Meet Rebekka from the southern part of Iceland's Westfjords, where life revolves around lambing season, eiderdown harvesting, and the beauty of nature.

It's late May, and Rebekka Eiríksdóttir and her family at Staður in the southern Westfjords are busy welcoming lambs to the world. Primarily a sheep farm, they have 600 sheep and, in addition, 14–16 milking cows. "Farming has its highs and lows," states Rebekka. "The feeling when the last ewe has given birth is indescribable. It's like when you finish your last test at school. It's such a great relief after a stressful and difficult period. Then we get a small break from farming until haymaking season starts."   

In between comes eiderdown season, though. Staður shares a nesting site with the neighboring farm Árbær. "There are six to eight of us who search for the nests. We start collecting down at the beginning of June, and it takes about two weeks."The nesting area is natural; the eiders find their own nesting spots along the shore and out on the islands, spreading out more than they would in a manmade shelter. The farmers' goal is to finish by June 17, Iceland's National Day. Then they send the down to a cleaning facility. "My dad cleaned the down himself until he passed away in 2019," explains Rebekka. "Eider farming provides a fair amount of extra income – but also a lot of work."  

Farming isn't Rebekka's only profession, though. "I worked as a teacher at Reykhólar for many years but then decided it was time for something new and started working at the nursing home. I found the work so interesting that now I'm studying to become a practical nurse. I guess I'm going through some kind of a mid-life crisis!" Rebekka laughs. "I'm also an instructor at a woodworking course. I like mixing things up."   

When Rebekka has moments of free time, she enjoys nature around the farm, and sometimes her husband, Kristján Þór Ebeneserson, tags along. "We like playing on our kayaks or fishing from our motorboat. We also have mountain bikes. I go up into the mountains or to sea as often as possible." Above the farm tumbles a stately waterfall called Staðarfoss. "The mountains are like a magnet to me," Rebekka adds. "I have never moved my legal residence. That must mean that I like it here!" She smiles. "I know that I would never have thrived on asphalt."  

Meet Rebekka from the southern part of Iceland's Westfjords, where life revolves around lambing season, eiderdown harvesting, and the beauty of nature