The Enablers

Come and join us as a volunteer. Or, as we like to call it, an enabler!

It will be thanks to you and your efforts that Rognstad can exist and develop further and for visitors and nature to flourish.

As a dedicated volunteer, you will work 6-7 hours a day, 5 days a week, in exchange for food and accommodation. Volunteering here is perfect if you are curious about rural Norwegian life, dream of having your own homestead or garden someday, want to experience community living, or simply love being close to nature while learning a variety of skills. No matter what your motivation is, we can promise you it will be a unique and enriching experience.

Who are we?
We are Yvonne (29) and Michiel (40), and we moved to Rognstad in July 2024. We sometimes joke that we are too social for the countryside yet too enchanted by nature for city life. We value social connections, cultural exchanges, and the creative vibes in urban areas. Yet, we also cherish solitude, outdoor adventures, and the simple, more quiet life. We settled in the countryside of Norway to create a place where we and others can thrive, where people can stay, gather, and connect in harmony with nature. A place where community and tranquility blend.

We aim to live off the land, rent out accommodations, and share the beauty of this place. To relax, we enjoy cooking, baking, reading, hiking, camping, trail running, or cross-country skiing. We have both worked as volunteers before. Michiel has worked on a goat farm in Norway, where he gained welding, carpentry, and construction skills and learned about permaculture principles. Yvonne has done several volunteer jobs in New Zealand focused on nature conservation, gardening, and house construction. Besides these volunteer experiences, we built our own campervan a few years back obtaining valuable skills. We are not professional builders or experts. We simply enjoy carpentry and building projects and see this place as our playground to learn and have fun together with others.

We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals who are not afraid to get their hands dirty. No specific experience is needed as long as you are a quick learner and eager to try new things. We create a safe learning environment where all skills and knowledge are welcome. We appreciate a high level of independence and prioritize those who take initiative and come up with solutions themselves. While we aim to work together and are available for questions, our daily chores and occasional trips to the city mean we are not always around.

So are you…

interested in living on a farm, connecting with nature, building projects, and communal living?
able to take ownership over new surroundings and make yourself at home?
capable of working independently on projects, but also enjoy teamwork?

If this sounds like you, send us a message! Tell us about yourself, what you want to learn, your skills, and any relevant experience.

Before you apply, make sure to read all the information under the other tabs so you know what to expect from this experience. If you have any questions, please do reach out to us.

A ‘typical’ day
No day will be the same, and the weather can be unpredictable, so you will need to be able to go with the flow and adjust plans accordingly. Despite unpredictable circumstances, we prefer a somewhat organized approach so everyone knows when it is time for food and relaxation. A typical schedule looks like this:
• Morning until 09:45: Breakfast and free time
• 09:45 – 10:00: Check-in and day start
• 10:00 – 13:00: Work
• 13:00 – 15:00: Lunch and Break
• 15:00 – 19:00: Work
• 19:00: Dinner together and free time

We usually aim to host 1-3 enablers at a time. While breakfast is on your own or with fellow enablers, we try to eat lunch and dinner together, making meal prep and cleanup a communal effort.

Don't be intimidated by the 6-7 hour workday. 'Work' can mean many things – it is about contributing. Sometimes we need all hands on deck for specific tasks, but other times you can choose calmer activities like baking bread, picking blueberries, or doing the laundry. Initiative is strongly encouraged and we ask you to take self-responsibility and take care of yourself. If you need a break from hard physical work, you are welcome to suggest something less strenuous you would like to do. And of course, we will do regular check-ins to align your goals and see how you are doing.

Time off
You will work five days a week, about 6-7 hours a day, with Sundays and one weekday off. This leaves plenty of time for personal activities, so we recommend bringing hobbies or projects. Whether this is reading, doing sports, arts & crafts projects, hiking, yoga, or whatever you enjoy. Make sure to bring what you need to enjoy yourself and have a good time.
We try to be flexible if you want extra time off for longer hikes or days of skiing, spending a night in the mountains, or exploring the area. We also plan group outings and allow time off for long-term enablers needing some alone time and a break from the work at Rognstad.

We provide the food and ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We aim to prepare and eat lunch and dinner together. Breakfast is to be enjoyed on your own or with the other enablers. If you prefer to have some snacks or fruits during the day, we kindly ask you to buy or prepare these yourself. Our pantry is usually well-stocked, so feel free to use certain ingredients or herbs for baking or cooking.

Please inform us of any dietary restrictions before you arrive. We will do our best to accommodate, but groceries in Norway are expensive and supply can be limited. We cannot always afford or get hold of special ingredients. We enjoy cooking healthy, wholesome food. We maintain a 99% vegetarian diet and find it important to eat what is in the season. Dairy products and eggs are part of our diet and only occasionally we will provide (local) meat or fish.

We have an extra bedroom in the main house that sleeps up to 4 people. There is plenty of space for a van, or you can pitch your tent on the property. We will try to give you your own room but we can’t guarantee it. You will share the main house bathroom with us or use the guesthouse bathroom if available.

Contributing activities

Activities and tasks include (in no particular order) carpeting, renovating, building, mowing, sowing, weeding, gardening, harvesting, digging, shoveling snow, welcoming guests, cleaning guest accommodations, digital work like social media and photography, cooking, baking, foraging, fixing tools, designing, planning projects, researching, handling small administrative tasks, and tidying up.

As part of the household, we expect everyone to share household tasks like cooking, cleaning, and doing the laundry equally. You are also invited to host or organize events, classes, or workshops on personal and collective growth. It is a fantastic opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, bring ideas to life, learn new skills, meet like-minded people, or just try something fresh and exciting.

Seasonal tasks
For the upcoming autumn/winter season, we focus on the following and we give priority to people who can help us with:

Design, plan and execute the building of a small bathroom in the basement of the main house
Design, plan and execute the rebuilding of a shed into a greenhouse mostly using recycled materials
Design, plan and execute the rebuilding of a small traditional cabin
Search for funding and government subsidies for building projects (Speaking a Nordic language is helpful here)
Smaller indoor renovation tasks like applying insulation, laying floors, painting, etc.

In the spring/summer season, we shift focus to the garden and need help with planning, sowing, planting, and all things needed to prepare the vegetable garden for its first year of production. Our property is almost 8500 m2, so as soon as spring arrives we have a lot of landscaping tasks like mowing the property, building fences, and taking care of vegetation. When the weather allows, we will plan for outdoor renovations and painting tasks.

Living at Rognstad
Rognstad is a historic farm, with some of its buildings dating back to the late 19th century. While we enjoy modern comforts like hot water, a flushing toilet, and electricity in the main buildings, life here is still rooted in simplicity and a connection to nature. This lifestyle is simpler than urban living, but also more rewarding.

Living here means embracing the elements, so be prepared to work outside in various weather conditions. Suitable clothing and footwear are essential, and we’ve included recommendations on our packing list. Life in the countryside also means certain products or items might not be readily available. There’s a small supermarket and handy shop 5 km away for essentials, but the nearest towns with a full range of shops—Otta, Vinstra, or Vågåmo—are about 30 minutes away by car. We typically make trips to town 2-3 times a month, so be prepared for a bit of a wait if you need something specific.

Adjusting to rural life can take some time, especially if you're coming from a city or a densely populated area. Here, there’s always something to do—whether it’s household tasks, renovation projects, or preparing for the next season. We don’t stick to a strict 9-to-5 schedule; instead, we’re often busy from early morning until bedtime. However, life at Rognstad is still simple and peaceful, following the rhythm of the seasons. In spring and summer, the long days bring an abundance of light, energy, and inspiration for various projects. In autumn and winter, we slow down, shift our focus more inwards, and savor the quiet magic that nature offers.

mountain stay

The Enablers

About Rognstad Mountain Stay

Rognstad is a farm that is being transformed into a peaceful hideaway and inspiring meeting place. Nestled on a hill between forests and national parks, Rognstad offers year-round tranquility and a chance to stay, gather, and connect. Stay with us to experience it yourself.

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