Profile information
Host rating
70 %
Last replied
20 Apr 2025
Reply rate
63.6 %
Usually responds within 14 days
Feedback
34
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Badges (4)
Details
Description
Report for 2025 - updated 4th of March 2025
Our volunteer time in 2025 will be in from 26th of May to 21th of June
I prefer volunteers that can stay all the entire time of a given period. Applications for dates outside the given dates are of no use.
For ten years running, I have dedicated some weeks every year to a volunteer program at my house. With a multi-national band of volunteers, we have completed a range of tasks, that have cultural and personal value, and had some fun in the meantime: A mountain climping and weekend road trip is part of the program!
The work: I collect and sell Icelandic books - probably owning one the country's largest private collection - and would like help with archiving them into a digital data base. The main requirement is having an open mind to learning the Icelandic alphabet - which is like the English alphabet but with a few extra letters.
In addition to book archiving, we do a handful of odd maintenance work around the house like painting, gardening and petting the cat. But also some construction work, carrying book-boxes etc
In leisure time we do hike in mountains and wild nature. Hiking boots and sleeping bag are useful in this stay but not required. In Selfoss we have also very good swimming pool (free for you to use) and many interesting shops etc.
Bjarni
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
They get to engage with life in small-town Iceland as well as belonging to group of other volunteers from all over the world. As I mentioned, we travel at least once during the season and I urge people to make independent trips.
The work will teach people about the Icelandic language - an dialect of Old Norse - and the countries history of the written word. Plus, preservation of old books and modern archiving.
Help
That's the basic description. Ideally, volunteers are interested in books, printmaking and the Icelandic language. We don't expect you to know any Icelandic, just to have an open mind to learning the Icelandic alphabet -- which is similar to English but with a few extra letters.
We look for curious minds with a good work attitude. No skill is irrelevant.
Languages
Languages spoken
Icelandic: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Danish: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
The house has six bedrooms and three bathrooms. Two of these rooms are connected but other are more private.
In Iceland, dinner is the biggest meal of the day. Breakfast and lunch are usually taken together, as a group. Between meals volunteers can snack all they want in the kitchen. Very very important to eat well at this house!
What else ...
Excellent outdoor areas and nearby the house is public swimming pool with outdoor hot baths; volunteers can use it free of charge. We are in South Iceland where many of Iceland's best known tourists attractions are located.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (25)
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.8)
The work was about 25h/week but with flexibility. Tasks were to help Bjarni registering his books digitally and accompany him to customers/stores/book fair. The work was easy but not boring as we could work with really… read more
It was an unforgetteble experience of sharing with Bjarni and che other volounteers. Bjarni shared everithing with us: not only his home, cars, food and cat but also his deep knowledge of the icelandic coulture and people
Bjarni is a kind, knowledgeable, generous, gracious and adventurous host. He is passionate about Iceland. Because he is such a great storyteller, we learned much about the country and many other topics that come up in conversations during… read more
We were a team of six international helpers living with Bjarni in a big house with one bedroom for each couple/indivdual. We took turns cooking and food was always abundant.
The work was exactly as described; most of the time I was registering books which had me stepping up my… read more
Niclas & Marc
I had an incredible and enriching experience whilst volunteering for Bjarni in Selfoss. Bjarni is a wonderful host, always kind and attentive towards his volunteers, who enriches each conversation with enchanting sagas.
The work entailed in this Workaway experience- the registration of second-hand books was rather easy… read more
Can only recommend this place wholeheartedly! This project is the best I've ever been. So worth it! Even for just 3 weeks
HOME
We were a wounderful crew of 7 people (Bjarni included) and we ended up feeling like a small family. I'm so grateful for these… read more
Thank you… read more
He is such a great host and an awesome person.
Registering books and painting was always fun.
Thanks for everything.
So I… read more
My stay with him two weeks were fantastic. The daily work is registering second hand books, by that you can go throw all the great fairy tales and histories, biographies... all of them are classic, they been selected well.
Mr. Bjarni won’t hold back telling you all… read more
He was very fair about working hours and tasks, and he very much… read more
The work was fun and varied. Bjarni organized so many trips and showed us beautiful places in Iceland we would never have found without him. Bjarni knows soooo… read more
