Sólheimar Ecovillage facility with green roof and surrounding grass.

Sólheimar Iceland

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  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 1930

What we do

Sólheimar is a village in southern Iceland, located about 80 km from Reykjavík. Founded in 1930 by Sesselja H. Sigmundsdóttir (1902-1974), it is the first community of its kind in the world, where so called able and disabled people live and work together. Sólheimar is also the first community in Scandinavia where organic cultivation is practised. Today Sólheimar is a village with 100 inhabitants, 40 of whom have disabilities, and spreads across an area of approximately 250 hectares.
Sólheimar prides itself on its varied cultural, social and sport activities. The premises include a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, convenience store, gallery and gymnasium. A theatre group, founded in 1932, is also active, along with a choir, sports club and Scout troop.
Sólheimar has developed a broad-based range of industries and activities including the following: Olur Reforestation Center- the only organic reforestation center in Iceland-,
Sunna Organic Cultivation Center specialising in organic vegetables and products derived from these, Vala Supermarket, and an art gallery focusing on manufactured items as well as handicrafts and art pieces created in our different ateliers. Solheimar is also home to the Graena Kannan Cafe which specialises in organic food and beverages, the Jurtagull Soap factory and herb workshop which produces soaps and shampoos from Icelandic plants, a candle factory which produces candles made entirely from beeswax and recycled candles, a weaving workshop specialising in handmade woven items such as mats, carpets and tablecloths, and other workshops based on carpentry and musical instruments.
The ethos of Sólheimar is derived from ‘reverse integration’, a process whereby the community develops based on the needs of individuals with disabilities and other minorities, and it is the able-bodied who have to adapt to these needs.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Community type
  • Ecovillage
  • Activities
  • Education

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1930
  • Started living together
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
120

How to join

Guests are welcome to visit. Accommodation can be booked in guesthouses. Culture festival runs in the summer.

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • Iceland

Sólheimar Iceland

Promoted Needs and Offers

  • Events
3 weeks ago

Spain Ecovillage Tour: May 1-8, 2027

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Ecovillage Network logo with green leaves inside a circle.
Ecovillage Network logo with a heart-shaped handshake symbol.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with a stylized flower design.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with interconnected figures.
May 1–8, 2027 | Southern Spain Experience regeneration and intentional living in the heart of Andalusia Spend eight days exploring a diverse network of intentional communities across Southern Spain, where ecological regeneration, creativity and collaborative living come together against a backdrop of olive groves, Mediterranean coastline and dramatic desert landscapes. Visit pioneering communities such as Los Portales, Oasis Al Hamam, El Molino de Guadalmesí, Resonancia Community and Maitreya. Meet residents and community leaders and discover how each is approaching intentional living in its own way—from biodynamic agriculture and permaculture to natural building, renewable energy, cooperative governance, water stewardship and off-grid living. Along the way, take part in workshops, share locally prepared meals and experience the landscapes and culture of Andalusia as you travel from the countryside around Seville to the wild coast near Tarifa and the desert landscapes of Almería. The tour offers an opportunity not only to see sustainable practices in action, but also to learn about the social and personal dimensions of creating community. A great fit for: Prospective community members, aspiring community founders, people interested in permaculture and regenerative living, and travelers looking for an immersive way to experience the communities, landscapes and culture of Southern Spain. Learn more about this tour: https://www.ecovillagetours.com/spain
May 1, 2027 00:00 – May 8, 2027 23:59
  • Events
7 months ago

From The Ground Up: Ecovillage Design Education

From The Ground Up is a 7-day residential Mini Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) at Entelechy, a 13.5-acre intentional community on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada. August 9–15, 2026. The course follows the Gaia Education EDE framework, covering four dimensions of sustainability: Ecological – Food systems, natural building, energy and water, appropriate technology. Social – Community governance, communication, conflict resolution, collective decision-making. Economic – Alternative economics, cooperative structures, local currencies, social enterprise. Worldview – The values, beliefs, and cultural frameworks that underlie sustainable community – why people want to live this way, and what has to shift for it to last. The course is facilitated by a graduate of both the full EDE and the Gaia Education Training of Trainers programme. It takes place at a working ecovillage where residents live what they teach. Participants stay on-site for the week in wall tents or camping. Communal meals sourced from local Salt Spring farms and Entelechy’s gardens are included. This course is for anyone interested in designing, joining, or strengthening sustainable communities — whether you’re starting from scratch, already involved in a project, or looking to go deeper than a Permaculture Design Course. Up to 22 spots. Application-based enrollment. Early bird: $950 CAD (before June 15, 2026) Regular: $1,149 CAD Payment plans, group discounts, and work-trade spots available. If interested, we invite you to apply here: https://www.entelechysaltspring.ca/ecovillage-design Salt Spring Island is accessible by BC Ferries from Tsawwassen (Metro Vancouver), Swartz Bay (Greater Victoria), and Crofton (mid-Vancouver Island). From the US Pacific Northwest, either by I-5 and ferry via Vancouver, or by taking Port Angeles ferry to Victoria and the
  • Events
3 weeks ago

British Columbia Ecovillage Tour: August 7-14, 2027

Ecovillage Network logo with sun and moon symbols in purple.
Ecovillage Network logo with green leaves inside a circle.
Ecovillage Network logo with a heart-shaped handshake symbol.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with a stylized flower design.
Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with interconnected figures.
August 7–14, 2027 | British Columbia, Canada Experience community and regenerative living on Canada’s spectacular West Coast Spend eight days exploring some of British Columbia’s most inspiring ecovillages, cohousing neighborhoods and regenerative farms as you journey from the fertile Fraser Valley to Vancouver Island and Salt Spring Island. Visit communities including Abundance Community Farm, Yarrow Ecovillage, Fraser Common Farm & Glorious Organics, Creekside Commons Cohousing, O.U.R. Ecovillage and the Quarry Collective & Chorus Frog Organic Gardens. Meet founders and residents and experience a diverse range of approaches to intentional living—from multigenerational cohousing and cooperative farming to permaculture, natural building and innovative models for local food production. Learn firsthand about collaborative governance, regenerative agriculture, ecological stewardship and the successes and challenges of creating resilient communities over the long term. Along the way, connect with local Indigenous culture, walk among the ancient trees of Cathedral Grove, cross the Salish Sea by ferry and experience the slower pace of British Columbia’s coastal islands. With shared meals, workshops and overnight stays in some of the communities, the tour offers an immersive opportunity to experience community life rather than simply observe it. A great fit for: Prospective community members, aspiring community founders, people interested in cohousing, permaculture and regenerative agriculture, and travelers looking to combine meaningful community experiences with the spectacular landscapes of Canada’s West Coast. Learn more about this tour: https://www.ecovillagetours.com/british-columbia
August 7, 2027 00:00 – August 14, 2027 23:59

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Communities

A residential project: people live here as their primary home.

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An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).

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