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Help on an Icelandic farm and guesthouse, horse riding

Iceland
Favourited 1134 times
Last activity: 18 Apr 2024

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80 %
Last replied
10 Apr 2024
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3
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Availability

2024

Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Description
We are an Icelandic/Dutch family of 6, running a sheep farm and retreat center in north east Iceland. Kids flown out the nest by now but still dropping by and living with us once in a while.

Just people who can stay for this whole period; beginning of Mai till end of September, are considered! We run a retreat center / guesthouse and bar in the middle of nowhere, and a farm with 120 sheep, 50 horses, Border Collies and some Icelandic hens.

We're mainly looking for assistance in the guesthouse, someone who loves to cook. You will prepare dinner for our guests, our menu consists of trout we catch in our lake and lamb- and sheep meat from the farm. Other ingredients are vegetables from our garden and greenhouse.

Also someone who can help out with cleaning, assisting in the kitchen, bar, waitressing and reception.

A great place when you are an experienced horse rider, a plus is when you have been riding Icelandic horses. While doing work around the guesthouse, there is also of time to train our horses and keep us company on rides.

In return for your efforts we promise you will have a great time, a lot of new experiences and we will teach you everything we know about the fields we work in. So you leave with a package of new material which can help in whatever you're gonna take on in the future.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You'll learn loads about living on the country site. How to live in a self sustainable lifestyle. What it takes to run your own business. And off course the Icelandic language for those interested.
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Host has indicated that they will pay at least the minimum hourly wage of their country for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.
Help
Planting trees, looking after lamb and other animals, painting jobs, some gardening, welcoming guests, preparing breakfast, preparing drinks at the bar in the evening, cleaning rooms, preparing dinner for guests for the one hired as a cook. Various jobs around the farm, depending on your abilities. Riding and training our horses.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Icelandic: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Danish: Beginner
Accommodation
Volunteers will have a private bedroom and all meals are included. Since we are a working sheep farm and producing our own lamb and sheep meat, a large part of our diet includes meat, and also fish that we catch in the lake. Not at all suitable for vegan or vegetarians.
What else ...
A paradise for nature lovers, endless possibilities for hikes on your own in nature. Rich bird life, ecxiting for photographers. The village is 14 km away, possible to engage in things organised in the village.
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?
Two
Hours expected
5 hours per day

Host ref number: 272229236737

Feedback (2)

27 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Eliška) for host

In spring 2017 I had just joined the Workaway community looking for a nice place to spend my summer. Luckily I found here - a friendly host family, reasonable conditions for my stay, and horses. What else to wish for I said to myself. So I packed my bags and flew all the way to north-east Iceland where I stayed for almost 4 months. It was… read more definitely worth the long journey as I got to know the true spirit of this amazing country.

Travelling there is adventurous by itself. An international flight to Reykjavik is easy, however, after that one has to fly to Akureyri and then catch a tiny plane to Ƥorshöfn. Already in the plane I felt like something special awaits me as we were only three passangers on board. Mirjam was waiting for me at the airport with her land rover and I saw the Langanes peninsula for the first time. Driving only a few minutes along the coastline we turned and shortly arrived to the farm in the middle of nowhere. I was eager to see what is out there so Mirjam gave me a short tour right away showing me proudly her guesthouse with studios. Then I met Sverrir, her husband, who was taking care of sheep in a barn, and then I joined them for lunch in their home. Tired after many hours of travelling and all the excitement, I slept the whole afternoon in my new room. In the evening I was introduced to the rest of the family living there, their youngest daughter Hugbjört, whose name was so difficult to pronounce correctly and I am still not sure whether I got it right, and their son Alvin. It was April 12.

Next few weeks went really fast. I quickly became a part of their daily routine that takes over during lambing season. Mirjam was taking night shifts in the stables while taking care of our meals and all guests during the day. Sverrir and I were spending our days by watching over the sheep and their lambs which included feeding, helping with labor, marking and a lot of moving around – separating sheep expecting, in labor, with new lambs, with older lambs etc. I was trying my best to keep up and help as much as I could. Of course, my first experiece helping a lamb being born was intense, as was accepting the fact that not all lambs are meant to survive. That’s part of life of every farmer and I would like to believe I was becoming one.

Apart from my work there I have some highlights to share. Once I joined the family and went to see a school play in Bakkafjördur. It was in Icelandic of course but with a proper introduction from Hugbjört I enjoyed it a lot. Every leisure time I had I spent exploring the nature around, going for short hikes around the farm following a river against its stream, naivly thinking that I could reach the mountains which seemed so close, and long walks on the beach.

It was June, main tourist season was approaching and as Sverrir was slowly emptying the stables by releasing sheep with their lambs into open fields of the peninsula I started helping with the guesthouse. Before I get into that, there was one important activity that made me part of the Ytra-Lón history – tree planting. At first I hated that, planting tiny trees into obviously tough land that they have small chance to survive while it was rainy and windy, poitless isn’t it? However once I heard the plan of growing the whole forrest behind the Lónsa river, saw plans and all the work done, I grew to like it. In the end it was really rewarding, I improved my skills although I didn’t reach the speed of Sverrir and Alvin, and enjoyed also my first sunny days this way. Similar feeling of being in balance with the nature around, giving and getting, I helped with collecting eider down with Mirjam and Hugbjört.

My summer months were filled with interaction with our guests, I checked them in at the reception, recommended them trips in our region, and often also learned about their experiences. Cleaning rooms, preparing breakfast and doing laundry became my everyday duties. I was independent in managing my time which gave me freedom to organize my own program – horse riding, short trips exploring the area by car, hiking, or just enjoying hot tube with a nice movie to relax. In July my sister visited me in Iceland and as I agreed on some days off with Mirjam, I could show her my favorite places and discover also more of nort-east Iceland’s beauties.

In August my big test came to place when Mirjam with her family decided to go on their holiday. I suddenly was in charge of the farm and even though it was demanding, it was probably one of my best weeks there. Naturally I couldn‘t make it just on my own, I had an amazing help. Karina, a nice Norwegian girl, who was spending her time with her grandpa, our neighbour, came every morning to clean the studios. I took care of the rest – feeding animals, walking dogs, taking horses home, shopping, preparing breakfast, fullfilling reception duties, doing laundry and cooking for us. Luckily nothing unexpected happened and we could welcome the family with nice meal and listen to their stories.

As I already accepted a new job back in Prague, I decided to stay until end of August. It is a pity that I couldn’t experience sheep collecting in autumn, but I am grateful that I had my last spectacular experience – horse riding trips with farmers from the whole region. For six days we were riding every day for several hours with a herd of horses running with us. We were crossing rivers, riding on roads, beaches and along cliffs. I have never experienced such a freedom and feeling of being part of strong community, thank you Sverrir for introducing me this.

My last week was sad and exciting at the same time. I met Anna, another Norwegian girl that came as a volunteer to help during sheep collecting season to take my place. I tried my best to make her adapting process in Ytra-Lón as easy as possible, explaining her the routine, emphasizing habits of the family and necessary demand for proactivity. I enjoyed our time together, finally having my ‚partner in crime‘, discovering specialities of a local bar, going for trips and slowly saying goodbye to all the things I haven’t done there yet. My last evening the family hosted me by typical Icelandic farm meal. Imagine my surprise when I was served with sheep heads. After shaking off the first dreadful impression, I dared to taste a few pieces. I remember a tongue and cheeks were surprisingly tasty. Iceland brought also its farewell gift by exposing me to first Nordic lights that night. I flew to Akureyri next morning, joining two Icelandic guys that took me to Reykjavik by car to enjoy my last weekend there before flying home.

If you consider going to Iceland for longer time, I definitely recommend here. However you need to keep in mind that independence and proactive attitude are appreciated. Noone will really tell you what to do, or keep an eye on your schedule as long as the required work is done. You have your own space and the choice of how much you want to get involved in the family life is yours. It can get lonely sometimes but if you have your driving licence you can always take a land rover and drive to Ƥorshöfn to find some company or contact other volunteers in the area. Mirjam, Sverrir and their children are really kind people. Sverrir is an amazing story-teller that made me laugh so many times, very honest and open. I enjoyed chatting with Mirjam about politics, entrepreneurship, or daily challenges of living in Iceland. Hugbjört was always up to join me for horse riding, go for a short trip, or have passionate discussions about TV series. I incredibly miss the open space around the farm, the shelter it provided me, amazing Icelandic horses and playful Border Collies. Hopefully I will have a chance to come back one day to see my trees grown.

(Very good )

3 Jan 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Miroslav & Natasha)

Miroslav and Natasha volunteered at our hoste during summer 2015 for three months. Miroslav worked as Hostel Assistant as well as Farm Assistent; his responsibilities were reception, housekeeping, barkeeping and any occasional work on the farm. The position required interaction with our guests, as well as the ability to liaise between different… read more

(Excellent )

17 Aug 2015

Left by Workawayer (Miroslav & Natasha) for host

We were at Mirjam's place for 9 weeks and it was our first workaway experience. We can only say that it was AWESOME! :D We will never forget it! Since we came, we were treated like members of the family, in a very nice environment, considering Mirjam being there to help us, teach us and guide us patiently through every job that we had to learn.… read more Also, Janekke teached us how to clean rooms properly. ;)
About the work - you work according to the season, and you arrange everything with Mirjam. You have enough time to rest and if you need a day off, you just say it. :) We were right in the hostel season so I (Natasha) cleaned rooms and taking care of washing sheets while Miro was painting and reconstructing the barn and do other stuff connected to field work with Sverrir. It would be good to have experience in constructing things or just doing something with tools, or know how to drive a tractor in order to be able to give Sverrir help he needs. Together we managed breakfast for guests and reception in the afternoons.
About accommodation - you will get your own room (if you are only one) or studio apartment, which has kitchenette and everything you need for living comfortably and individually. Either way, you will stay in very comfortable heated accommodation.
About food - everything is possible and you will get as much as lamb/sheep meat as you wish! :D Also, trouts are great, but don't forget about THE cod! :D Cod was the finest fish for us as we are used to dried one at home that we are usually having just right before Christmas. :) You cook by yourself and usually on Sundays you sit for nice dinner with the family.
Whole family was great to us, full of understanding, very patient, caring and hospitable. Mirjam? Mirjam is special. She has been very compassionate with us, especially when we were telling stories about our situation and exchanging some life wisdoms. We felt her heart is house big, and she is wearing it with great power and tranquility. With her, in 9 weeks we felt like anything is possible, she had big confidence in us from the beginning, trusting our capabilities of doing all the tasks correctly and thoroughly which we cherish a lot. She gave us opportunity to prove that we can do everything she asks, without having second thoughts of will we accomplish it. She is not a control freak, she gives you freedom to do something on your own way, as long as it is done. You have a lot of independency and responsibilities while being there so it would be nice if you are self confident enough to trust yourself with running the hostel sometimes on your own. She touched us deeply and we are very grateful for everything that she's done for us. :)
About the internet - there is no wifi (if you can't cope with that, ask yourself some serious questions) and that was ok with us. We bought siminn sim card and had internet on our mobile phones just so we can contact our parents and friends and we didn't miss it at all. It would be ok if we didn't even have it, although... you know parents. ;)
About the weather - it's changing, but you will always need some warm clothes.
About field trips - on nice, sunny day, Mirjam took us to the peninsula of Langanes, to see the bird cliffs, and Fontur (lighthouse and also Northest point of the peninsula where was one guy playing the guitar) and it was amazing! We saw a lot of birds and most importantly, we saw puffins! :D (if you don't know it, google it!) ;) Also, we had time to look around Thorshofn and restaurant Baran where we had a very nice time! :)
About farm - it is located in a very peaceful place, 14 km from Thorshofn. All around you is beautiful nature - on one side you have mountains, on the other you have ocean with a nice bird watching hut where you can see diversity of birds living on the shore. Also, on the side where the mountains are, is a river and the landscape all around the farm is breath taking. From May to September sheeps and horses are all around the place, walking freely wherever they want so you don't have any work with them.
We would highly recommend going here if you want to connect with nature, yourself or with beautiful people that are creating it for quite a long time.
Without being too rigid, we can say that we had the time of our lives here and that we are grateful beyond stars for this experience!

Thank you very much for everything Mirjam, Sverrir, Janekke, Karlotta, Alvin and Hugbjorg! :)

(Excellent )

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27 Nov 2017

Left by Workawayer (Eliška) for host

(Very good )

3 Jan 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Miroslav & Natasha)

(Excellent )

17 Aug 2015

Left by Workawayer (Miroslav & Natasha) for host

(Excellent )

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Help on an Icelandic farm and guesthouse, horse riding

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Feedback

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Host offers payment

Badges (1)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

Space for parking camper vans

How many Workawayers can stay?

Hours expected

Feedback (2)

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