Help needed on small farm - Norway
ReportLocation: Ørnes, Norway
Description:The farm is located on an island close to Ørnes, just above the arctic circle, and about 120 km south of the city Bodø. On the island there are only 12 residents, and closest living neighbor is about 3,5 km away. But in the summertime, there are summer guests also in the closest houses, only few meters away.
The farm is under construction and there is a lot of work left before I’m done. The main building is very old, and is under total reconstruction, so here is primitive living.
I attend biodiversity on un-fertilized soil, and this is mostly done in the old fashion way. It is the season and the weather that determine most of the work done here.
My animals are sheep (Spel), a herding dog (Working Kelpie), and a cat.
Help:
Most of the work is typical farmwork. This year I need help with harvesting hay and other projects, like fencing and digging. I also plan to build a hugelbed and paint the mainhouse. If someone has carpenter experience, I need to build a henhouse. Can you fix tractors, I have an old Volvo that need fixing.
I may even need help with kitchen duty.
Be aware that we most of the time will be alone, and one must endure being away from "civilization" without getting "the cabin fever". You have to be comfortable with your own company.
Here we eat food based on the farm's resources, so both meat and fish are used. The farm is alcohol free.
I want longterm stay only. 3 weeks or more.
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities:
You will see how it is to live on an old farm, and experience norwegian culture, more or less the old fashion way.
I can help you learn Norwegian language at a beginner level. If you have Norwegian ancestors I do genealogy, so maybe I can help you find your roots.
I also do different handcrafts, but genealogy and handcrafts is more work for wintertime.
The best part is living in nature. We have the midnight sun in the summer, and northern lights in the winter.
Here is nice to go fishing, and to go hiking in the mountains. If you want to go in the mountains off the island, you have to be experienced and not go all alone. If you want to go on a mountain trip, then I can try to help you find people you can go together with, or you can pay to go on a guided tour. There are several companies in the area who offer various guided tours.
Accommodation:
I have a room with two beds on the second floor. I also have a lavvo (like a tipi, but the Scandinavian type). The lavvo has max room for 10 people, but for comfort, it is best with less people inside. I also have a couple of hammocks and a tent that can be used if anyone wants to try to sleep outside in nature.
Note that because the house is under construction, everything here is primitive.
What else...:
MRSA (bacterium that is resistant to most antibiotics) is a major problem in many countries, but not here in Norway. We want to keep it this way, and therefore I need to ask all workers to send a recent negative test result showing that you dont carry any MRSA bacteria. The test is taken at a doctor's office. If you test positive on MRSA, then unfortunately you cannot stay on the farm.
Weather here in the north of Norway can be all sorts. So you need clothes and shoes for cold, rain and warm weather, even in the summer.
Remember to have a valid travel and health insurance.
