W W O O F UK NEWS worldwide opportunities on organic farms issue 262 spring 2019

inside: celebrating our new website My WWOOFing life—up to now! #penntopaper can I bring the kids? on the plot with Mr Fluttergrub Farms for City Children

wwoof uk news issue 262 page 2 editorial

go on until she’s 80, page 7, and we also offer our top welcome to the spring 2019 tips for WWOOFing with children, pages 8-9. edition of WWOOF UK News Mr Fluttergrub lights a fire under a controversial issue as he wonders if many of us are damaging the environ- It feels ironic when I’m compiling our spring newsletter ment and our neighbours by our well-meaning choices, that I am usually, as today, staring out at a snowy field and what that might mean for the future, page 6. watching the sheep trying to find a tender tip or two to We are also very pleased to be able to tell you an about graze on while my neighbour replenishes their feed. the uplifting work of Farms for City Children written by This year it seems just right that Imbolc and Candlemas Heather Tarplee, page 10-11, as we have so much in have just passed and, as Scarlett Penn, our Chief Exec common with them and their aims. has recently described it, ‘we are at the time when light And throughout the newsletter you’ll find information is returning and earth energy stirring, as we transition about our new website, with some things for you to do between winter and spring’. We can draw on that en- and plenty to investigate. There are so many begin- ergy for whatever the new season will bring us and try nings and so much to look forward to. to use all of our resources to meet its challenges. I look forward to hearing from you and receiving your Our spring newsletter reflects the incredibly broad ap- peal of WWOOFing as we hear from Lesley Gorski who news, comments and experiences. has been WWOOFing since the beginning and plans to Elaine Koster, Editor stay in touch what is WWOOF UK?

Please send contributions for our print editions to  WWOOF UK holds a list of organic farms, gardens [email protected] or by post (address page 12) by and , all offering and accommo- the following dates: dation in exchange for practical help on their land. 30th April for summer 2019 issue  These hosts range from a low-impact woodland 31st July 2018 for autumn 2019 issue settlement to a 600 hectare mixed holding with on- 31st October for winter 2019 issue site farm shop, café and education centre. 31st January for spring 2020 issue  WWOOF hosts should follow the IFOAM organic The deadlines for material to be included in the next principles but need not be registered with a certifi- four electronic updates are: cating organisation. 12th April 2019  Hosts do not expect WWOOFers to know a lot 12th July 2019 about farming and growing when they arrive, but 11th October 2019 they do expect them to be willing to learn and able 10th January 2020 to fit in with their lifestyle.

We particularly welcome your photographs and  The list of hosts is available by joining WWOOF UK letters as well as your WWOOFing tales. for a membership fee.  Once you have the list you can contact hosts di- Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/wwoofuk rectly to arrange your stay. on Twitter: @wwoofuk  Your host will explain what kind of work you will be and Instagram: @wwoofuk expected to do, what accommodation is on offer Contact: [email protected] and will discuss the length of your stay. And don’t forget members can always post adverts,  WWOOFers do not pay to stay with hosts and hosts question and comments on our members’ forum do not pay WWOOFers for their help. www.wwoof.org.uk/forums/forum  Use the How it Works menu on our website for

details of what is expected of hosts and WWOOFers.  WWOOF UK is a charity registered in England and Wales 1126220 and in Scotland SC045524.

The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those held by WWOOF UK page 3 wwoof uk news issue 262 news from the office Our biggest news is that our new website has launched and we’ve had some brilliant feedback. Thanks to everyone who’s been in touch and encouraged us. There’s always plenty to troubleshoot and get used to after a major change like this so if you’ve got any ques- tions, just get in touch; click on Contact Us from the main menu.

update your profile photos Mike Hammer, who manages most of our social media presence, writes: Hi friends. As you know social media is now commonly regarded as a powerful tool and since I believe wholeheartedly that WWOOFing and hosting WWOOFers benefits people's lives enormously, I would like as many people as possible to hear about us. The best way I can do this is by using eye-catching photo images. Since this is the time of year when we are making plans for the year ahead and perhaps reflecting on the year just gone by, I would like to ask you all to consider the photos you have on your profile. Profile photos have been uploaded from our previous website and many of them are too small for me to use in social media posts, which is a great shame I can tell you. Take a look at your profile and check to see if the photos enlarge to good–sized images when you click on them or do they only become small 'thumbnails'? If so, please upload the images again to our new fantastic website and, better still add more up-to-date, buzzy photos.

Could all of you lovely WWOOFers and hosts please take some time to photo the experiences you have while you are in the fields and gardens; especially the people around you. Take photos of fellow WWOOFers, hosts and WWOOFers together, activities where people are being instructed, social events, meal times, stunning views, alternative technology, and biodynamic practices, innovative techniques, cute animals, vibrant vegetables, wildlife etc. etc., then add them to your profile. Finally, and really importantly, make sure you have ticked the box to agree to give us permission to use your photos on our social media platforms. Many, many thanks and I wish you all a vibrantly healthy and happy year. photo: Scarlett Penn, from our Instagram account @wwoofuk

wwoof uk news issue 262 page 4 #penntopaper a message from Scarlett Penn, Co-ordinator / Chief Exec

Last Sunday night I was in a fine Just the day before I’d had the most Shropshire pub. I'd gone to play in a polite altercation I could muster with folk music session and this town was my neighbour, who allows shooting a bit further than I'd normally go, parties to get their killer kicks be- but a friend was starting up a new hind my smallholding. Thankfully it monthly event and I wanted to sup- doesn’t happen that often but the port him. It was an amazing night mixture of gunshot, dogs barking, with a circle of about 15 musicians aggressive male voices, the purpose in a back room of the pub, plus a of the event – it sets me very on whole group of ruddy and rowdy edge. On that occasion the party men who’d come through from the had done something particularly front bar. They were revelling in the inconsiderate and I happened to be sing-along songs so we played to in even worse humour towards their enthusiasm and rolled out lots shooters than normal. (And don’t of well known tunes. It was a fun, get me started on how is it even le- cockle-warming thing to do on a cold gal that people can rear livestock winter’s night. and then release it to run free all At the end of the evening we milled over your land, creating the kind of around having quick conversations damage I’ve seen with another sheep, they’re soft. Err...yes. Time to here and saying goodnight there, neighbour where the pheasants skedaddle. and one of the hearty ‘gallery sing- (poor things, it’s not their fault) peck But before I could move one of his ers’, as we called them, came up to at all her flowers, which represents mates – very genial and jolly – piped thank me for my Irish whistle play- her livelihood as a florist? How is up with ‘so would you prefer us to ing. It was an instrument he’d always that even allowed??) buy chicken in cellophane from loved, such a great sound. ‘And Anyway, I took a slow breath, Tesco’s where the bird has had a bad you're so lucky to have a local pub thawed my frozen smile and asked life, or eat the pheasants we’re like this!’ he added. ‘It’s so alive, them why they come up here for a catching tomorrow that have had a that sense of community, especially shooting ‘party’. ‘I’m a big property good life?’ in winter, people doing things and developer. It’s full on. I work an 80 Me: ‘Oh, are you going to eat these having fun together.’ hour week. I like to get out into the pheasants? Most shoots I’ve heard I’d assumed his group were locals, so countryside, you know, to relax. The of don’t eat the birds and just dis- I asked him where they’d all come countryside is nice. I don’t know any pose of them; often they bury them from. ‘We live in Jersey. We don't other way of getting outside, espe- in the ground.’ cially with a group of lads, other have pubs like this. We’re all saying Him: ‘Well...yes, we do chuck them than to come shooting.’ we really envy you.’ I thought it was away, you’re right about that.’ nice that this eclectic group of merry Facepalm. I almost felt sorry for him. Pause. strangers appreciated such things in ‘So...you're trying to relax? You’re life, so I asked what they were doing shooting guns and killing animals to Him: ‘But this is the countryside way and people like you move out from up from Jersey. ‘We come up to do help you...relax.’ some shooting on land round here.’ the cities and don’t like the country Of course a conversation followed ways, which were here before you I’m sure everyone within a large ra- where I said about WWOOF, TCV were, to be fair.’ dius felt the atmosphere instantly and others, but he’d just finished freeze. In my peripheral vision I no- another large whisky and along with Me: ‘And you know the environment ticed other people (some my becoming glassy-eyed and slightly in which I grew up...how..?’ friends, some his) silently and with- absent, he’s also begun to stroke the So who had been priming him with out exactly appearing to move, drift arm of my jumper, mumbling that it these quick-witted and brilliant ar- to our respective sides. felt exactly like a sheep. He liked guments to use against Tree Hug-

page 5 wwoof uk news issue 262 gers, I wondered. But more immedi- ately pressing, it was definitely time to round off the evening and leave so I said ‘Listen, it’s been a great evening and I wish you all well, but I do hope you have a terrible shoot tomorrow.’ They laughed, raised their glasses and that was that. But all the way home I was thinking about what they’d said. It’s a basic human desire to want to get out- doors, and it has proven mental health benefits. It’s natural to want to be a band of brothers. But it was a shock to me the only way they knew how to do that was to go hunt- ing and killing. It brought up so many issues for me all at once, and for a driving home after a great night out grounds, interests and outlooks, while I went off on a crazy solution- feeling quite depressed. managed to have a damned fine finding tangent of business ventures So is there a positive end to this evening in a random pub that turned to tackle just this precise phenome- story; a wise nugget or some pithy out to be no-one’s local, creating non. And then I got to thinking point I can give you to take away? music, mirth and song together. That about the more general mindset and Really I’m still processing it all, but I at least has to be a good thing, how very widespread it is. Then I suppose there is one thing I can right? started to feel overwhelmed and think to say for now. A group of helpless and before I knew it, I was strangers, all with diverse back- Illustration: Gordon Allen

Our new website has a selection of Featured Hosts on the home page. They’re randomly selected and very regularly updated. It’s another good reason to make sure your profile photos are interesting and up to date.

This is one of many of the new and really useful functions on the website and it’s worth spending time looking around and finding out how to use them to the full—whether you are a host or a WWOOFer. And don’t forget—if you have any questions or feedback please get in touch.

wwoof uk news issue 262 page 6

on the plot with Mr Fluttergrub

adding fuel to the fire It’s a cold day and I’ve just put some more logs in the wood burning Jerusalem Artichokes stove. The wood has come from my own trees, two acres of mixed broadleaves planted twenty odd years ago and now thinned annually. Burning your own wood is a satisfy- ing and, I used to think, an environ- mentally sound means of keeping warm. Increasingly, though, I’ve my doubts about wood burning’s green credentials. I live on the fringe of an urban area. If I go out into the street on a cold day the air can reek of smoke. The fashion for open fires and stoves has taken hold in the neighbourhood. wood will justifiably feel the gov- outlet for the small quantities of Every few doors chimneys puff ernment’s policy proposals are wood extracted annually so if it’s away. Often the smoke is caused by shooting at the wrong target. How- not used for firewood what use will burning wood that’s not been prop- ever, while they may skate over it have? I don’t want a log cabin and erly seasoned. Worse still, some- many other forms of air pollution, only need a limited number of bean times the smoke has a chemical the potential harm of wood burning sticks and plant supports. You can whiff suggesting treated wood or cannot be wished away. The scien- have too many habitat piles. plastic-based materials are being tific evidence of damage to health is burnt. My wood may all be home It seems to me that all of us burning surely indisputable. While the scale wood from our own trees, even produced, dried for two years and of the problem can be inflated nu- burnt on a modern stove that meets those in the countryside, have to merous recent academic studies consider its wider environmental current clean air standards, but have highlighted the issue. Accord- when I go outside I can still see and health impacts. Long term isn’t ing to some reports many wood the greenest way of keeping warm smoke spewing from the chimney burning stoves emit more particu- and smell it if the wind wafts it renewably generated electricity? I lates per hour than modern diesel know that questioning wood burn- downwards. vehicles. ing may be controversial and that A few days before I wrote this col- All this leads me to wonder I’m probably, literally, ‘adding fuel umn the UK government published a whether, in the longer term, domes- to the fire’ by raising it as an issue. policy paper on air pollution tic wood burning has a future. Will Next time I’ll get back to the safer (https://bit.ly/2RtZxtE ). If you live in and should legislation limit or curtail ground of the plot, but if you’ve any the UK you’ll probably be broadly the practice, at least in urban areas? thoughts please share them. familiar with its content from media And, even if it doesn’t, am I and oth- reports and comment. In a nutshell ers inflicting a lifestyle choice on the Mr Fluttergrub is the pen name of some- one who is close to the heart of WWOOF it might be argued that it is a policy neighbours and causing them harm? proposal short on specifics and tar- UK. Based in the north of England he’s a very experienced grower and has agreed gets, lenient or negligent on pollu- There are then the wider environ- mental impacts to consider. We des- to write a regular column for us. Let us tion from vehicles but, insofar as it know if his suggestions work for you or if perately need more woodland, but if has much emphasis and intent at all, you have other ideas for your region, focussed on emissions from agricul- domestic wood burning is restricted please get in touch by using: ture and wood burning stoves. will it be a disincentive to planting? [email protected]. It will certainly effect managing my Those of us producing our own small wood. There’s no other viable photo: Alice Law

page 7 wwoof uk news issue 262 my WWOOFing life up to now! Care of his soil was crucial, - reliable and responsible house, Lesley Gorski, long-standing and ing was an art and companion plant- barn, child and animal sitter inspiring WWOOFer, writes: I say ing was the norm. ‘extraordinaire’. ‘up to now’ as I am ‘only’ in my Even before the phrase had been What more could a WWOOFer want early 70s and hope to WWOOF until coined for the at my time of life? I am 80! and the general populous, I was dig- I have WWOOFed in many countries, I have been a member since the or- ging bean trenches, turning com- namely France, Italy, Germany, In- ganisation was called Working post, caring for poultry and other dia, Japan and New Zealand. When I Weekends on Organic Farms, quite a animals whilst growing and learning return from a placement I start plan- long time ago, and there have been to respect the circle of life, the sea- ning the next! sons and mostly the environment in so many changes in so many ways I am, at this time, organising a few which we all live. plus there’s an appreciation nowa- weeks with hosts in the Shetland days of ‘things organic’ which em- I still feel privileged to be invited Islands. braces a significant return to the into hosts’ homes and lives after all basics; by which I mean the earth these years and perhaps over a hun- I hope this missive encourages the reader to keep on WWOOFing, at beneath our feet. dred placements. But, hey, who’s any age, or to try if you have never counting? I remember learning about the ni- thought of doing such a thing. trogen cycle in a biology lesson and I I have learned so many different I’ve enjoyed my mini trip down was hooked. skills; practical and culinary, prac- memory lane. Happy WWOOFing! But I was a lucky girl; my ancestors tised languages and passed on my were smallholders and my Grandad knowledge, if appropriate, as I inter- imparted his knowledge willingly to acted and aged over the past years. an inquisitive youngster. I am told, often now, that I am a

Lesley is one our very few remaining book members. With the advent of our new website and due to the increasing costs of printing and postage, we decided to stop book memberships from the beginning of 2019. Everyone who is a current book member can still go WWOOFing but we won’t be renewing or providing new book membership from now on. All of our current book members’ details’ are on the new website and we’ve been in direct touch with them all to explain the new situation. If you’ve got any questions about this please get in touch.

wwoof uk news issue 262 page 8 a week of muck and magic on our Gloucestershire farm

Heather Tarplee writes: We have had a special year here at Wick Court, one of three farms owned and run by the educational charity Farms for City Children (FFCC). 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of the very first group of children arriving to spend a week as farmers here in Arlingham, Gloucestershire. Although that felt like a big mile- stone we are in fact the ‘youngest’ of the three farms with Nethercott in Devon clocking up 40 years and Treginnis in Pembrokeshire 30. With each farm welcoming 1,000 inner- city primary school children every year the mathematicians amongst especially those growing up in inner- settled into our beautiful, moated, you can work out how many chil- city and urban areas, with limited Elizabethan manor house then are dren’s lives have been touched or experience of the world beyond issued with overalls and waterproofs changed since Sir Michael and Lady their immediate environment. and from Friday evening they are Clare Morpurgo founded the charity Over 40 years later many children outside on farm jobs. Their day on back in 1976. are still disconnected from the coun- the farm starts before breakfast tryside and still rely on screens to with housework, morning feeding, Having both worked as teachers, the collecting eggs and letting out the Morpurgos realised that for many gain information about food and farming so a week on an FFCC farm chickens. After a hearty cooked children their knowledge of rural breakfast they are back outside life, farming and where their food is as relevant as ever and can be life- changing. mucking out stables, feeding calves, came from was based mainly on im- forking silage or working in the ages seen on TV or films. They felt The children come in groups of 30 to kitchen gardens and orchards. immersion in rural life and learning 36, with their teachers, and arrive by doing real, hands-on tasks, would with their wellies on a Friday after- After more delicious home cooking be beneficial for so many children, noon for a seven day stay. They are for lunch, afternoon jobs can include pig weighing, moving and sorting sheep, bedding out, fruit juicing, sowing, planting, weeding and har- vesting in the garden, laying paths, moving firewood, digging thistles … if it needs doing we find a way to involve the children. Finally after tea it’s evening jobs – collecting eggs, shutting in the poul- try, feeding, checking the lambing shed, and of course over the winter these jobs involve being outside away from streetlights, a chance to enjoy the night sky. Adam Henson and Sir Michael Morpurgo (founder) For children who may never have worn wellies, never met a farm ani-

page 9 wwoof uk news issue 262 mal face to face let alone being asked to go in with a bucket to feed them, never run in a muddy field, the first few days can be quite a shock. But I’m always amazed by how quickly they adapt, gain confi- dence and by the second half of the week they really do become profi- cient farmers. And all the while they are busy ‘doing’; these 8 to 11 year- olds just soak up knowledge, farm- ing facts, names of breeds, life cy- cles and new vocabulary as well as getting fitter, more co-ordinated and most importantly learning to at the bird hide work as a team. Alongside the routine farming the children go on a long muddy walk, pressed apple juice from our historic many comment on the peace and we take them bird-watching, bee- orchards. quiet, the fresh air, the views and keeping in the summer and on a We operate all year round, during the friendliness of people they gamekeeper walk in the winter. school term time and every week we meet. And for so many it’s the huge They all get a chance to cook their see the enormous benefits to these boost to their self-confidence when own dinner using farm produce and children. For some it’s the fresh air they are trusted with real jobs, car- on their last full day they spend the and exercise, for some it’s the home ing for the animals and that sense of afternoon in our ‘Woodland area’ made, home reared, home cooked – satisfaction that comes with com- building dens, making willow head- and totally delicious – meals. For pleting a job well done. dresses, weaving with wool from our some it’s respite from stressful FFCC has a Head Office in Exeter sheep, making clay creatures and situations at home or academic where a small team of fundraisers baking bread in the outdoor pizza pressures at school and for some it raise the which allows us to oven. And we finish with stories is the routine that they often lack in subsidise every child by 55% of the from the farm around the campfire their home lives. All of them benefit true cost of a week on the farms, while we enjoy the bread rolls from being immersed in a beautiful and for those most in need there is washed down with our home- location and the natural world, so extra help available. The farms are all stunning, listed buildings with repair bills to match…and at a time when school funding is being squeezed more schools are asking for extra help with funding the trip. However with the many pressures on children, and as they spend more and more time looking at life through a screen, the benefits of a week doing real farming on a real farm is as important or maybe even more important than it was 20, 30 or 40 years ago. For more information go to: farmsforcitychildren.org

photos: Heather Tarplee cartoons: Farms for City Children website

wwoof uk news issue 262 page 10 can I bring the kids? We are contacted several times a That said it is impor- week by parents asking whether tant to remember that they are able to WWOOF with their WWOOFing isn’t a children. holiday and wasn’t There are certainly plenty of great originally conceived reasons for doing so. with children in mind. They will learn about new places If you are going to and people, about themselves and have a positive experi- how to get on with life, about you, ence and your host is their family and their place in it. going to benefit too, there are a few things They will discover more about their to think about before planet, organics and sustainable liv- you set off. ing (very important for the next gen- eration to know). Listed below are our top tips for WWOOF- It will make them more aware of ing with kids, com- their place in the cycle of life and piled from information generally more connected with the sent to us from mem- them trying new – and making world around them. bers past and present who have sure they smile! They will explore new food, growing WWOOFed with, or hosted little food and the enjoyment of eating ones. 4. Choose the right host. About a food they gathered themselves, as third of our hosts say they welcome top tips well as learning about animal care children. You can use ‘WWOOFing and how to nurture. 1. Is your child ready for this? How with children’ as a filter on our data- will they cope with new places and base. Look for families who have They will make new friends, whether people or sleeping in a strange bed? children of their own, ideally around it be at the host’s, with the How will they react to moving on, the same age as yours. That way neighbours or at a BBQ, they will and saying goodbye to dear new you’ll immediately have something meet other kids at every turn. If you friends and family? If your child is in common (but don’t necessarily are visiting from overseas, they will not good with change then you may expect your offspring to like each experience another culture and tra- need to put off WWOOFing until other and be prepared for some up- ditions too. they are at a stage where they can set around being supervised by new As with any WWOOFing adventure – enjoy the experience. adults!). Think too about the kinds they will gather great memories 2. WWOOFing is do-able with chil- of experiences you want your chil- along the way. It may be that your dren of all ages – but will need ex- dren to have; animal care, planting, children have never planted a tree, tra planning and forethought if they harvesting, cheese making? collected eggs or milked a cow. You are very young. Might their crying 5. Discuss as much as you can with never know what opportunities will keep your host awake at night? your host before you arrive. This fall in their laps. Would it be best to wait until your way there will be less chance of mis- Even if you are WWOOFing in your son is potty trained? Is the host understandings and disappoint- home country your family will have happy for you to liquidize every- ments around your stay. the opportunity to experience a dif- thing? Let them know you are WWOOFing ferent way of life. 3. Start small if you’re not sure with kids. Tell them the number of What better way to build tolerance whether this is going to work for children you will have in tow and and understanding amongst the you. Try WWOOFing locally for a their ages. Check that this is suitable younger generation than by showing weekend first. Work with your kids for the host. It may be that at cer- them that we are all human under- on things before your departure; tain times of year hosts are too neath our differences? change their nap times sometimes busy, too full, or it simply might not to try to make them flexible, get be appropriate to have children

page 11 wwoof uk news issue 262 around whilst they build a new barn happy with the arrangements you’ve pendent but not yet able to join in, or put up a polytunnel. agreed. try making a base camp for them to Make sure you flag any special die- 7. Once you are at the farm it will hang out in when you are doing tary requirements or allergies that be important to set limits for your something for your host. your family may have; if your child is child. Remember that these are 9. Be mindful of your host family’s terribly allergic to cats or horses working farms. Large animals, ma- space. It is important for every fam- then a farm with those animals is chines, and tools are a part of every- ily to have a little time to themselves probably not suitable. day life. each day, please respect this and Do ask about the accommodation Most importantly let your kids know give your hosts (and yourselves) the arrangements. Will you be sharing where it is safe to play, and any ‘out space and time-out they require. with other WWOOFers? Is the ac- of bounds’ area. Agree these with 10. Agree a ‘review time’ after a commodation some distance from your host. week. With all WWOOFing, but es- where tasks will be done? When is it ok (or necessary) to call pecially with children, it is a good Other questions to ask include… you away from your tasks? Children idea to have an official trial period need to be aware that WWOOFing is with your host. That way if things What hours are you expected to are not working out you can say help and what type of activities will about an exchange and that you and farewell and no feelings are hurt. you be doing? your host have things to get on with during the day. 11. Have a back-up plan. Sometimes What is there to do during your time things just don't work out as off or on rainy days? Let your kids know who to go to for help, or advice, food or water. Re- planned. If your children feel un- How does the host normally inte- mind them that they are guests and comfortable or unsafe it is best to grate WWOOFing families into their need to be respectful of the host's gently let your host know that you home and daily life? property. need to move on. Be sure to com- 6. Remember WWOOF is about a municate with WWOOF UK if you Do not expect your children to be think there is an issue that may af- fair exchange. Our guidelines sug- looked after by the host or other fect other WWOOFers too. gest each adult is expected to help WWOOFers unless previously ar- for 4-6 hours per day in return for ranged. 12. Most importantly RELAX and food and accommodation. Childcare ENJOY the experience. Remember distractions can make it difficult to 8. Can they join in? This is a critical that all these things will shape your question to ask your host. WWOOF- always stick to this and the host will child for their future. ing works best when your children have your kids to feed too. So, you If you have WWOOFed with children need to work out an arrangement are of an age where they can get involved and want to do so. or hosted WWOOFing families and that suits both parties. would like to share your experi- Some compromises might include… If you have teenagers accompanying ences, ideas or photos then we you, do be clear with them about would love to hear from you using Providing food for your children dur- the terms of their stay and get them ing your stay, or one meal a day for [email protected]. engaged as your family. much as you Splitting shifts if there are two can. Often adults in your group – or one could young people do a longer day while the other can be the in- looks after the kids. spiration for a Minding your host's children so that trip but if they your host can get on with work. are not on board with the Doing a little extra around meal idea, do con- preparation and clean up and keep- sider whether ing the house tidy for your host. the timing is Any of these can help ensure that right. A sulky you don’t become an added burden adolescent can to your host. spoil WWOOF- Discuss this before you arrive at the ing for everyone involved. photos: first image Soillse Ecovillage Project host to make sure that everyone is For younger ones who are inde- second image Taryn Field wwoof uk news issue 262 page 12 classifieds Classified ads are free up to 50 words at the editor’s discretion. WWOOF UK accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of advertisements and does not endorse the products and services offered. You are advised to check before availing yourself of what is offered. [email protected]. uk

Female, late 40s, permaculturist, A children's author with more than New courses at Karuna Insight De- grower/gardener and tutor, looking 50 published titles and a founder of sign, beautiful established 18-acre for a nice man of similar age to join a charitable publisher wants to rent Forest Garden project in Shrop- me on life’s adventures. I am pas- a farmhouse/cottage on a working shire: Grow your own plants: June sionate about nature, farm for at least a year while writing 29-30, Forest : July 13-14, and building community, love craft- a series of books. Your farm will be- Permaculture intro: July 20-21, Liv- ing, reading, cycling and socialising come a setting for the stories, be ing in community: August 24-25, with my friends. Do get in touch! mentioned in the titles and in pro- Vegan Permaculture: August 31- [email protected] motional literature. Contact: September 1. You can WWOOF be- [email protected]. fore or after a course. Assistant grower wanted at Prim- Contact 01694-751374, rose, a thriving, organic, no-dig The Gaia Foundation Seed Sover- [email protected], market garden near Hay-on-Wye, eignty programme is looking to karuna.org.uk, from April till October 2019. Food, connect with growers interested in Karuna insight design on Facebook accommodation, £50/week and a training in seed production with a good learning environment. Oppor- view to sell or swap seed their Enjoying your WWOOFing or host- tunity to take on the lease for 2020. wider community. Would also like ing? Don’t forget to link to our Drivers licence desirable. Email: to speak to farmers interested in website when you post about your [email protected], growing 'heritage' grains. Contact: adventures on social media. Glenn: 07891756358, Tamsin: [email protected] wwoof.org.uk. 07427041939

WWOOF UK, established almost 50 years ago, is a registered charity.

Would you consider leaving us a legacy in your will? Please contact [email protected] for more information. Thanks.

copy deadlines: 12th April for next e-update, 30th April for summer print issue; send to [email protected] WWOOF UK, PO Box 2207, Buckingham, MK18 9BW