Marili Põrk's Farm: Not Profitable, but Brings Great Joy

Marili Põrk, the owner of Suureoja farm, shared that together with her family they care for 300 animals every day. Financially, the farm does not turn a profit, but it brings a lot of emotional satisfaction. "We do all this in our free time after our main jobs. Financially it doesn't pay off, but emotionally it definitely does," Põrk said on Vikerraadio.

Suureoja farm was created so that children could experience real rural life. "We have four children, two of whom are already adults, and they know very well what life on a farm is like," the owner noted. The farm houses about 300 animals, over 250 of which are sheep. "We have beef cattle breeds and Scottish Highland cows, a heifer that we hope will start giving milk in the future, goats, geese, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, peacocks, cats, and eight dogs. We do everything ourselves, as a family, without any helpers," Põrk added.

Põrk admitted they have considered stopping the farm. "In summer, haymaking is a difficult period when you wonder if you'll manage everything. When animals give birth or break the fence and run away, you also start to think about it. Or when you are just tired. We deal with living beings, and ordinary people also do not want to stay in one job longer than five years. But then we again get a new animal, and life happily continues," she said.

For 10 years, the farm has been open to visitors during Open Farms Day. This year is no exception.