We Planet Caretakers
The aim of the project is to contribute to resilience in agriculture and gardening, so that these activities can cope with external stresses and care for the landscape with all its inhabitants. The project is run by project managers at Upplandsbygd's office and will include meetings for inspiration and skills development - for farmers, growers and other interested parties in our cross-sectoral network.
About the project
We are in the midst of a climate and ecological crisis and the window for action is now. Farmers and horticulturalists have the potential to be part of the solutions to a sustainable society where we live within the limits of the planet. The bark beetle outbreaks, forest fires and storms of recent years have also made more people aware of the need to manage land and forests in a way that can cope with the long-term stresses of a changing climate.
This project will carry out various meetings to increase competence and hope for the future. The project is primarily aimed at farmers and horticulturalists who want to experiment and develop their business – so-called ”planet caretakers”. Participants will be offered exchanges of experience and skills development on how resilience can be strengthened through measures that, for example, store carbon, promote biodiversity and contribute to strengthened preparedness. The program will also provide participants with a supportive social context. The ambition is that younger potential farmers and horticulturalists will also participate. The project will reach out with the participants’ good examples to increase the participants’ visibility.
In this project, we will carry out open activities for all interested parties in our network. We plan study visits and inspiration evenings related to resilient agriculture, contingency farming, sustainable forestry, increased carbon sequestration in agricultural land and local food systems.
Join our network to receive invitations and feel free to contact us if you have ideas! We are happy to co-arrange activities.
What has happened in the project so far?
Here you can see pictures from activities that we have already arranged in the project together with various partners.
- Digital lunch seminar about Earth's microlife with Malin Isaksson from SoilSister on March 23, 2026.
- Inspiration meeting about coal storage at Wik Castle on November 13, 2025 with Jessica Johansson from Swedish Coal Storage, in collaboration with Ecological Farmers Uppland.
- Inspiration meeting about contingency farming – ”Contingency farming for everyone!” in Storvreta on November 11, 2025 together with Coompanion Roslagen & Norrort, FOBO Association for Organic and Biological Cultivation, FOR National Organization for Recreational Cultivation, Skyttorp Forest Garden Association and the Civil Defense Association.
- Field trip about increased carbon storage at farm level with Jon Orvendal on June 16th in collaboration with Organic Farmers in Uppland.
- Taste Vallentuna on April 27th – market with local food and inspiring lectures by Lisa Emanuelsson and Stefan Eriksson. The local Brottbybønan was spread and it became the starting point for the new association Mat och Smaker in North Stockholm.
- Lecture about forest gardens with Linda Magyar on March 17, in collaboration with, among others, the Skyttorps forest gardens association.
- Inspirational talk about home emergency preparedness with Patrick Sellman in February 2024.
Project period
2024–2027
Upplandsbygd locally led development LAG
Project Manager
My Sellberg
my.sellberg@upplandsbygd.se
Main partners
Studiefrämjandet, Svensk Kolinlagring AB, Organic Farmers in Uppland, the innovation platform ”Food for everyone – close and together”, etc.
The project builds knowledge and networks to strengthen resilience in agriculture and horticulture, i.e. the ability to cope with external stresses in the long term. The project arranges inspirational meetings and study visits for farmers, growers and other interested parties in our network to increase competence and provide space for exchanging experiences and building networks.
Granted leader support
SEK 2,952,464
Co-financing from Knivsta, Sigtuna, Uppsala, Vallentuna and Östhammar municipalities
SEK 1,454,199
Total financing
SEK 4,406,633
