A brief history of Móðir Jörð (Mother Earth) Farm at Vallanes, and of barley in Iceland.
Móðir Jörð  specializes in growing organic barley. Barley has played a part in Icelandic culinary history ever since Iceland’s settlement in the 9th Century.  For a few centuries it was forgotten in Iceland, but it has recently started to make its way into Icelandic contemporary cuisine.  Móðir Jörð - Vallanes  is known for its pioneering role in Iceland in re-introducing barley for human consumption. Mr. Eymundur Magnússon started organic farming here with barley in 1985.  The farm focuses on further developing the farming of grains and vegetables in Iceland, and on producing products made from local, Icelandic ingredients, most of which are produced sustainably on the farm. 

Where we are.
Móðir Jörð  is situated on a farm called Vallanes in beautiful East Iceland, near a glacial lake, midway between Egilsstaðir and Hallormsstaður. This area is known for its forests and relatively mild climate. The fields around Vallanes have been shaped with the planting of over 1,000,000 trees, some of which make shelterbelts that protect the growing crops.      

What we produce.
Everything grown and/or produced in Vallanes is certified organic by the certification office TUN in Iceland. The following products are available under the brand Móðir Jörð: 

• Barley - the barley is sold as whole grain (Bankabygg) in 1kg or 20kg, or as flour (Byggmjöl) in 1kg or 15kg.  It is the main ingredient in Móðir Jörð's vegetarian burgers.  It is great to use instead of rice or oats in porridge, salads and soups.  It can be used, for example, in a dish called Barley Otto, as a side dish in fish or meat dishes, or soaked or boiled as a whole grain for use in bread.
• Fresh, pre-packed vegetables (potatoes, parsley, beetroots, kale, turnips, carrots, lettuce, etc.).
• Vegetarian burgers - three varieties in frozen packs of 4 pcs each, or catering packs of 16 pcs and 42 pcs. All of the ingredients in these burgers are cooked and then frozen, requiring only minimal prep prior to eating. Most of the ingredients of the burgers are produced by Móðir Jörð: the barley, kohlrabi, turnips, potatoes, parsley, beetroots and leeks. Other ingredients - chickpeas, lentils, olive oil, sesame seeds and spices - are all organic and sourced elsewhere.
• Massage oils made from local, Icelandic wild herbs:  Oil of Life, Oil Betula and Oil Geranium, all in 100ml bottles.  

Organic quality at 66°N.
Research has shown that vegetables grown in cooler climates express a higher concentration of nutrition values, such as vitamins and minerals, than when grown under more favourable conditions.  The slow, concentrated growth of the plants, grown organically, makes them full of flavour and energy.       

Vision.
Móðir Jörð  is striving to promote healthy lifestyles and organic farming in Iceland and beyond. The creation of an eco-retreat for health and well-being is a real possibility, with the working farm itself as the cornerstone, and would have an emphasis on healing the body and soul.  Also, Móðir Jörð is always innovative in its growth with the development of new products, and has plans for export in the near future.