Thorverk supports the local search and rescue team in Reykholar, Bjorgunarsveitin Heimamenn, every year with buying a statue of the yearly rescue man. Today Finnur received this years Rescue Man today.
Thorverk uses heavy machinery, boiling hot geothermal water, cranes, ships and tractors to bring the ascophyllum and laminaria harvest ashore to the drying mill. Unfortunately this means that no visits are allowed due to security reasons. But in the village the museum/exhibition (tourist information) shows the algae, and products that partially consist of wrack and kelp. Be sure to visit there and ask about the factory, harvest and industry. The algae are used as binding material in medicine and toothpaste. Also as jellyfying agent in icecream and puddings. They are also used to make fibres to make clothes. The meal is used as organic fertilizer in gardening and Glæðir, a liquid fertilizer made in Reykhólar is perfect for your houseplants. It is also available at the exhibition.
Excitement, anticipation, joy and chilly winds went through people who arrived at Reykhólahöfn on Sunday May 10. Grettir Thorverks ship was finally closing in carrying this spring's first seaweed harvest. The ship has undergone considerable repair and improvements, recently.
We have been very effective in keeping the COVIT away. Washing and disinfecting all surfaces twice a day. Nobody became ill in our community. But our ship and harvesters have had a good overhaul. New engines, new paint, new pipes and auxilliary unit for the towers. The harvesters are all set in their fine looking boats. Fanney has prepared all nets and bags, and the community is working on making the harbour safer. The big buffering-tyres are under renovation.
Furthermore the road authority is working on deepening the harbour and widening the way in to it between skerries and islands. Here are some pictures from us this season. -And have a happy healthy summer!
To our pleasure has Thorverk been nominated for the prize for sustainability professionalism or directly translated: the "Knowledge Award" arranged by the Icelandic association of Business Managers and Economists. As stated in a letter from Telma Eir Aðalsteinsdóttir, Managing Director, the occasion is as follows:
The Icelandic Knowledge Award 2020 will be awarded to companies that, in the opinion of the jury, have excelled in the field of Corporate Sustainable Responsibility and when it comes to effective environmental policy.
Let's see what becomes, but the President of Iceland delivers the prize later. In particular, it looks to ways that companies approach the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which can be read in Icelandic Wikipedia or at the the UN sites.
As is the custom in Iceland at the onset of Easter fasting or the annual Lent, children go around homes and companies. They are dressed up in costumes, show off and collect treats by singing. The roots of this custom are fairly ancient. The week starts by Monday- the bunday. Then homes and bakeries offer buns of all sorts. Fishballs and meatballs are the main dish followed by sweet buns filled with cream and jam. Then comes the Tuesday sprengidagur, - overeating day- when the food should be fat and filling, usually realised as a bean soup cooked on salted lamb or horse meat and consumed in quantities (reminds of mardi gras, of course). Finally on the Wednesday, termed Ashday, the kids wander between houses and sing. That is done in various fashions at various sites and has during the last decades from hanging small unwanted home made fabric bags to collecting treats. More information on these traditions are to be found in Icelandic on Icelandic wikipedia - And actually google translate is quite developed these days when translating to English at least.
The open house was a great success. In the guestbook we have 38 signatures. Senior citizens, honorary citizens, children and new residents, a splendid turnout.
We think that 38 is quite good in the midst of all Christmas preparation, given the cold spell, snowstorms and recent electricity failures. Guests asked many questions and older staff had many stories to tell. Halldóra Játvarðardóttir (over 70) told here guide many things about former gear and arrangements while she was working in the factory. It surprised her how much had actually changed, given that the core process is more or less the same as it ever was.
The children got an insigt to the factory, machinery, their parents' roles and tasks and what products can be made from seaweed.
Thorverk will repeat this open house for visitors. Next time around probably with an historical twist. There were so may good stories to tell. They should be collected. Therefore, if you have interesting pnotos that show some of the history of Thorverk, please hand them over for scanning to either Finnur or Maria. Welcome to the next open house!
Have a happy seaweed winter solstice.
Svona orðalag notaði Halldór Laxness. Þetta þýðir þú mátt kalla á mig ef þu þarft á mér að halda. Thorverk brást skjótt við beiðni í gær um að láta af hendi olíubirgðir til að keyra varaafl á Reykhólum. Rafmangslaust hefur verið frá Hrútatungu frá því á þriðjudag. Guðmundur á Grund hafði staðið vaktina í meira en sólarhring í gær miðvikudag 11. 12 2019 þegar hann sá að nú færi að lækka í olíubirgðunum. Bæði stóri gamli dísilrafallinn og sá nýji eru keyrðir. Brynjólfur og Óli Smárasynir ásamt Bjössa Samúelssyni brugðust við og sóttu um 1400 lítra í olíuskúr Þörungaverksmiðjunnar. Þetta ætti að duga í svona 2 sólarrhinga. Víða í sveitinni er rafmagnslaust og farið að kólna ískyggilega. Á meðan dælum er haldið í gangi með rafmagni þá ætti ekki að kólna í húsum á Rerykhólum. En Þörungaverksmiðjan fer ekki í gang ef eingöngu er keyrt á varaafli.
A classic well illustrated magazine is published in English about Icelandic affairs. In one of the issues an article is about seaweed. Many new companies that use kelp, dulse and rockweed in various ways have been founded during this century. Thorverk is on one of the pictures, but otherwise they write about companies that sell macro-alge as food (dulse) and skin products. There is also an article about Keresis who uses collagen fibres from fish shkin to help healing difficult wounds and a salt cookery. Many of these companies have attchments to the Westfjords.
The rockweed and kelp factory has changed a lot in recent years. Now we want to show you inside and present what we are up to. On December 13, Friday this week, there will be an open house. Come to see the new equipment, the new dryers, the storage room and the renovated kitchen. A rolling presentation will give you the opportunity of better understanding how we work safely towards our goal of excellent milled algal meal. Meet our friendly staff who can show you around. Welcome, coffee on the pitcher, soda for the kids and if the post delivers in spite of the snowstorm, a little surprise. Open between 13 and 17 o'clock.
