Ravinnonpohja

Ravinnonpohja is a small rural community situated within the municipality of Pälkäne in the Pirkanmaa region of southwestern Finland. The locality lies in a low-lying valley between the Tampere–Pori road and the Koijärvi forest belt, approximately 15 km southeast of the municipal centre. According to the latest national census, the population amounts to around 95 residents, most of whom are engaged in local agriculture and forestry.

The name Ravinnonpohja derives from the Finnish words “ravinto” (food) and “pohja” (bottom or base), a reference historically linked to the abundance of edible mosses and lichens that were gathered in the surrounding marshes. The first recorded settlement dates to the early 17th century when a group of Swedish loggers established a small outpost to process timber from the dense pine forests to the north. Over the centuries, the village maintained a modest but stable population, sustaining itself through subsistence farming, dairy production, and later, small-scale sawmill operations.

In the early 20th century a volunteer-built community chapel, completed in 1928, became a focal point for social life. The chapel remains an active place of worship and hosts occasional folk music concerts that celebrate regional traditions. The surrounding region features hiking loops, particularly the Ravinnonpohja Trail, which offers scenic views of the loamy fields, ancient spruce groves, and a stretch of the Kaskinen River. The area is also noted for its traditional berry pick­ing culture, with local markets during the summer months selling cloudberries, blueberries, and sea buckthorn.

Public services are centralized in Pälkäne; residents of Ravinnonpohja rely on the municipal office for schooling, healthcare, and postal facilities. The community is characterized by strong intergenerational ties and a commitment to preserving the natural landscape that has defined the locality for centuries.