Profile information
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Host rating
100 %
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Last replied
10 Jul 2026
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Reply rate
98.1 %
Usually responds within 2 days
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Feedback
49
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Email verified
Country info
Badges (4)
Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks
Details
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Description
We are a married couple; 42 and 45. We live on a småbruk (small farm) in Øygarden near the sea. We have an organic vegetable patch (no dig) and free ranging rescue/unwanted animals. We are creating a permaculture/forest garden and habitats for wildlife to thrive. Being environmentally friendly and sustainable are very important to us.
We have a dog, cats, rabbits, ducks, hens, roosters and a lizard. We look after and release hedgehogs too.
We will prioritise stays of 2 weeks or longer.
If you are from outside the EU, you need a visa to volunteer in Norway.
If you are from outside the EU and travelling in Norway, you don't need a visa. -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
Light maintenance
House & pet sitting
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Interests
Cycling
Camping
Adventure sports
Vegetarian or vegan
Politics / Social justice
LGBTQ
Farming
Charity work
Water sports
Pets
Mountain
Hiking
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Sailing / Boating
Books
Cooking & food
Plant care
Carpentry
DIY & crafts
Gardening
Sustainability
Animals -
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
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Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We can share our knowledge of:
* Looking after animals in a free range setting, common ailments and how to spot and fix them, how to feed them properly
* Growing vegetables in harsher environments without digging, and working with nature instead of against it.
* How to grow trees from seed
* How to live a healthier and more sustainable life
* Carpentry
* Car and machinery maintenance and repair
* Cutting down invasive trees safely
* How to make natural fences
* Norway, Norwegian culture and outdoor experiences. -
Help
Most of the tasks are physical and outdoors. If the weather is terrible then we will try to find inside tasks to do. We need people who can work independently-we will, of course, give you instructions and guidance.
We would like help with all sorts of things, some examples are:
* Looking after the animals: day to day care and also building new accommodation for them
* diy and maintaining fences
* General maintenance of the buildings (painting, cleaning)
* Compost making, turning and spreading
* Erecting a greenhouse
* Making a pond and drainage solutions
* Cooking, shopping and cleaning
* Vegetable garden: sowing seeds, weeding, planting, watering and harvesting
* Forestry-cutting down invasive species and utilising them in a positive way
* Driving
If there's something you are particularly interested in then let us know in your application. During Autumn and Winter, it is cold, wet and windy here (by the coast). Please bring suitable outdoor clothes to keep you warm and dry. Wellington boots are a must as it is very muddy. -
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Norwegian: Fluent
French: Beginner -
Accommodation
You will have your own accommodation on our property. It sleeps 8 but 4 is probably more comfortable. You will be responsible for cleaning your accommodation.
We provide all your food but you will prepare/cook it yourself. We are happy to receive all different dietary needs as we have some of our own. Please let us know about any dietary requirements in your initial message.
We are about 400 metres from the sea, so it's a nice short walk to get there.
Due to allergy and environmental reasons, we are a perfume free household and use biodegradable products, for example, vinegar and essential oils for cleaning. You should be perfume free before you arrive. If you have perfumed products in your hair or on your clothes it will transfer to the furniture and bed sheets etc and it doesn't wash off. We can send you some tips about how to be perfume free if you wish :-) There are cheap perfume free products (shampoo, conditioner etc) at the local shop.
We have our own sewage system, where all the released "grey" waste water goes through our land. We grow things on it which is another reason we can't have chemicals being sent out onto the land. It's the same with washing clothes. We/you can only wash natural fibres (wool, cotton, linen, hemp etc) here as other materials such as polyester shed micro plastics into the water and we don't want to pollute the land :-) -
What else ...
We have made a map of things to do in the area which we can send to you:
There is an outdoor climbing wall nearby, lots of walking opportunities, a bird reserve, beaches etc. You can borrow our bicycles to get around if you like. We also have kayaks you can borrow and a small sailing boat as we live very close to the sea. Bergen is 1 hour away by car. You can get to Bergen by bus as well but this take a little longer. There's a bus stop next to our house and another bus stop just over 1 km away with more frequent buses.
Shoes are not worn indoors so bring slippers or thick socks to keep your feet nice and warm.
In your first email to us, please let us know you are ok with being perfume free and only washing natural fibre clothing at our house, and your dietary requirements. -
A little more information
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Internet access
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Limited internet access
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We have pets
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We are smokers
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Can host families
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Can host digital nomads
We have space and fiber internet for you to do this.
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Space for parking camper vans
There is plenty of space for you to park on our land
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How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
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My animals / pets
Lizard
Rabbits
Ducks, hens and roosters
5 wild cats (that are domesticated now)
Joy
The best dog in the world
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (32)
We worked mainly on building a big greenhouse but they took care to give us advice on other aspects of the daily life (animal care, gardening etc) which was appreciated.
The area is beautiful and daily … read more
Thank you so much, Emma and Ove, for letting me stay for almost two months with you and all the other lovely feathered, furry and scaly residents of the småbruk.
I am very grateful to you both for giving me such a warm welcome, letting me stay in my camper van on your property with my cat during this time, … read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
We worked mainly on building a big greenhouse but they took care to give us advice on other aspects of the daily life (animal care, gardening etc) which was appreciated.
The area is beautiful and daily … read more
Thank you so much, Emma and Ove, for letting me stay for almost two months with you and all the other lovely feathered, furry and scaly residents of the småbruk.
I am very grateful to you both for giving me such a warm welcome, letting me stay in my camper van on your property with my cat during this time, … read more
For myself I've learned a lot both in the tasks I was given and just in general. There also were a … read more
They are honestly amongst the kindest people I have ever met.
You can tell that they put a lot of effort in creating a great environment for workawayers to have a good experience.
Overall, I felt like they trusted me to do the tasks, and also to take initiatives and come up with ideas to help with … read more
They carefully explained the work and why it was necessary, so I was able to work while gaining new knowledge.
When I told them I was interested in permaculture, they told me about various resources and their experiences.
Also, my life during my stay was directly connected to … read more
The job was never too hard and I always received clear instructions. The conversations during working were eye opening and I learnt a lot. … read more
We loved the time at Emma and Ove's place!
It was our first Workaway project and we couldn't ask for a better experience.
We were welcomed so nicely and from day one we enjoyed being there.
Emma and Ove are wonderful people, very genuine and caring!
The work was structured with … read more
After reading the host’s description, I spent almost a month preparing my … read more
Emma and Ove quite literally adopted us from the very first day we arrived. We could tell how good their hearts are within the first milliseconds of interaction. With us, they were patient, supportive and … read more
Emma … read more
We didn’t feel like … read more
The work was never … read more
It was such an amazing experience, they were really kind with me and took the time to explain how things works and what I could do there !
The work was mainly outside, we did some weeding, digging, building a natural fence, chopping wood, taking … read more
They are flexible and make you feel at home immediately. The workawayers house is very comfortable and it's funny to watch the animals running around the garden.
Our task was mainly chopping … read more
Thank you for this short time we had … read more
I was living in the mountains before going to them, for me was like staying in a5 stars place, luxury for workaway!
Ove and Emma are beautiful beings, they make this world a better place!
the way that ther treated the animals, and the environment is very inspiring!
the task are well communicated and … read more
The location is STUNNING, really great accomodation and they provide lots of high quality food for the workawayers, including special wishes i.e. oat milk:))
Emma and Ove are very knowledgeable … read more
The area is beautiful, with nice hiking trails and access to water everywhere. You are free to use their bikes and kayaks to explore the region.
The property is very nice, and the workawayers have their own house to live, sleep and cook in.
The work was very varied, I did a lot of … read more
Especially the sunsets and the free ranged animals are fantastic! We wish you the best for your projects and for you … read more
The work was explained to me well and I always felt welcome and valued.
Thank you for … read more
Thank you Ove and Emma for making my stay so wonderful, and ofcourse to Anna the other workawayer too.
The area is beautiful and a great part of the world to explore. I am so happy I was able to experience Norway from here and can't wait to explore more of it. … read more
We had such a wonderful 3 weeks with you and all your animal tribe, you all make a beautiful soul family :)
We enjoyed spending time with you two, you really are lovely, funny and kind hearted. We especially loved making you laugh and sharing food and recipies with you. Miam miam
We learned so much from you such as gardening, … read more
