Seedling Magazine

S E E D L I N G M A G A Z I N E ISSUE 01 WINTER 2021

Food for thought COMBATING FOOD WASTE AT HOME

Thanks for all the Ice SEEDS CAMP LEADER EXPERIENCE

Short Story about Nomo and Nus WHY ICELANDIC HORSES CAN’T COME BACK AFTER THEY LEFT THE COUNTRY

Multicultural diversity: From Strangers to Close FRiends WORKCAMPS PORTRAIT GALLERY

Volunteering for Iceland Who we are: SEEDS Iceland is an Icelandic non-governmental, non-profit volunteer organisation designed to promote intercultural understanding, environmental protection and awareness through work on environmental, social and cultural projects within Iceland.

SEEDS main activities relate to the promotion of environmental protection and awareness, intercultural understanding and peace, through the work on social, cultural and environmental projects in Iceland.

SEEDS’ goals: SEEDS enables volunteers to get to know Iceland from a different perspective, to meet the locals and have an insight into Icelandic culture, learn new skills, gain international understanding, make new friends all over the world, and give something back to the environment; thus, the mutual rewards for the volunteers, communities and ecosystems are massive.

We aim to empower, inform and expand the horizons of people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, to become aware of the world in which we live and to take an active role in its future development. SEEDS provides opportunities to live, learn, understand and experience, while sharing and cooperating with others from different cultures and backgrounds.

Our web: www.seeds.is Our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsiceland

CONTENT 06

Thanks for all the ICE!

08

How do real Icelanders spend their free time?

10

Kitchen Corner : Easy Cheesecake

12

Food for Thought

14

From the Concrete Jungle to the Land of Fire and Ice

16

Multicultural diversity : From strangers to close friends

22

QR Column

24

Horoscopes

26

Shor t story about Nomo and Nus

Dear Readers Here we are, a new generation of volunteers coming to Iceland, volunteering for SEEDS, bringing new ideas, gathering new experiences.

Although the core values of our organisation remains unchanged, its current shape depends on our contribution, from people with different backgrounds and various motivations.

We are not just a simple sum of people aiming for the same goal; together we are more, by cooperating we achieve more than a single individual possibly could.

The year is coming to an end, but for most of us it is still the beginning of this challenging yet fruitful journey.

In this magazine we share a part of us; what drives us into action, amuses, awes and inspires, hoping that it will leave a similar impression on you.

Wishing you very Merry Christmas and new insights in the upcoming year 2022.

Kasia

MANY THANKS TO THE SEEDLING TEAM, CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS & PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Alex Kassapis from Greece Cherry Law from Hong Kong Clare Nedin from Wales Jessica Löffler from Germany Karol Slovík from Slovakia Kasia Święch from Poland Lennia Gallati from Switzerland Luís Lopes from Portugal

Thanks for all the ICE! “Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”

Do you think there is a more epic opening line than that of Colombian Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s little gem 100 Years of Solitude?

Well, I don’t know, but so far no other opening line has impressed me or resonated with me more. Disovering Iceland, through the lens of an “Environment Camp Leader” is an experience where I will probably feel the way Colonel Aureliano Buendia felt about discovering ice in the company of his father, which he recollected multiple times in his intricate, adventurous life.

So let’s go! In an island far far away from the plague of development fetishism, with areas vast of spaces open and untouched, I have come to leave my mark. I meet people at different stages of life all connected by a few things: will and yearning and determination to learn, to question, to explore and to share. To learn to write and sing songs, to question the possession of so many clothes, to explore why we should cut our meat, and to share why we need to halt increasing our planet’s heat.

Probably also to swim, to clean, to create vegan cream, to photograph, to laugh and to cut everything in half.

So, what have I learned these past two months here as a camp leader?

I have learned that Emily wants to bring sunshine in people’s lives, and that Paulien draws inspiration from the quotes of Anne Frank. Stephanie is on her way of making change, and Leonor empowers the multipotentialites around her. Bruno likes to connect and relate, and also to parkour and maybe to skate.

I have sensed the sweet sweet lingering fragrance of ideas, of habits and of ways the world turns, all from people across our big universe. While sitting in a living room, relaxing in a pool, eating in a red van; chopping leeks in a kitchen! Or looking for a broom.

This is an environment where we openly share, learn and challenge ourselves, with the purpose of creating a better, socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future! And is there a better way to do that than by showing appreciation and love to each other?

People come and go, but their ideas stay, and I really appreciate that this happens every day.

‘Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ICE. So thanks for all the ice, I guess!

X

ALE

Source: https://reykjavik.is/stadir/sundholl-reykjavikur

Source: https://vaarkitektar.is/

How do real Icelanders spend their free time?

The answer is bathing. Iceland is very popular for its in almost every swimming center in Iceland. Consebathing culture. It doesn’t matter what the weather is quently, I found out very quickly how nice and hospi(snowing, raining, windy, sunny), the Icelanders are table the Icelanders are. hardened concerning the outside temperatures.

What I also saw very often in Iceland is that most Overall, for Icelanders bathing is a time out from the people really like the combination of steam baths/hot stressful daily life and a good way to spend time with pots and ice bathing. They repeat a pool switch two or three times during the stay. The switch makes the skin family and friends. soft and your legs feel tight.

In this article, I would like to tell you about my previous experiences of visiting the outdoor swimming pools in Reykjavík. Whether you go to the swimming center alone or with friends, you’ll find very quickly somebody to talk to and have a conversation. It can happen in the shower, in the sauna or in one of the hot pots. Hot pots (mostly 36°C to 45°C) can be found

Source: https://reykjavik.is/stadir/laugardalslaug

Source: https://guidetoiceland.is/

In the steam bath, you can often see the people a toddler pool and other warm pools. A steam are also stretching. I think it is their way to bal- bath and sauna are also available for guests. ance themselves around the stressful life or it Sundhöllin is the oldest public baths in Iceland. keeps the body in a flexible condition.

The opening took place in 1937 and the exterior I can only suggest to try the Icelandic bathing facade of this building is distinguished by the culture. This bathing culture has enchanted me simple white color, high narrow rectangular winfrom the first day. Some countries could really dows are also a distinctive feature. Overall, the building is built very simple. take a leaf out of this culture’s book.

The following outdoor swimming pools are my Special experience: A Cave (private property, for tourists the access is forbidden unless you favorite pools in Reykjavík and Iceland: meet one of the local people). For all Games of Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool in the Laugarda- Thrones fans this is Jon and Ygritte’s love nest. lur Valley is one of the largest swimming pools in Iceland with numerous warm water pots including a saltwater pool, 50-meter lanes for swimming, a large children’s pool with several slides,

A

JESSIC

KITCHEN C

O R N E R

“What does it say…?

Best before 12.12?

Oops.”

Even though we try our best, it happens that a yogurt or cooking cream hides in a deep corner of the fridge and the expiration date passes unnoticed.

Or they start to pile up on the shelves without much chance of being eaten soon. Then the easy cheesecake recipe comes to the rescue and helps to use up the dairy products and avoid food waste.

EASY CHEESECAKE 0 R 50/5 O ( T R OGU RT) REEK Y GREEK YOGU G G K 1 ND SKYR A 5 EGGS AR N SUG W O R B H CUP OF STARC O T ¾ - 1 A T F PO ONS O STARCH) O P S E L RN M 4 TAB (OR CO R CREA O ( L I O ETABLE T) G E V F A F P O CT 30-36% 1/2 CU EXTRA A L L I F VAN ONS O O P T S A 2 TE OF SAL N O O P S TS) ¼ TEA APRICO D E P P HO ERS) S OR C N I S I CRACK A R R ( O S CUIT IVE BIS T S E G I (D

CHOCOLATE SAUCE: 3-4 TABLESPOONS OF COCO

A 4 TABLESPOONS OF COCONUT OIL 2 TABLESPOONS OF HONEY OR MAPLE SYRUP (OR SUGAR) (WATER, MILK OR COOKING CREAM FOR CONSISTENCY) 1. Preh eat with ba the oven to 17 kin 0° digestiv g paper. Cove C. Line a baki n r the bo es or ot ttom of g tin (app. 21 her cra c x3 t k h e e bakin r 2. Sepa s. g tray w 2cm) rate the ith the yolks f rom the 3. Beat w hites. the egg yolks, s the gra ugar, va ins of s uga nill a low s peed un r have dissolv a extract and oil in a e til well whisk o bowl u combin d. Add yogurt r an ele nt e a d n ctric m . d D s o t a rch, mi il not ove ixer.

4. In a x r mix. Y on sep ou can form st arate bowl wh u s e a iff peak isk the s. Com egg wh b i t ine gen 5. Pour tly with es with salt un the mix til they t h e yogur ture on a spatu t mixtu to the b la. Bak re. aking t e fo it. Leav ray. Sm e it to c r 50mins-1hr. o o th ool com It can s fridge). till wob the surface wi pletely th ble as y in the t ray (ide ou shak 6. For t ally ov he ernight e a low h topping - put in the all eat cake. R , stir until smo the ingredient s in a s eady to oth. Sp mall po read th serve! t, keep e t opping 7. Store on over th the che e chees esecake e in the f Althou ridge. gh the c hances wrap th for left e chees overs a ecake i re n alum inum fo low, remembe r il and f reeze it - you can !

KASIA

Food for Thought Did you know that: - More than 1/5 of the food produced in the world for human consumption is lost or wasted.

- Food waste alone generates about 8% - 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

- Around 931 million tons of food waste was generated in 2019, out of which 61% came from households - sadly this is what we as consumers contribute to…

A term “food waste” refers to any type of edible food being discarded. This is due to its colour or appearance and plate waste of consumers, which can be a half-eaten meal in a restaurant, food scraps from meal preparation at home or products that got spoiled before being eaten.

There are several main factors that contribute to the food waste problem in households.

Food spoilage – fridge, kitchen table, cellar, cool and dry place? One can get confused where to store different kinds of food products, which results in many of them going bad. Chaos in the fridge or cupboards can also impede the visibility and leaves the partially used or close-to-expire products unnoticed.

Overbuying – sales on unusual products and bulk food often encourage impulsive decisions on purchasing products without a clear idea what to do with them. Fair enough, artichokes require a bit of cooking experience. When you enter a supermarket and you see food all over the place, everything seems to come in handy and ends up in your bag. But in the end, who would eat 5 apples per day just not to let them get spoiled?

Over-preparing – unless you deliberately prepare meals for a couple of days ahead or your grandma makes sure that all the stomachs are full, cooking in large quantities can result in an excess of food ending up in the bin and you promising yourself not to eat hummus ever again.

Confusing labels – “use by”, “best before”, “sell by” followed by a date are quite vague on what should be done once the given day passed. In fact these labels are not standardized and are often just a manufacturer´s suggestion of the quality peak of the product. Which doesn’t mean it ought to be discarded a day after, as many mistakenly believe.

Planning not mastered – without planning meals and a shopping list it’s hard to estimate the amount of food you will use up till the next shopping.

Spontaneous decisions on eating out or meal delivery can also ruin your estimations resulting in food at home going bad. And the last suggestion which benefits you, something you have probably already experienced - don’t go shopping when you’re hungry.

Although many people take food for granted, for the huge number of 820 million that suffer from hunger food is not a guarantee. Please respect the food.

Avoiding food waste is a first step – don’t waste your money and natural resources. Even if you don’t care about money and believe that eating leftovers won’t help your budget, think about the environmental aspect of the problem - it takes 13 litres of water to grow a tomato, many hours of farmers’ work, fuel used for transportation plus (quite often) the packaging. All of the above just to feed landfills and turn into methane, a greenhouse gas that has an effect 86 times more powerful on climate than CO2.

Good news! Most of this waste is preventable.

And it depends on your daily choices.

How to minimise food waste in the kitchen: -check what you have at home and create a shopping list before shopping -stick to the shopping list :) - don’t buy products you won’t eat - don’t open the package if you are not sure that you can consume all of its content soon - store food properly - check the fridge regularly and use up the products that expire soon - be creative in the kitchen! - use what you have - freeze, dry or give away the leftovers

KASIA

From the Concrete Jungle to the Land of Fire and Ice Dear Iceland, I still vividly remember the overwhelming feeling of admiration and gratefulness when I saw your breathtaking landscapes during my first visit. Even though I was exhausted, I was reluctant to close my eyes for a short nap because of the majestic waterfalls and glaciers, the beautiful midnight sunlight illuminating the vast plateaus and the friendly Icelandic horses greeting me through the window of the car…… Every moment you gave me has built a paradise in the heart of a 23-year-old girl from a concrete jungle, Hong Kong.

You are elusive but also generous – it requires more luck than technique to capture the gorgeous green hues shimmering and dancing in the starry sky, but witnessing it touches my heart and leaves me speechless every time. The aurora is unpredictable so we may not see it even after hours of chas-

Showcasing the awe-inspiring natural beauty of Iceland, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty has further fueled my passion to come back. In August 2021, my dream came true with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to volunteer at SEEDS. You are beautiful yet dangerous – seeing the fiery lava for the first time is unforgettable but I almost fell into a volcano because you brought ferocious wind and a sheer amount of rainfall on my first volcano hike. You always reward us with incredible scenery after a challenging hike. I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I reach the peak of the mountains. But when you display the most unstoppable forces of nature, you remind me that mankind will never conquer the nature. ing. Aurora is never guaranteed, so is ev8 July erything in life. You have taught me to trust : App l i e d the timing of life and let life lead me. I have 12 Ju for t ly: Qu he vo no regrets in taking a gap year to volunteer it m lunte y job e r instead of building my career path because p ositio accep in Hon n as g Ko ted. a Ph ng I was otogr so de (Yes, I q 17 Au 14 Ju aphy spera uit m ly: Go g: Le Coord t ft H y t e job e accep to co inato ong K v t r m en be ed in e vis ong p t f it yo ore g o the erma u!) ettin nent SEED g ly an S famil d arr y ived in th is be autif ul co untry

the memories and experience I have had so far prove that it’s the best decision I have ever made. Campervan trip along the Ring Road, hiking on volcanoes, volunteering in the Reykjavík International Film Festival, doing

beach clean-ups, hitchhiking……I can’t wait for more challenges and adventures ahead.

You are 5,920 miles away from my home, Hong Kong but you bring me closer to it and even the world – I booked a one-way flight ticket because I was frustrated by the worsening political situation and hopeless about the future of Hong Kong. Being the only Asian at SEEDS, I find myself constantly explaining the differences between Hong Kong and China and introducing Hong Kong from different perspectives. This is the moment I knew that even though I have left Hong Kong, Hong Kong will never leave me because I am forever a proud Hongkonger. At the same time, the more people I have met, the more ignorant I realise I have been. From other SEEDS volunteers, I have learnt about the education in Columbia, the division of Cyprus, the refugee crisis in Greece and many more issues happening in different corners of the earth.

Takk fyrir for everything you have provided me, taught me and inspired me.

You will forever be a home in my heart, in my mind and in my life.

With the warmest regards in this frosty winter,

Cherry

MULTICULTURAL DIVERSITY: FROM STRANGERS TO CLOSE FRIENDS

O

ne of the most amazing things about participating in activity camps such as the ones we have at SEEDS is having the chance to meet very different personalities, traditions and cultures. The camps last just over a week and usually the 10 days fly by. The first few days are always of more curiosity about each other but also the most introversion days. Over the course of time, we start getting used to each other, getting more trust and feeling more comfortable to

talk and get to know each other while sharing our own experiences.

Besides having different cultural backgrounds and coming from different countries we also have age differences, ideas, interests and different knowledge. That is the best part about living with all these people. We have the opportunity of meeting new realities and opening up our horizons in different aspects, whether those are emotional, intellectual or even professional.

In Skógafoss, with Marta from Portugal.

In Skógafoss, with Esteban from

m Colombia.

In Laugavegur, with Sara from Portugal.

In Arnarstapi Cliff viewpoint, with Madeline from Germany.

In

In Raudfeldsgjá, with Matteo from Italy.

I

celand is a unique and very special place and if that wasn’t enough, here we get to experience things that we have never lived in our lives and that we probably won’t ever get to live again.

During the camps there is a great variety of activities that we do together, from city tours, museums and excursions to different parts of Iceland, we also have activities that are more related to sharing and discovering about culture differences.

In Black Sand Beach, with Laura from S

n Harpa, with Xelem from Mexico.

Spain.

7In Eirikshus House, with Sara and Rita from Portugal.

Home Country Presentations, Intercultural Dinners or Intercultural Game and Music Nights are some of the best cultural activities. We also do trash hunts, beach clean ups and Environmental and Photography workshops.

After a week in the camp we are already more used to each other and can feel friendships growing between the participants and volunteers.

B

eing together 24 hours a day, living and sharing such unique and different experiences with people that we barely know, in such a short time span, allows us to know each other in a very particular way and it also makes the whole experience of the camps a lot more intense. That is maybe why we create such strong connections after a certain point.

In Hot River Hike, with Vale from Germany.

In Eirikshus House, with Martin and Beatrice from Italy.

In Sudurland viewpoint, with Mariana from Portugal.

In the final days, when we are already very used to each other, the time of the farewell arrives which is always the hardest. It is amazing how quickly we can meet someone and create such a deep connection. Emotionally it is a very hard process to manage, but at the same time it is also a learning process that helps us develop our emotional intelligence.

At the end, the people that we met and the moments that we shared are the best thing that we can take out of an experience like this.

In each one of these pictures, you get to have a glimpse of the personalities of these people with whom I lived, learned and shared unique moments.

In Harpa, with Daisy from Sweden.

In Open Air Museum, with Rita from Portugal.

LUÍS

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HOROS ♎ ARIES (RAM): MARCH 21–APRIL 19: YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE, AND YOU WILL MEET SOMEONE GREAT, SOMEONE THAT TOUCHED YOU (NOT PHYSICALLY OR MAYBE YES) AND LEFT YOU SPEECHLESS. IT CAN ALSO BE A NEW MOVIE THAT YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH, BREATH-TAKING MUSIC (MAYBE: ADELE´S NEW ALBUM) OR A NEW RECIPE YOU COOKED FOR THE FIRST TIME… COME ON! WHO DOES NOT LOVE FOOD?! ♉ TAURUS (BULL): APRIL 20–MAY 20: THIS MONTH YOU WILL EARN A LOT OF MONEY IF YOU TRUST YOURSELF AND YOUR INSTINCTS ENOUGH AND WORK OVERTIME AT LEAST 5 DAYS A WEEK. YOUR HEALTH WILL IMPROVE, OF COURSE ONLY IF YOU EAT ENOUGH VITAMINS, WORK OUT AND KEEP YOURSELF WARM; VENUS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, ONLY YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE SOMETHING. ♊ GEMINI (TWINS): MAY 21–JUNE 21: NO DEEP THOUGHTS FOR YOU HONEY, SORRY! GO TALK TO SOMEONE BECAUSE NOW YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND ADVICE IN SHI*TY HOROSCOPES AND WE BOTH KNOW THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS. TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY, MAKE YOUR DECISIONS! BE BRAVE AND LIVE YOUR LIFE THE WAY YOU WILL BE PROUD OF YOURSELF. YOU CAN DO IT! ♋ CANCER (CRAB): JUNE 22–JULY 22: YOU WILL BE LUCKY HIS MONTH! JUST GO OUT AND BUY A LOTTERY TICKET OR TELL YOUR CRUSH YOU LOVE THEM. IF YOU DO NOT WIN, YOU ARE STILL ONE TICKET CLOSER TO HITTING THE JACKPOT AND IF YOUR CRUSH DOES NOT FEEL THE SAME, THEY DO NOT DESERVE YOU. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT’S STILL A WINWIN SITUATION. YOU WILL FIND WHAT YOU NEED! YOU ARE SO LUCKY ITS WRITTEN IN CAPITAL! ♌ LEO (LION): JULY 23–AUGUST 22: SERIOUSLY, YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK AND I’M NOT SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD EAT A KIT-KAT. JUST CHILL. EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY. PUT THAT EXTRA LUMP OF SUGAR IN YOUR COFFEE, BUY THAT EXPENSIVE SWEATER (OR SEARCH FOR A DUPE SECOND HAND), SLEEP FIVE MINUTES LONGER, TREAT YOURSELF. BUT ALSO STAY GENEROUS TO OTHERS AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. ♍ VIRGO (VIRGIN): AUGUST 23–SEPTEMBER 22: OOPS SORRY. THIS MONTH THERE IS NOTHING GOOD FOR YOU, TRY NEXT MONTH.

SCOPES ♎ LIBRA (BALANCE): SEPTEMBER 23–OCTOBER 23: EVERY PLANET AND ALL THE STARS OF THIS UNIVERSE WILL GET TOGETHER TO SHINE ON YOUR JOURNEY CALLED LIFE. ESPECIALLY IN ICELAND BECAUSE DAYS ARE GETTING SHORTER, TO BE EXACT 7 MINUTES LESS DAYLIGHT EVERY DAY. SO, ENJOY THE FULL MOON, STARS, AURORA OR BUY YOURSELF A FLASHLIGHT OR VITAMIN D (YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED IT). ♏ SCORPIUS (SCORPION): OCTOBER 24–NOVEMBER 21: YOU ARE OLDER NOW. NO NEED TO WAIT FOR THE NEW YEAR, BE A NEW YOU NOW! ...OR DON’T. IT’S UP TO YOU, THESE WORDS WILL NOT CHANGE YOUR DESTINY IN ANY WAY NOR PLANETS... IF THEY DON’T CRASH TOGETHER OR SUDDENLY EXPLODE AND IT WILL CAUSE SOME SORT OF DISASTER THAT WILL LEAD THE WORLD TO END. ANYWAY, THIS HOROSCOPE IS USELESS FOR YOU. ♐ SAGITTARIUS (ARCHER): NOVEMBER 22–DECEMBER 21: GIFTS ARE COMING YOUR WAY. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE YOU WILL CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTMAS. SO BRACE YOURSELF TO BE GIFTED, BUT ALSO DON’T FORGET TO GIVE A GIFT TO OTHERS, FOR EXAMPLE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT NO ONE ASKED FOR. ♑ CAPRICORNUS (GOAT): DECEMBER 22–JANUARY 19: THE TIME HAS COME! TIME TO CLEAN YOUR MESS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. IT’S TIME TO BE PREPARED. DO THE TAXES SOONER, GET THOSE CHRISTMAS (OR WHATEVER YOU ARE CELEBRATING) PRESENTS READY. CLEAN YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF GUESTS COMING, OR MAYBE NOT, BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS (OR YOU DON’T HAVE FRIENDS).

BUT STILL, IT’S NICE TO CLEAN, NOT ONLY YOUR PLACE BUT OUTSIDE AS WELL. DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL THIS YEAR, SOMETHING ENVIRONMENTAL FOR EXAMPLE! ♒ AQUARIUS (WATER BEARER): JANUARY 20–FEBRUARY 18: THIS MONTH YOU SHOULD WORK MORE. NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF BUT ALSO FOR OTHERS. TRY TO DO SOMETHING EXTRA! GO VEGAN FOR ONE WEEK, DO EXTRA 5 PUSHUPS OR WHATEVER… GO OUT, DO YOUR BEST AND PICK SOME TRASH ALONG THE WAY! YOU CAN DO IT! IT’S YOUR TIME! NOW OR NEVER! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

SHORT STORY AB OUT NOMO AND NUS Back when the Earth didn’t have a name yet.

Under the sky powdered with silver dust that was about to wear blue again. With the waves of the dark waters, that were trying to swallow the land, there were two horses running down to the place where mountains meet. And just like a chess figure they were black and white, but unlike the chess figures they were never standing against each other. Translated into a human language their names were Nus and Nomo, which in old language means “bright” and “dark”. Brothers that shared the same land, water from the same river and the same breeze of the northern wind in their hair. They were the fastest horses on the whole island. The younger, white one, called Nus, was just a tad faster than his older sibling. And his brother knew it, because as brothers they always know. He knew since the two of them were born that his brother always ran a bit wilder and a bit further than him. And he was happy to run with him, to chase him, to see his brother shaking his head happily up and down.

But one day the storm came. Sheltered by the night. Dark days started to rain on the horses.

The sky was cut by lightning. Blinded brothers swallowed by darkness ran, they ran, and they ran, further than ever before. Only to realise they had lost each other. Nus stopped for a while and listened, waiting for his brother, but he couldn’t hear him over the rain. Nomo, unable to see, knew that his brother was just a bit further ahead of him, so he never stopped.

Both brothers thought that the other one was ahead and ran straight forward, because horses never run back. And they keep running in circles, not knowing they were following each other.

Just a little bit further, almost there!

Traveling with nothing but their shadow, they met men. But no man was able to ride them, because these horses were not chasing dreams like men, they were not chasing freedom like other horses.

They chased a bond that was stronger than any rope, chain or steel in this world. Blood of their blood. Banished from their home forever, led only by memory, the horses never stopped running.

Sounds of the winter were not fast enough to catch them. They never looked back but kept chasing the past. Until these troubled spirits reached the end of the world.

Running in the same night sky that they used to look at. Many stories start at the beginning, but this story starts here. Till this day the two brothers are chasing each other in the sky and they spin the earth. We can see their paths in the night sky where their steps glow in silver powder. Two brothers running, knowing that even though they are far away, they will always be the same.

People confused their names, because that’s the thing that people do. But they never forget their story, they still wait for their return. But until then no horse can reach their land. Many of their own But they didn’t stop. They jumped over the edge went to look for them, but none of them returned and ran further. and the brothers keep running.

Karkiys

UPCOMING SEEDS’ CAMPS SEEDS hosts camps all year round, even in winter. Winter projects are learning/sharing camps and not standard workcamps. They have a smaller work part and put a bigger emphasis on the personal learning process. One of the aims is to help create more environmentally aware consumers and travellers.

Join our camps, meet international friends, discuss environmental issues, share your ideas, explore Iceland, improve your photographic skills and get a chance to shoot aurora!

SEEDS 081. ENVIRONMENT & PHOTOGRAPHY NEW YEARS 28.12.2021 - 06.01.2022

SEEDS 001. ENVIRONMENT & PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE NEW YEAR 11.01.2022 - 20.01.2022 SEEDS 002. ENVIRONMENT & PHOTOGRAPHY JANUARY 25.01.2022 - 03.02.2022

SEEDS 003. ENVIRONMENT & PHOTOGRAPHY WINTER IN REYKJAVÍK 08.02.2022 - 17.02.2022

We appreciate your feedback! If you would like to leave a comment or ask a question regarding SEEDS magazine, please contact us via email: contact@seeds.is