Our host for this project is a farmer’s family on the south shore of Iceland close to the town of Vík, the farmers cultivate carrots and keep cows. This is the seventh year that SEEDS volunteers will have the unique opportunity to get to know and explore this traditional Icelandic farm. There will be various tasks, depending on the weather, some cleaning tasks, for instance clearing fields of rocks, fences, trash, beautifying the area around and removing an invasive species called - Rumex Longifolius; which has been used in Iceland in order to control soil erosion and revegetate eroded areas; but in some places its spread is more than desirable and being a foreign specie endangers the native species. This weed can remain viable for a long time, is helpful for vegetative reproduction, and adaptable to different environments. It is primarily a weed of grassland, and in this habitat it benefits from agricultural practices which lead to disturbance or eutrophication. It reduces production from the field and lowers the feeding value of the grass to the animals. Those who are interested can help out with farm activities, such as taking care of the animals, cultivating potatoes and vegetables. Participants are invited to take a look at the cows in the stalls, assist in milking them if interested or just tending to them in general. The group will also be taking care of trees, cutting and planting them. The weather conditions in Iceland are unpredictable, especially during winter and in early April the average temperature is just above zero. Be prepred to experience all kinds of weather and be sure to bring warm clothing.
ACCOMMODATION:
SEEDS volunteers will stay in an equipped flat, in a sleeping bag accommodation, sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
LOCATION:
The farm is located in the South of Iceland, in a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and glaciers to the north and near the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The closest town is Vík. The inhabitants here live in constant threat of volcanic eruptions and the area was covered by ashes during the recent eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Vatnajökull (Grimsvötn) in 2011. Vík is Iceland's southernmost village. Mýrdalur is bordered by the glacial river Jökulsá to the west and the river Blautakvísl to the east. Its northern border is the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which caps the volcanic Mt. Katla, while its southern limits are the black sand beach and the rolling Atlantic waves. The district lives mainly by agriculture. Although this community of 600 inhabitants faces the open Atlantic, Vík is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour due to natural circumstances. Among the many attractive aspects of Vík, are the trips to the South shore and to Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
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 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 180 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas. The fee does not include the transportation to the project and back. Our host will organise free time activities in the area, depending on the weather conditions. Volunteers have to bring good working shoes and clothes, even though summer is coming, it might still be cold and hats and gloves might be necessary.
SEEDS volunteers will support this project for the tenth year in a row, we started cooperation in 2009 and the results have been very positive. The hosts are a group of locals developing the area with alternative tourism services, including running a series of huts in this isolated area in the highlands and offering services to visitors and hikers.In this camp SEEDS volunteers will work on diverse environmental outdoor tasks, including repairing of walking paths and making steps in steep parts of the trails, landscaping around the huts in the area. Volunteers will also help with the revegetation in some areas around, clearing litter on the walking paths, and general preparations within the area before summer. As the landscape is raw, the work is physically very demanding but also rewarding. Volunteers should have a motivation for working outdoors and to experience one of the most isolated areas in Iceland.Weather in Iceland is unpredictable, so be prepared for all kinds of weather and be sure to bring warm winter clothing since most of the work will take place outdoors and it can get very cold in the highlands.
Accomodation & food:
Volunteers will be hosted in a local mountain hut; sleeping in shared rooms on mattresses on the floor; please bring your own sleeping bag. The facilities are very basic and volunteers are expected to show consideration for their companions. Volunteers will receive food ingredients and will be in charge of cooking and cleaning. Please do not forget some traditional/typical food or drinks from your home country for the international evening at the camp.
Location & leisure:
The Icelandic highlands, or the interior , are a true pearl to nature lovers and outdoor people. It is accessible on 4WD cars and most routes involve crossing rivers where there are not any bridges.If you really want to get away from it all, the interior of Iceland is like nothing you have ever experienced. The mountainous centre of the island, with its rocky deserts, craggy mountain peaks, ice caps, volcanoes, hidden valleys and hot springs, is an awesome and untouched wilderness. The interior was almost totally inaccessible until recently. However outlaws managed to hide out for years at a time in the highlands, rustling sheep and keeping away from law-abiding citizens. Folklore stories tell of both natural and supernatural beings that lay in wait for unwary highland travellers. Travellers going between the north and south of Iceland sometimes had to cross the highlands. To get to the assembly of Alsingi (parliament) each summer, delegates had to ride from every corner of the country to Singvellir in the Southwest. Volunteers will be staying close to the glacier Hofsjokull and near to the rivers Hvita and Sjorsa. The mountains in the area that reach up to 1500 m were formed during a volcanic eruption in the later part of the ice age. The area is still dynamic and great geothermal activity takes place in the surroundings. The environment is very diverse, both in shape and colour. The mountains are weathered and have very little continuous growth, as the forces of natu
Our host for this project is a farmer s family on the south shore of Iceland close to the town of Vik, the farmers cultivate carrots and keep cows. This is the seventh year that SEEDS volunteers will have the unique opportunity to get to know and explore this traditional Icelandic farm.There will be various environmental tasks, such as tree-planting and tree-cutting helping with the upkeep and the restoration of some farm buildings, helping cutting the grass used to feed the animals during the long winter months. We may also help repair environmental damages after animals. Other possible tasks include turfing grass; cleaning tasks, such as clearing fields of rocks, fences and beautifying the area, like hand-picking garbage or collecting trash that has been blown by the wind.Those interested in farm activities, can help out taking care of the animals or carrots cultivation. Participants are invited to the stalls, and can assist in milking the cows if interested or just tending to them in general.The work can be demanding and requires a good physical condition but no previous experience is necessary. The working day normally runs from 09:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee; however, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the unforeseeable weather in Iceland. As it is outdoors work, volunteers shall be ready to adapt and be flexible with the working and free-time schedule, as depending on the weather, we may not be able to perform some of the tasks or acti
Accomodation & food:
SEEDS volunteers will stay in an equipped flat, in a sleeping bag accommodation, sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive food supplies and be in charge of cooking and cleaning. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.
Location & leisure:
The farm is located in the South of Iceland, in a beautiful area surrounded by mountains and glaciers to the north and near the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The closest town is Vik. The inhabitants here live in constant threat of volcanic eruptions and the area was covered by ashes during the recent eruptions in Eyjafjallajokull 2010 and Vatnajokull (Grimsvotn) in 2011.Vik is Iceland s southernmost village. Mirdalur is bordered by the glacial river Jokulsa to the west and the river Blautakvisl to the east. Its northern border is the Mirdalsjokull glacier, which caps the volcanic Mt. Katla, while its southern limits are the black sand beach and the rolling Atlantic waves. The district lives mainly by agriculture. Although this community of 600 inhabitants faces the open Atlantic, Vik is the only seaside settlement in Iceland left without a harbour due to natural circumstances. Among the many attractive aspects of Vik, are the trips to the South shore and to Mirdalsjokull glacier.
Requirements:
Closest international Airport: Keflavik/Reykjavik (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavik (BS).SEEDS organises a minibus option , a shared transport from Reykjavik to the camps and back. Apart from being cheaper and more convenient, it allows participants to meet and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting sites. Meeting point will be at 10:00 am on October 10th, at SEEDS office in Reykjavik. We return to Reykjavik in the afternoon of October 24th. The participation fee does not include the transportation from Reykjavik to the camp and back but we estimate the costs about EUR 45 each way, stopping at stunning waterfalls and the black sand beach on the way.
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »
