Organic farming in Iceland (1)

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be working at one of the few organic farms in Iceland, located in the East of the country. Our main tasks will be to harvest (by hand) vegetables, mainly potatoes, beats, beetroots and lettuce. Alongside the harvesting tasks, we will clean the vegetables and make them ready for the consumers in the Icelandic market. Around the farm there is a young forest that can be maintained and cleaned in case the harvesting jobs are done.

Volunteers need motivation to work mainly outdoors on physical jobs and under changeable weather conditions. We will be provided with good waterproof overalls and gloves for the work.

You can see pictures from similar project organised in the farm last year at http://www.seeds.is/pictures-iceland-en-galleries/pictures/2009.html

ACCOMMODATION: We will be hosted in a local house; sleeping on beds or mattrasses in several rooms, shared by 2-4 volunteers each. Bringing own sleeping bag is needed. All facilities as showers and washing mashine are available. Food ingredients will be provided and a kitchen will be available; we will share the duties of preparing and cooking the meals.

Please, keep in mind that during this workcamp only vegetarian food will be provided, which also means that we will be mainly eating local, organic food from the farm.

LOCATION: The farm, one of the few and largest organic farms in Iceland is run with the large support of volunteers; who have been helping in the project of organic locally grown crops for the last years. About 20% of the farm is used for cultivation of different crops and the rest of the land is grassland, there is a forest of about one million trees planted there since starting the farm in the 1970s. The two major crops grown are barley and potatoes, and others include parsley, kale, beetroot, lettuce, kohlrabi, carrots and cabbage.

The farm is located in the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað, Iceland's easternmost populous municipality; 16 km from the largest town in the Eastern Iceland – Egilsstaðir (population 2300). Total population is about 3.700 (01.01.2009) and it is the largest municipality (in area) in the country.

The wild reindeers of Iceland are found in Fljótsdalshérað, they are about ten thousand and also the biggest forest in Iceland, Hallormstaðarskógur is located within the district.

The East Fjords is a region of a special landscape, dominated by long, narrow fjords and steep mountains. This is one of the oldest regions of Iceland shaped by glaciers in the Ice Age.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language of the camp; high proficiency is not required.

STUDY THEME: This workcamp has an educational/awareness-rising approach to environmental, nature-protection and sustainable development topics. Apart from the leader, we will have an environmental messenger, a person dedicated to organising and developing fun, interactive and educational activities within the project.

TERMINAL: Closest International Airport: Keflavík – Reykjavík (KEF). The closest bus stop and local airport is located in Egilsstaðir (EGS). The harbour for ferries coming from Faroe Islands and Denmark is in Seyðisfjörður, 27 km from Egilsstaðir.

SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camps and back again, which apart from being cheaper and more convenient, allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting and tourist sites.

We will try to organise the minibus option in such a way, that we will explore all parts of Iceland and make a circle around the country through the road number 1.

SPECIAL REMARKS / EXTRAS: Participation fee EUR 130,- (Euros).

Free time activities will be organized for SEEDS volunteers; as day trips and excursions in the area. Some of them will be organised by SEEDS and our hosts free of charge, some others might require some financial contribution.

AGE: 18+