Sustainability in Action

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers will be working in an organic farm in the south of Iceland. The project´s goal is to establish a platform for the farm to come closer to their goal of running a sustainable farm with environmental and sustainable tourism.

The farmers need assistance in various things around the farm, so our schedule might be different from day to day. Our projects will include tearing down old fences and making some new ones, cleaning out a stable, picking and drying herbs and planting trees.

Other projects might be to clean the surroundings, putting down some new fences.

The working plan will be very flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local hosts, the advance of the diverse projects and of course on the weather conditions. We will help to preserve the local environment and get practical experience on the farm life and farm work. Our host is an animal masseuse and a healer and she wants to teach us her trade and let us tend to the animals.

ACCOMMODATION: We will stay in a house located on the farm; sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag. We will receive food and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

Please do not forget some traditional food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The South of Iceland is unique and that part of the country receives by far the greatest numbers of foreign visitors. There everything that makes Iceland interesting to visit can be found the year around. Here history follows you at every footstep, both ancient and recent. There are creative art, culture and flourishing trade and endless possibilities to enjoy the outdoor life in all seasons. Above all there is the awesome and rugged nature from the mountains to the sea.

The small town Hvolsvöllur, the nearest town to the farm, is one of the few Icelandic inland located towns. It started developing in the thirties, when most of the streams and rivers in the Southwestern Lowlands had been bridged. The inhabitants base their livelihood mainly on services rendered to the agricultural surroundings, the meat processing for the domestic market and tourism. The town is situated in one of the most important Saga regions of the country; with some of the main stages of the renowned Brennu-Njals Saga.Which is the longest and most celebrated of the Icelandic Sagas. Though its events are set in the tenth and early eleventh centuries, the Saga itself was not written until towards the end of the thirteenth century by an anonymous Icelandic storyteller. The Saga takes place in Southern Iceland mainly at Rangárvellir, where we will be staying.

The farm is one of three in Iceland that has received an organic certification for their cow farming. There also horses and breeding of Icelandic sheep dogs. The family is running a Peace centre, which aims at having goods and services that promote protection of nature and humans. They have been developing work ethic education and try to integrate that into their everyday live.

LANGUAGE: English will be the official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.

STUDY THEME: This workcamp has an educational/awareness-raising approach to environmental awareness, nature-protection and sustainable development topics.

The host will also give us sessions in the work ethic material they have been developing, called the Vs. A package that emphasises on 21 work ethic words that in Icelandic all start with the letter V.

TERMINAL: International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

SEEDS organises the "minibus option", a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camps and vice-versa, 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.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 100.

Free time activities will be arranged for SEEDS volunteers. Elf-stories from the area, animal massage and healing will be thought to volunteers.