Outdoor work on the South Shore

WORK/PROJECT: In this project volunteers will assist with tree planting and other tasks in and around a beautiful farm on the south shore of Iceland. Our hosts for this project is a local farm owner who aims to maintain and beautify the area around the farm which is situated under the beautiful Eyjafjöll - literally translated ‘Island mountains’ - a mountain range noticed by everyone driving the south shore due to its beautiful waterfalls and infamous ice cap Eyjafjallajökull, which erupted in 2010. 

The main work tasks will be planting trees, gardening, cleaning the area, tearing down old fences and putting up newer ones, and painting. The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our local host, the advance of the diverse projects in the area and of course on the weather conditions.

Volunteers should be motivated for physical and outdoor work. The weather in Iceland is unpredictable so please bring waterproof clothing and good shoes, even though it is summer, it might still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will stay in a fully equipped house on the land. Volunteers will sleep in shared rooms in beds. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget to bring some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

LOCATION: The project is located on a farm on the South shore of Iceland, a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and glaciers to the north and facing the Atlantic Ocean to the south.  The farm is beautifully located under the mountain range Eyjafjöll, which has the two famous waterfalls Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, as well as many smaller waterfalls.

The mountain range is mostly made of tuff, which is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected during a volcanic eruption. Following ejection and deposition, the ash is compacted into a solid rock in a process called consolidation.

The mountains Eyjafjöll get their name ‘Island Mountains’ because they stand opposite the archipelago Westman Islands, which came to international attention in 1973 with the eruption of Eldfell volcano, which destroyed many buildings and forced a months-long evacuation of the entire population to mainland Iceland.

The farm is only a 30 minutes away from the town of Vík í Mýrdal, which is Iceland's most southerly village. Vík is a charming small village surrounded by high beautiful bird cliffs with beautiful ocean view. A range of recreational opportunities are offered in the area, which volunteers could organise by themselves in their free time, including bird watching, nature hiking and horse riding, or even glacier hiking, snowmobiling, and ice climbing. There are also a number of exhibitions and museums, like Skogar museum where the old turf houses can be seen, and Skaftfellingur VE33 ship exhibitions.

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

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

SEEDS organises the “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camps and back, 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: The participation fee is EUR 120 (Euros). Please note that this fee is to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Our host will organise free time activities in the area, such as a barbeque, hiking trips or trips to a local swimming pool, depending on the weather conditions.

Age: 18+