Sometimes the weather is simply too good to waste the whole day on work. When temperatures rise up to 20°C, the sun is shining and the wind is still we simply have to celebrate.
Every spring Thorverk welcomes many new members for summer jobs. Often they have some connection to the local residents.
After a thorough renewal of major components in the factory, Thorverk looks forward to yet another rock-weed season.
Eyjólfur Hermannsson is the first to join Thorverk for a training season towards a journeyman certificate in mechnical engineering. His master and trainer is Björn Samúelsson. It so happens that the last one to have a similar training session was Björn himself. They all signed a contract this morning, last day of winter.
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.
