Welcoming people to help us in a beautiful and remote part of the West-Fjords, Iceland

Details

• 

  Description

  A small family owned farm with 30 milking cows, 60 cattle, some sheep, chickens, a cat and a dog is looking for some help.
  Day to day activities are run by farmer Steini, who has been helped by me, Erla, (his niece) and my partner for the past years. As we are relocating in the capital with our toddler, we are looking for Workawayers to help Steini out on the farm in our absence. The farm has been in our family for generations and is the westernmost milking farm in Europe.
  
  The farm is mainly a dairy farm. The help is mostly taking care of our cows and calves, milking twice a day, feeding the cows and maintaining their well-being.
  We keep some chickens for eggs for ourselves, as well as a little greenhouse which operates in the summer. The farm also has a weather observation station as well as it overlooks a breeding ground for the arctic tern and eider duck.
  Our dog, Birta (Border collie) is very friendly and active, likes to play fetch and help as she can around the farm.
  Please note that the work around here is quite physical as we do much by hand and it also demands an empathy for animal behaviour.
  
  We believe in slow living, living in harmony with nature and animals and a sustainable life. Therefore, we do our best to live off our land whilst protecting the environment. Alongside the farming we grow vegetables, herbs in our greenhouse and experiment with different dairy products for the household with our milk.
  Our animals are a part of our family, they each have names most often given to them because of their personality, colour or current events around the time they were born for example. We love to cuddle them and treat them with the utmost respect and care.
  Please note that we have a minimum of two months stay (preferably longer). We offer free accommodation, meals and pay standard wages for all hours worked.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ×

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We welcome anyone who is interested in getting to know the way of life in this very isolated yet stunning place and how we mix traditional survival methods of our ancestors with modern way of living.
  You will be able to experience living in close proximity with amazing nature, near the red sands of Rauðisandur. You will gain experience in on a farm, taking care of and getting to know animals, and milking cows. As it's a quiet isolated farm you'll get an opportunity to learn much about cattle behaviour and their personality, a species we believe to be one of the most wonderful in the world!
  Staying at Lambavatn you will experience living in an area not many people visit. The surrounding area is full of amazing and beautiful Icelandic landscape, you will learn to respect the juxtapositions of Iceland, the quiet and the magnificent power of nature.

• 

  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

  You will help us with our day to day tasks such as:
  
  Taking care of the cows, milking twice a day includes washing and applying milking machines, feeding them and keeping the stable clean. You will be responsible for quality milking technique of certain cows.
  Feeding the calves milk.
  Helping with the chickens - they need to be fed and the water changed daily. Eggs should be collected and the hen house closed properly for the night, with all the chicken inside.
  Other incidental events such as herding the animals, moving them between the two stables here, helping with delivery of calves and more.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Icelandic: Fluent

  This 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

  You will have a room in the main house with Steini. There is a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom with a shower, a living room with a sofa and TV, and a small bedroom for Workawayers, so it’s perfect for a couple. Please know that the phone connectivity and wifi is not as stable as in other parts of Iceland.

• 

  What else ...

  The farm is located at Rauðisandur on the south coast of the Westfjords, one of the most beautiful and wild parts of Iceland. The beach at Rauðisandur is renowned for yellow/reddish sands, beautiful scenery and magnificent mountains around.
  The nearest village is Patreksfjörður and is about 40 km from the farm with a mountain to cross so consider spending most of the time around the countryside of our farm but seeing as it has countless possibilities of outdoor adventures with the red sand and mountains we believe one couldn’t be at a better place. Enjoy your free time walking around the area, reading, relaxing and soaking in the magnificent countryside.
  Trips to nearby attractions are also possible so we recommend anyone considering staying with us to have a driving license.

• 

  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

  30-40 hours a week

Feedback (5)