Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
18 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
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Details
Description
My name is Birgitta Josefsen and I live in Børselv, a tiny village in the far north of Norway (70 degrees north - 43 km north of Lakselv, along the Porsanger fjord). Before I retired some years ago, I ran a health food store in Alta for 25 years. Here I have a large vegetable garden, as my wish and hope is to grow as much of my own food as possible with the conditions and climate we have here. The garden has been expanding and improving over the last 10 years. I have many grow boxes of different sizes and 2 greenhouses that help me grow over 30 kinds of vegetables. My husband died on August 25, 2021. I have 2 cats, both male, one year apart in age. Both were found very young, losing their mothers too early. One long haired and one short haired... As for music, I prefer classical of all kinds.
Børselv is surrounded by beautiful nature - easily accessible. The beautiful fjord, where we have picked "tons" of seaweed for the garden, the dolomite cliffs, a small canyon nearby, the northernmost pine forest in the world. Low mountains where it is relatively easy to climb up for a panoramic view of the area. Also a farm nearby where there are alpacas - and a llama, angora rabbits, and more... Plenty of light, with midnight sun from around the middle of May until the end of July. And mosquitoes! Summer temperatures can range anywhere from as low as 10 degrees C to as high as 30 degrees C or more (for a day or two or three). Probably the most common is between 12 - 20 degrees C. We don't usually have so much rain and rarely heavy downpours, but we often have light showers. The climate is unstable because we are so near the coast. April is usually the snow-melting month. May (and June?) is spring, and hopefully the snow is gone by then, but not always. The winter is dark and cold - but not without its charm! Northern lights can often be seen if the sky is clear enough. And the twilight we have in the middle of the day often reveals beautiful colors in the sky as we do have sunrise/sunset without the sun appearing. Never a winter without snow - but the amount can vary. And the temperatures can vary between mild and even plus degrees, to colder than minus 20.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Børselv is a tiny village with 3 cultures - Norwegian, Sami and Kven. Kven is probably the smallest minority in Norway, but here in little Børselv we have Kvensk Institute. Learn more about this interesting minority when you come! As for myself, I am born in Sweden, lived in Iceland for a couple of years before moving to North America when I was only 3 1/2 years old. Grown up and educated in Canada and USA, studying at a multi-cultural college in Massachusetts. Loved to travel when I was younger, and have visited both Australia and Singapore, also a few countries in Europe. My husband was a coastal Sami, having lived in this part of Norway all his life.
Help
Gardening work in general - transplanting, weeding, watering, etc. And eventually harvesting! Clearing brush and small trees. Picking wild berries later in the season - cloudberries, blueberries, crowberries, lingonberries. This is too far north for fruit trees, but I have strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and red and black currants in the garden that also need to be picked when ripe. They aren't producing so much yet, but hopefully better each year. And Haskap berry bushes (a kind of Honeysuckle) that were planted in 2022. Also getting wood cut for the winter. I WOULD ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE HELP IN MAY/JUNE AND SEPTEMBER SINCE THESE ARE BUSY MONTHS IN THE GARDEN.
Since autumn 2023 I have gotten a new diagnosis: osteoarthritis. This means I will need help above and beyond gardening. Also during winter. For winter help I am looking for a woman, preferably in the health sector (physical therapy?) and who is vegan/vegetarian. During this time of year, the help I need will include house cleaning, trying new recipes (whole food plant based), shovelling snow, being a personal trainer, going for walks together. And preferably being able to stay for at least one month.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Norwegian: Fluent
Swedish: Fluent
Accommodation
A small guest room here at home with place for 2 (bunkbeds). If necessary, I can also put up a folding bed with mattress elsewhere. One bathroom with toilet and shower. As for food, I am a vegetarian (vegan) - Whole Food Plant Based to be exact. This is for health reasons. Helpers will not have to eat the same as me, but appreciate it if mostly vegetarian. Welcome to make your own food if you enjoy making it. No smoking, alcoholic beverages or drugs of any kind.
What else ...
Visit Kvensk Institute, visit farm with alpacas, visit the small canyon, hike to get a panoramic view, walks along the beautiful Porsanger fjord. Can discuss available transport later.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (14)
Feedback
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Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
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we are so so thankfull for our experiences in Børselv! We are especially grateful that you took us in March, eventhough, you usually don't have workaways in the Winter. Also, that we were able to come super spontaneously (just a few days after applying). We really appreciate how flexible and helpful you were with our ever changing… read more
You showed and taught me a lot in your garden which I really appreciate. I am happy that I could experience how relaxing and joyful life can be with gardening. Furthermore, it surprised me a lot how easy it is to cook with a whole food plant-based diet. This is something that I will keep… read more
Dear Birgitta,
Thank you for the week with you and your lush vegetable garden and that I could come to you so spontaneously.
It is a special gift for me to see that you manage to grow such a variety of fresh vegetables so far north. I ate my first strawberries for 2022 with you. They are so delicious and sweet. I enjoyed my last… read more
I loved working in the garden, seeing the changes we made, and picking berry/seaweed/sand.… read more
Thank you Birgitta for having me! I had a great time :)
Birgitta is a really kind women, really open and always comely. She shared a lot about her history and we talked a lot about cultures, religions, education ...
The work in her organic garden was so interesant, I learned much… read more
I highly recommend to come help Birgitta… read more
