Organic Farming in Iceland (2:2)

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, beets, beetroots and lettuce.

Volunteers will also pick berries from the surrounding area. Alongside the harvesting tasks, volunteers will clean the vegetables and make them ready for consumers in the Icelandic market, as the farm sells its products at different stores and organic shops around the country.

Around the farm there is a young forest that can be maintained and cleaned if the harvesting jobs are done.  Volunteers need motivation to work mainly outdoors doing very physical labour and under ever changing weather conditions.

Volunteers will be provided with good waterproof overalls and gloves for the work.

ACCOMMODATION:

SEEDS volunteers will be hosted in a local house; sleeping on beds or mattresses in several rooms, shared by 2-4 volunteers each. Please bring your own sleeping bag. The house is equipped with a shower, washing machine and a kitchen.

Volunteers will share the duties of preparing food, cooking meals and cleaning. Please keep in mind that during this workcamp only vegetarian food will be provided, which also means eating mainly local, organic food from the farm. 

Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION:

The farm, one of the few and large 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 2268). Total population is about 3.408 (01.01.2012) 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 farm is located very close to Lagarfljót, the home of the mythical creature the Lagarfljót Serpent (Lagarfljótsormur) which was believed to be spotted early 2012 by a local farmer. If you get lucky you might get a glimpse of it and maybe even to be able to get a picture of the much sought after serpent.

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 in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL:

Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). The closest bus stop and local airport is located in Egilsstaðir (EGS).

The harbour for ferries from Faroe Islands & 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.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:

Participation fee EUR 150 (Euros).

Free time activities will be organized for SEEDS volunteers; as day trips and excursions in the area.

Some of them will be free of charge; some others might require financial contribution.

Age: 18+