Oulu and Helsinki are both coastal cities on the Baltic Sea, but because Oulu is only 107 miles south of the Arctic Circle, it is already quite cold there! In Helsinki, it was cloudy and rainy, while in Oulu, the cold days with sun gleaming on the snow shift abruptly to very dark nights with heavy snowfall.
In Oulu, I explored a working dairy farm named "Maatilayhtymä Lamberg" or Farmgroup Lamberg, named after the family that has owned it for three generations. The family was very kind to show me around the farm for the day. I got to wear special coveralls and boots to keep the cow houses clean (and to keep me clean, too!).
Dairy cows in Finland must be kept clean and healthy due to the strong laws in Finland about milk. The dairy farmers milk all of the cows at 5:00 AM and then again at 5:00 PM every day. Many baby cows are born on the farm and although the farmers I met were very experienced, there is always a veterinarian on-call if she is needed.
