I am the Lorax and I speak for the TREES!

Hello everyone!!

Hope you all are doing well back in Bandarikjunum, which is United States in Icelandic.  It’s been almost a month since all of us here left our homes to set out on our Icelandic adventure. We all thought it was about time to do some blog entries and let you all back home know how we are doing!

We have been very busy since day one of being here. We have gone on a four day backpacking trip, picked loads of potatoes, made some art, knitted hats, started to learn Icelandic, studied the Vikings, watched loads of documentaries, seen volcanoes, and helped plant trees, just to name a few things.

            Our most recent adventure was at the base of the beautiful Mt. Hekla which I am sure many of you know is one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes. We spent three days with an amazing couple on their farm where they spoiled us with delicious food and lovely warm cabins to sleep in. When we were not eating food and drinking coffee, which it seems we did an awful lot of, we were learning all about Iceland and its different landscapes, in particular its sadly depleted forests.

You would never know it now by looking at it but Iceland used to be covered in rich birch forests. However, during the days of settlement, the Vikings cut down huge amounts of the forest to build their homes and heat themselves during the harsh winters. They would also clear forests to create grazing land for sheep, cattle, and horses. This new cleared land was quickly assaulted by the fierce winds that run over Iceland and without any trees or their large root systems to keep the soil in place erosion set in. To make matters worse, over time several volcanic explosions occurred and brought large amounts of ash and volcanic soil that caused the already eroding land to form huge black sandy deserts. What’s ironic is that this volcanic soil is actually very fertile and great for growing plants but the wind is so harsh that it wont allow plants to take root.

 Many people in Iceland have come to realize that without the trees, Iceland’s fertile soil and farmlands could be in real trouble and that the best way to fix this problem is to start planting more trees to help boost Iceland’s forests.

So amid freezing wind, rain, and the occasional snowflake, and lots of jokes about what to do if the volcano erupts, we helped collect birch tree seeds and plant them in places that they could grow and be the most help. It was not only a hands on learning experience for us but it was an activity that brought us closer together as a group.

Being from a state that is known for it’s many trees and huge forests, this project really helped me better appreciate the beautiful place I come from. It put my surroundings in perspective and made me so much more appreciative of the many trees I am lucky to have constantly surrounding me. 

~Jordin Muller