Haukadalur - Eric the Red & Leif the Lucky

WORK/PROJECT:

SEEDS volunteers will be working on various environmental and construction tasks based in two local farms in the West of Iceland. The tasks are indoors and outdoors and will give volunteers a chance to experience how life in Icelandic farms work.  

Volunteers will be beautifying the area by clearing old fences of the land, fixing fences and cleaning up the land.

There will be an opportunity to do regular farm work such as milking cows, helping the sheep deliver their lambs or observe if preferred, and herding the animals on the farm.

Other projects will be painting if weather permits and planting trees and garden works in the area.   

ACCOMMODATION:

SEEDS volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house in the farm; volunteers will be provided with bed linens and sheets at the farm.

Volunteers will stay in shared accommodation. Even if the volunteers are provided with bed linens at the farm we kindly ask the volunteers to bring their own sleeping bags.

Volunteers will receive food and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

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

LOCATION:

The work camp is located in the valley of Haukadalur, which is the home valley of Eric the Red, discoverer and settler of Greenland. Eiríksstaðir is the birthplace of his son Leif Eriksson (Leif the Lucky), who became the first European to set foot in North America. He named the country Vínland or Wineland in the year 1000.

The valley and the farm is located in Dalabyggð, a municipality formed in 1994 when 8 municipalities were merged into one. In 2012 the population of Dalabyggð is 686 and it has been experiencing slight population decline over the past five years. Therefore the area which is 2.421 km² only has 0.2% of the population of Iceland.

The municipality is known for the country’s most fertile and best rivers for salmon and trout fishing, as well as plenty of fresh water lakes for fishing freshwater trout.

The serenity and extraordinary beauty of the area which is located in the western part of Iceland attracts many visitors who come to enjoy nature in calm and quiet area.  Dalabyggð is popular with hikers who can choose from many different paths and routes ranging from easy to very challenging and difficult.  

Dalabyggð is not only famous for fishing and hiking, it has been mentioned in many of the Sagas and was the setting in two of very famous Viking sagas from the 850 to 1300. Two of Iceland’s most famous poets also lived in Dalabyggð, therefore the place is ideal for history savvy volunteers.

The project location is about 150 kilometre drive from Reykjavík through the “whale tunnel”.

LANGUAGE:

English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL:

Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Closest bus station: Central Reykjavík bus station (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 (Euros).

SEEDS and/or our local hosts will organise leisure activities for the group of volunteers and will include hiking and local excursions.

Age :18+