Forest & Paths in Skagafjörður

WORK/PROJECT: In this project SEEDS volunteers will have the opportunity to get to know the traditional Icelandic farm life in a ranch that has life stock of more than 50 cows, 100 sheep, few hens and horses. The project takes place in an agricultural area in the North of Iceland which is rich in both culture and history.  The volunteers will have the chance to get to know the local family and work hand in hand with them. Our actions here will depend on weather conditions and it’s hard to pin down the tasks, but we will mainly be doing some outdoor work.

Big part of the project will be working in a forest, planting trees, thinning the forest, making and maintaining hiking paths. Volunteers will have the opportunity to build from the material that comes out of the thinning process and possibility to make small harbour in a nearby pond.

Volunteers who are interested in farming and/or animal husbandry will have the opportunity to get to know typical farming tasks such as fertilizing the fields, cutting grass, painting timber fences, tear down old fences and possibly put down some potatoes and working around the animals.

The weather in Iceland is unpredictable. Be prepared for all kinds of weather and be sure of bringing warm clothing. The camp starts in early summer and the days are already long so the clear air and bright light can create great conditions for photography or just to go hiking.

ACCOMMODATION: We will stay in a local house with access to kitchen and bathroom, in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will take part in cooking and cleaning activities and sometimes they will have meals with the family.

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

LOCATION: Known as flashy dressers, the people of Skagafjörður were proud and often preferred to seek other work than farming. In this they were considered rather distinct from other Icelanders. Horsemanship was widespread in Skagafjörður and singing was given more weight than in many other regions; there culture and literature prospered.

Even though the vast majority of Skagafjörður residents make their living through agriculture, many were also engaged in fishing. Stagnation can be said to have marked many fields of life from about 1650 until 1850, when the impact of the industrial revolution began to be felt, and the Icelandic demand for increased independence from Denmark received a great deal of local support. Trade practices likewise began to change and the general population began to migrate from the countryside. Many moved to America, but others simply into villages and larger towns.

In Skagafjörður you will find many protected areas such as Orravatnsrústir, in the grazing commons Hofsafrétt; wetlands surrounding Orravatn lake and reaching north to Reyðarvatn lake. Another example of an exclusive area in Skagafjörður is the Upper end of Vesturdalur valley (Hofsárdalur valley): The innermost part of Vesturdalur, upstream from Miðmundargil gorge and including the canyon stretching inland from the valley.

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

TERMINAL: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

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 120, (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Volunteers should have a motivation for getting to know ways of living in rural areas in Iceland, for working outdoors and be prepared to all kinds of weather.  SEEDS and/or our hosting partner will organise free time activities in the area, which might include sight-seeing, hiking, etc. Countless opportunities to discover the area by foot or to hike in the surroundings.

Age: 18 +