unrefined land breeds. These animals originate from Lillhärjåbygget, Klövsjö, Biellojaure and Fatmomakke.
Some pictures from the farm
