Smallholding, Mixed Farm, Family farm

Troms og Finnmark

13 reviews • Updated 4 months ago

Selnes Gård is a small farm in Northern Norway at Balsfjord. The arctic summer is short and very busy. We have chickens, 40 sheep and about 8 icelandic horses and harvest hay for them. We have a small no dig marked garden. We want to develope our garden more, so there are possibilities if you like to learn about gardening. We sell egg, meat and vegetables. We also may have som pigs for the summer, who will dig up and improve the land before beeing slaughtered in the autumn. Composting is important part of summers work. We breed horses so we have no riding horses for guests and there is little opportunity or time for horseback riding in the summer. Most work in the summer is with the vegetable garden, haying, fixing fences, making compost and getting firewood for the winter. Wwoofers with skills and interest in carpentry are specially welcome since are always opportunities to participate in fixing around the house and shelter for the animals. We welcome Wwoofers June and July (and october) In 2025 we also need help in october for harvesting the garden and prepare the farm for the winter. We have one very small cabin with 3 beds and an old campervan, but if we have more than 3 Wwoofers some may have to sleep in a tent.. We speak Norwegian, German and English. Our kids are 17 and 20 years old an participate in the farm work when they are at home. We also have our very livly farm dogs 'Kita' and 'Laika'. We are interessted in Holistic management and regenerative agriculture and experimenting about implementing this in our farming praxis. NEW since 2019 because of the threat of Antibiotica-resistent bactiria all norwegian farm are obligated to provide a negativ MRSA-test from foreign visitors. (If you have been in contact with farm animals) Please contact your doctor so you can take this simple test. Lets all work together for healthy food and healthy animals. Thank you! Organic methods: Our farm is certified from Debio which certifies after EU-demands. We have sheep, chickens and horses and focus on composting and producing manure for our fields (mainly hay). We also have a marked and strawberry-field (renewing in 2025). We use green manure and crop rotation in addition to compost. We are interested in improving the ecological balance and soil quality on our farm and are always looking for more knowledge. Also 2025 we want to try to host 1-2 'late-autumn-Wwoofers' in october. It can be quite cold than and you would sleep in our guestroom. We need help to prepare the farm for the winter. Tidying up, harvesting the rest of the vegetables and conserve them for winter-usage. Taking down fences, making firewood and maybe collect the sheep from the mountain. Certifications: Certified by Debio Current projects: Fences need to be build and fixed. We have to renew our strawberry field. The chickens need to get a 'fox-proved' fence. The hayshed has to be fixed and extended. We need firewood for the coming winter. Our vegetable garden has to be maintained. The stables and winter paddocks need cleaning and the manure has to be converted to compost. Internet access available

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Poultry farming

Sheep or goat farming

Food justice / sovereignty

Mechanics / tools / technology

Methods or systems

Holistic management

No-till farming

Regenerative agriculture

Host type

Production farm

Certified organic

4.1 Hectares | 10 Acres

Accommodation

3 WWOOFers

Camper / RV

Campsite

Cabin / Mobile-home

Children not accepted

Pets not accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Length of stay

1-2 weeks

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Inske de

Member since 2014

Languages spoken: English, German, Norwegian Response rate: 87% Response time: typically within 6 days

November 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Troms og Finnmark

Our farm is located in Selnes, 55 km from Tromsø, 40 km from Nordkjosbotn and 20 km from Laksvatn. If you come by plane to Tromsø you can take a bus either directly to Selnes or to Laksvatn where we can pick you up. If you come by bus from south (Narvik)

Reviews

Elisabeth

Germany • August 2025

Dear Inske and family! Thanks again so, so much for the great time I could have on your farm - you felt like family and it was so hard to leave you <3 I loved the good, muscle-training work like turning the garden into a little paradise, making compost, preparing fields for potatoes and strawberries, mocking sheep shiiiit (faster than the 3 boys from last year ;) ) and of course running after your dear little sheep to cut wool and nails. It was such a comprehensively impression from living and working on a farm that I got. Highlight of the week was of course always the amazing sunday breakfast and I enjoyed it so much that we could meet many of your friends and neighbors on occasions like the sundays :) Celebreating midsommar with you guys was the most magical experience of my whole year in Norway - no exaggeration!!!!!!! Bare takk for alt!!!! Lissi

Reply from Inske de

Liebe Lissi, es war wunderbar dich kennenzulernen und wir hoffen du kommst bald wieder! Vielen, vielen Dank.

Celine

Germany • January 2025

The wohle October i spent at Selnesgård with Inske, Ola, Pit, and their very nice children was one of the most terrific and precious experiences i had in Norway. I learned so much about gardening, the difficulties of growing in the very Northern parts, herding and handling sheep and especially horses. Inske and Ola are the most kindest, down to earth people, giving me a glimpse of almost every of their daily life situations and taking me with them on many adventures, especially with the horses, introducing me to so many nice people and never failing to make me feel like a part of the family, especially when it came to being included to trips, knitting evenings or events:) I am so grateful to have experienced not only this beautiful nature and working environment but also so many great people that taught and embraced me to countless incredible things! Tusen takk to each and everyone of you, especially Inske and Ola. I hope to come visit you again some time, maybe in the summer even, but for now i wish you nothing but the best and that you will have abundant and prosperous harvests in the next years:) Best regards and love to everyone of you, Celine:)

Reply from Inske de

Vielleicht schaffst du es ja nächsten Sommer. Das wäre so schön!

Simon

France • August 2024

I had a really amazing time at Selnes Gård! Inske and her family managed to make me feel very comfortable as soon as I arrive. Between, woodcutting, gardening and taking care of the sheep, we had a variety of activities where I learned so much about the farm-life. I had a superb stay amongst other nice wwoofers and Inske's amazing family. I would recommend this farm if you like working and learning about the farm work!

Jolien

Belgium • June 2024

Inske and her family gave me the most warm welcome ever. I instantly felt at home! Inske has a beautifull farm (located in a place that was beyond beautiful) with loads of interesting jobs to do (take care of the sheep, fencing, composting, planting, harvesting, take care of the garden etc…). It was my first wooffing experience and it was honestly the most amazing experience I have ever had. Don’t hesitate for a second to go there ❤️ I will be back soon!

Reply from Inske de

We are waiting for you next summer ;)

Marlene

Germany • October 2023

I had a wonderful time (3 weeks in June/July) at Selnes Gard! Inske and her family are so nice people, warmhearted and funny. I felt comfortable from the first day. Also the way they live/work respectfully with their animals and the nature is really beautiful. I could learn some interesting thinks about plants, ecological fertilization or special tasks such as making hay. The location of the farm is just amazing and just sitting at the beach and watching the fjord gave me a lot of peace. I wouldn´t recommend the farm, if you can´t stay a few weeks without going to a city or if you need a lot of order/plan in everyday work, because in a region where agricultural work is very influenced by the weather/circumstances not everything can always work as actually planned. Otherwise, I would totally recommend this beautiful place, especially if you like hiking, if you´re curious to meet new people and get to know a new way of living. Thank you for the amazing time :)

Reply from Inske de

Ich hoffe du kommst bald wieder :)

Noé

France • July 2023

I stayed to Inske and Ola's farm 1 month In June . It was a wonderfull month when I learn a lot of interresting things. Inske and Ola welcomed me so warmfully and mad everything to make me feel at home. The cooking is really nice but it requieres some adaptation if you are vegetarian because we don't eat so much vegetable (it is so expensive in Norvey). The work was not a problem for me and everything is fine while things are done but if you come remember that you will work. If it's like me , you will not have so much time to explore Norvey but if you are really motivated you have your week-end free. In my case I just enjoyed the beautifull place and hike up to a cabine in the mountain. I highly recommand Inske & Ola's place but if you don't like animals or you are not a little bite adaptable please go on your way.

Reply from Inske de

Thank you so much for your help! And for your fantastic baking! Until next time.