Verdandi Culture: That Which Is Coming Into Being

In Norse mythology, Verdandi is one of the three Norns; the weavers of fate who tend to Yggdrasil, the great tree of life. Verdandi represents that which is coming into being, the unfolding of the present moment into the future.

It’s a fitting name for us. At Verdandi Culture, we work with living systems; forests, soils, and communities, helping them come into being in ways that are regenerative, resilient, and deeply rooted in place.

Our Roots in Iceland

For the past five seasons, Verdandi has been operating as a tree planting contractor in Iceland, contributing to the country’s bold vision of reforestation and land renewal. In that time, we’ve planted around 800,000 trees, each one a small act of regeneration within a vast, long-term effort to restore Iceland’s ecosystems.

We collaborate mainly with independent landowners, forestry associations, and private companies who want to take a leading role in expanding the nation’s forest cover. Next year, we’re excited to welcome government bodies and NGOs into our growing network of partners, expanding the reach and impact of this shared mission.

Once upon a time, forests covered about 35% of Iceland, but today, that figure stands at under 3%. The plan to afforest Iceland’s desertified lands is both grand and inspiring, and though Verdandi plays just a small part, we know that with every tree planted, we make a difference.

Each root that finds its place in the soil is a thread in the greater web of renewal, much like the Norns weaving destiny through Yggdrasil.

Growing New Branches

Now, Verdandi is extending its branches beyond Iceland, reaching into Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula, regions where regeneration is urgently needed as the threat of drought and wildfire dominates.

Here, we’re exploring how regenerative forestry, community stewardship, and new economic models can help reshape degraded landscapes and revive ecosystems. We’re moving beyond monocultures like eucalyptus to co-create:

• Polycultural, fire-resilient forests

• Waterline restoration and regenerative earthworks

• Hybrid models blending forestry with syntropic agriculture

• Community-led stewardship, where forests are designed, planted, and cared for collectively

  
  

At Verdandi, we believe true regeneration must be ecological, cultural, and economic, all at once. That means designing systems where forests become living sources of value: for biodiversity, for communities, and for local economies, supported through blended finance and cooperative partnerships.

That Which Is Coming Into Being

Just as Verdandi tends to the unfolding present, our work is about creating what is yet to come, nurturing landscapes, partnerships, and models of resilience that can spread across Europe.

We’re currently: Researching regenerative initiatives across Portugal and Iberia

Building partnerships with landowners, communities, and networks & Exploring new pathways to finance and scale regenerative forestry

Verdandi Culture is, quite literally, coming into being — one forest, one collaboration, one living landscape at a time.

If you’re working in regenerative land use, community resilience, or systems change, we’d love to connect.