Permaculture and creativity at the foot of Mt. Esja

WORK/PROJECT: This is the first year that SEEDS offers this project in Kjalarnes in cooperation with our hosts who are developing a permaculture skill centre aimed towards improving people’s connection with nature and themselves. In the future they will offer courses, workshops and events related to permaculture and alternative lifestyle.

SEEDS volunteers will help to beautify the surroundings of the farm by landscaping, laying turf, picking up trash, making walking paths to protect the surroundings of unnecessary passage and harm. Volunteers might also do some renovation tasks, such as painting.

The hosts are mostly using natural materials or reusing old materials to build up the centre. For example they are making adventurous accommodation in old buses and the materials to beautify the environment mostly come from the surrounding nature.

The hosts’ idea is to create a centre built on the permaculture ideology – the harmonious integration of environment and people — providing their food, shelter, and energy in a sustainable way. Permaculture is a system of agricultural and social design principles around simulating or utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. The term permaculture refers to "permanent agriculture" and "permanent culture", as social aspects is considered integral to a truly sustainable system.

This is an exciting opportunity for volunteers to be a part of this creation of this unique centre and to get to know the ideology of permaculture.

Volunteers need motivation to work mainly outdoors in changeable weather conditions. Days in Iceland at this time are long so the clear air and bright light can create great conditions for photography or just to enjoy the views

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be sleeping in shared rooms in a sleeping bag accommodation, either in the shared accommodation or in the converted buses. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

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

LOCATION: The farm is about 5 Hectares in Kjalarnes, 25 minutes from the capital. The hosts’ premises are old compact barns that have been rebuilt.

The environment around the farm is wonderful for nature lovers, as the area is close to both the sea and the mountains. The sea is about 400 m from the farm, so you can basically stand on the farms land and look out to sea. Kjalarnes is the nearest town from the farm, about 2.5 kilometres. Kjalarnes was an independent municipality, until it joined Reykjavík in 1998. Today Kjarlarnes is the least populous district in the municipality of Reykjavik with population around 600 inhabitants.

Reykjavik’s favourite mountain Esja is located in Kjalarnes. Mt. Esja is 914 meter (2,999 ft) high a popular destination for day-trippers and riddled with well-worn hiking trails. Esja is not a single mountain but a mountain range formed by volcanic activity back in prehistoric ages.

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

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

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 160 - (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Our hosting partner will organise some free time activities in the area, for example hiking up MT. Esja, BBQ, campfire with drumming and singing, visits to stables and horseback riding, wood carving with the host who is a sculptor. At the farm there is also a craft studio, where interested volunteers can create different things.

AGE: 18