W W O O F UK NEWS worldwide opportunities on organic farms issue 257 winter 2017

inside: keeping cows naturally WWOOFing for introverts ethical, WWOOFy gifts new-style members gathering talking rhubarb with Mr Fluttergrub charcoal, veg and new beginnings

wwoof uk news issue 257 page 2 editorial

on page 4. Cee MacDonald is a first-time WWOOFer welcome to the winter 2017 who found WWOOFing works for introverts and the edition of WWOOF UK News socially anxious with some careful preparation, page 7 and our new-style members gathering was a great day We’re approaching the winter with enthusiasm in our out, page 8. latest issue – there’s the prospect of long, quiet eve- Mister Fluttergrub is planning to split his favourite rhu- nings for planning, plenty of outdoor tasks to do dur- barb over winter, and tells us the best way to go about ing, hopefully, crisp bright days and maybe even some it, page 6, while returning host Dan Nettelfield inspires seasonal celebrations to look forward to. us all with his energy and aspirations for charcoal, veg We’ve got your festive gift shopping covered; gift and new beginnings, page 10. We were glad to hear WWOOFer memberships could open a whole new from host Sally Hall who disagreed with our last news world for your nearest and dearest while our bright, from the office item and are happy to bring her views colourful, A4-sized calendar, with photos and quotes to you, page 12. And the classified adverts – don’t for- drawn from hosts and WWOOFers will provide year get them when you want to get in touch with like- long inspiration, see page 3 for details. minded people, they are free after all! A chance encounter brought Jeannie Ireland to our Please continue to send me your news, comments and attention and we’re so grateful she has shared her experiences, we love to share them. thoughts and experience on keeping cows naturally, 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. 31st January for Spring 2018 issue  These hosts range from a low-impact woodland 30th April for Summer 2018 issue settlement to a 600 hectare mixed holding with on- 31st July 2017 for Autumn 2018 issue site farm shop, café and education centre. 31st October for Winter 2018 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 January 2018  Hosts do not expect WWOOFers to know a lot 13th April 2018 about farming and growing when they arrive, but 13th July 2018 they do expect them to be willing to learn and able 5th October 2018 to fit in with their lifestyle.

We particularly welcome your photographs and  The list of hosts is available, either online or as a book, by letters as well as your WWOOFing tales. joining WWOOF UK 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  The ethos and mission page of our website gives full

details of what is expected of hosts and WWOOFers.  WWOOF UK is a charity registered in England and cover: members gathering, Taryn Field 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 257 news from the office Our Host Contact, Taryn Field, writes:  Now that we are entering into a quieter season and  Although from WWOOF UK’s point of view there is no enquiries from WWOOFers may decrease, you can upper age limit for WWOOFers, I have recently dis- check that you are indeed receiving all your emails. covered that some host insurance policies state an As internet security is constantly getting tighter some upper age limit. So if you are a host please check recipients’ email providers intercept the emails sent whether you have any age restrictions on your policy, by WWOOFers from our system as they see them as and if you are an older WWOOFer please check with mass-produced spam. We have tried to make each your host that their insurance covers all ages. message sent look as unique as possible so that this Employer's liability insurance usually covers people doesn't happen but it doesn’t always work. If the mes- from age 16. sages are intercepted they could be sent to one of a  A reminder to check that all WWOOFers have a couple of places; the spam box of the email provider current membership not only when they initially get which you log in to on the internet – so, using a in touch but also for the time they are scheduled to browser; or the spam or junk box of the software you visit you. use, e.g. Outlook or Thunderbird, on a device where  Host photo permissions – we have recently added a emails are downloaded. Both of these places ought to check box on your listing with a reminder on the be checked to ensure that nothing is missed. If you find a received email in spam or junk and you home page, asking permission to use your lovely host know where to find the email headers, please send photos for our social media. Don't worry, we will them to us using [email protected] to help us make never mention names, location or contact details. our system more resilient. Please tick 'Yes'!

If you want to give an ethical gift that supports a great charity then you've come to the right place!

A year's WWOOFer membership for friends or family makes a great present

AND you can add a copy of the WWOOF UK 2018 calendar for just a little bit more

PLUS you can also buy copies of that calendar for only £7.50 each

Go to the home page of our website, www.wwoof.org.uk, to find your seasonal gift solutions

wwoof uk news issue 257 page 4 keeping cows naturally Our Chief Exec, Scarlett Penn, met mastitis, I Jeannie Ireland earlier this year and would have was so interested in her ideas about, abandoned and experience of, keeping cows all attempts ‘naturally’ that we asked her to tell to extract us about them. milk from In 2008 I moved to a rented property the recalci- with a small field and a few sheds trant beast attached; an opportunity to realise a and given up long-held ambition to become a on the smallholder. Along with pigs and whole idea. She rou- poultry, central to the dream was the bossy old cow Lizzy in 2017 presence of a milk cow. tinely kicked over the milking bucket, or trod in it contrast. For ease of management, Having sought the advice of farming and on at least two occasions man- herds are usually split up into sepa- friends, volunteered with livestock aged to kick me across the cowshed. rate age groups, and also in a dairy tasks at a local CSA and read all I In April, Lizzy had her calf, a heifer herd, into the milking herd and other could find on small-scale cattle farm- ‘dry’ animals. In the dairy industry, ing, I felt ready to take the plunge. that I named Isabelle. Lizzy calved with no difficulties and proved her- calves are separated from the The founder of my new herd was to mother within days or at most a few be Lizzy; a twelve year old Glouces- self to be every bit the devoted mother I had hoped for. Lizzy and I short weeks, so that all the milk goes ter/Kerry cross. She was in calf, an for human consumption. The devel- experienced mother and used to be- had come to an understanding by opment of relationships that occur ing milked – the perfect candidate for this point and she was happy to naturally within a herd are disrupted, the post! share her milk between me and the calf – there was plenty for both of us. resulting in stress that is often ac- The first few weeks were a far cry companied by sickness and failure to from any rustic idyll I may foolishly Watching mother and calf over the thrive. In my herd, not only did calves have harboured. The winter turned coming weeks and months, I was get to stay with their mothers, but from wet to frigid, with snowfall and captivated by the strength of the they benefited from the company of an icy northern chill that froze the bond between them. With successive their aunts and uncles. Youngsters water in the cattle trough, together calves over the next few years and a would, more often than not, be growing family of cattle, the com- with all the pipework that supplied it. found in a crèche, watched over by plexity of their relationships became In the brief periods of thaw, the live- one of the adults, whilst the others ever more fascinating. I learned to stock churned pathways into knee grazed nearby. I noticed that the deep mud that dragged boots from recognise the different sounds they yearling heifers were fascinated by frozen feet and made trips to and made when communicating with the calves and would often spend a from the cowshed a struggle for cows each other, becoming able to tell if all great deal of time with them. I felt and people alike. was well or if one of them had gotten sure that this made them much bet- itself into some sort of trouble. It be- Lizzy was still in milk and would need ter prepared when the time came to came clear that each individual had milking daily until late February when have calves of their own. These rela- its place in the herd and there were tionships made my life much easier she would be dried off before calv- seldom arguments between them. All too. If I wanted the cattle in, I just ing. She was (and is) a strong-minded knew who was who in the hierarchy called Lizzy and she led them to cow, who didn’t know me, but did and Lizzy was undisputed matriarch know that I was inexperienced. She wherever I wanted them. Whenever (this is referred to as the ‘hooking there was a management task that was used to a milking machine, not order’ in cattle, rather than the being hand milked and she regarded they might find stressful, such as the ‘pecking order’). my clumsy efforts with contempt. dreaded annual TB testing, I found There were many times that, had I Watching my cattle in comparison that the youngsters would watch not been terrified of her developing with larger, commercial herds close how their elders behaved and act by, their associations were in stark accordingly.

page 5 wwoof uk news issue 257 I then found myself in the position herd management. Wherever possi- much easier and a lot more pleasant that many smallholders come to, of ble, the family is kept together. for me. having to make financial (and ethical) When they do need to be separated, As time has gone on, the subject has sense out of something that started for instance when young heifers become wider and the debate more out as a hobby and kept on growing. I need keeping apart from a bull, I complex. The herd quickly outgrew set out with the intention of keeping make sure both groups are made up the few acres I had available and I a house cow to supply dairy produce of a good number of relatives that now have a grazing licence on some for my family; but of course, it is get on well. When I move stock, the beautiful species-rich grassland on never that simple. To produce milk, a older ones generally go first, as they the Cotswold escarpment. For those cow needs to have had a calf. If it is a are more sensible and the youngsters who would argue that cattle are net heifer calf, she can go on to produce then arrive to find the rest of the producers of methane and as such milk herself, but what if it is a bull family in place so they settle quickly. are contributing to climate change, I calf? What do you do if you have only I have come to believe that this per- would counter that my cattle are also limited grazing and the herd keeps spective on cattle rearing has advan- conservation managers. The richly getting bigger? I found that I was tages that can translate into financial biodiverse landscape they inhabit forced to confront these questions as practicality. Somewhat to my sur- was created by millennia of grazing my small herd and the responsibili- prise, when I first started selling my by cattle and without it, precious ties and expense that went with it beef, the positive response was over- habitats would degrade. kept growing whelming. Staff at the abattoir were I hope, in time, when the herd is lar- I had been vegetarian for most of my complementary, as was the butcher ger and more of my time can be de- life, mainly because I was uncomfort- who hung and prepared the beef. voted to it, that I will return to my able with the way many animals Customers repeatedly told me that it early dairy ambitions and begin milk- were raised in large-scale commercial was the best beef they had ever ing again, but on a commercial rather systems. When Lizzy’s next calf was a eaten. When this was repeated with than just a personal level bull, I needed to decide whether I successive beasts, I began to try and (Gloucesters are dual-purpose ani- could justify keeping cattle at all. pinpoint what was the cause of this mals, providing both meat and milk). What I could not afford to do was to welcome result. The cattle are of a This would have to follow the ‘Calf at keep them as pets; somehow they rare breed (Gloucesters and Glouces- Foot’ model, where the cows are needed to pay for themselves. After ter crosses) and are grass fed and milked once a day and the calves are a great deal of soul searching I de- slow matured. In addition to this, I left with them. cided that I The economics of could be ok reduced milk with my yield, can, I be- steers going lieve be offset for beef, so both by sales of long as I had quality meat and made sure that their lives were as strongly believe that being ‘family’ by the higher premiums paid for ethi- comfortable and contented as possi- reared they lead extremely stress- cally produced milk. ble and that when the time came to free and relaxed lives. Furthermore, be killed they were not stressed or so far, I have had virtually no health This way of raising cattle is likely not afraid. I with them to the abat- issues to worry about, which has kept suited to all situations, but certainly, toir and go in with them to make vets’ bills to a minimum (no pneumo- for small producers in environmen- tally sensitive areas, it is a means of sure that they are calm. This is my nia or scouring in calves, no TB). making management easier whilst contract with them that allows me to This is a subject that could be ex- acknowledge and accept my respon- producing a high-value product with plored and debated at great length, fantastic ethical credentials. sibility for their deaths. When one of but for me this system of small-scale them goes for slaughter, the sale of cattle rearing has numerous benefits; For the record, Lizzy is now twenty the meat goes towards meeting the I am able to sell my meat at a pre- years old, a little grey round the muz- zle and still worth her weight in gold cost of keeping the herd, their family, mium, not only because of its quality, as herd matriarch and generally for another year. but because buyers like the ‘back I began reading what I could find on story’ – they like hearing that my cat- bossy old cow. ‘natural’ behaviour in wild/feral cat- tle have as natural and pleasant a life Any thoughts? Let us know using tle and trying to mirror this in my as possible. Management is also [email protected]

wwoof uk news issue 257 page 6 on the plot with Mr Fluttergrub rhubarb talk As I wandered round the plot trying the clump to put together an ever expanding lacks strong list of tasks to be carried out over buds it is the winter so I came to one of the best to dis- rhubarb patches. After quite a few card it. productive harvests this year’s crop A dug up had been relatively small with fewer clump can and thinner stalks than expected. generally be These are the tell-tale signs of rhu- split into barb in need of rejuvenation and so I three or four added ‘revitalise rhubarb’ to the list. viable por- Rhubarb is often the Cinderella of tions. These vegetables (although I usually con- should be sider anything eaten with custard a p l a n t e d fruit, rhubarb is technically a vegeta- without de- ble). It is frequently consigned to an lay to pre- odd corner where little else will vent deterio- grow. I must confess to being a rhu- ration; do not believe the old gar- an old clump so there’s much to be barb abuser, with both of my dening lore that leaving a clump on said for starting with rejuvenated patches in fairly inhospitable areas. the surface for weeks will somehow rhubarb. The only downside is that However, rhubarb is a remarkably reinvigorate it. Planting can either you may not know the name of the tolerant plant. All it needs, apart be on a new site or on the same variety. Many people assume rhu- from an annual dose of manure, is a ground as rhubarb doesn’t seem to barb is rhubarb, and are surprised recharge every five to seven years. suffer from any replant diseases. that there are different types. In fact hundreds have been developed al- Rejuvenating rhubarb is a case of However, I like to work a good quan- tity of manure or into the though few are now grown commer- being ‘cruel to be kind’. Essentially, cially. My favourite is Timperley to revitalise it, you dig it up and soil wherever the new plants are set out to get them off to a good start. Early. Its main virtue, as the name chop it into pieces. Put a little less suggests, is that it is ‘early’, always brutally, rhubarb is, as the Because rhubarb is early into growth the first to crop, often giving a texts put it, ‘propagated by divi- in spring regeneration is best carried worthwhile pulling of stalks by mid- sion’ (although it can also be grown out in winter, ideally before the sol- March. Timperley Early comprises from seed). This involves several stice. This gives the plants time to about half of my rhubarb plants and steps. The first is to carefully dig out settle and root before warmer I’ll be making sure that any of its an old clump, itself no mean feat as weather stimulates new shoots. tired older clumps are given a fillip the rhizomes (thickened roots) will Don’t tax the new plants by pulling by careful division this winter. penetrate deeper than you might stalks in the first year after replant- expect. Once the clump is out it ing. They need time to establish. It is needs to be divided into portions only in the second year after rejuve- Mr Fluttergrub is the pen name of some- each having a good piece of rhizome nation, by which time they should one who is close to the heart of WWOOF and a clearly visible surface growing show strong new growth, that I start UK. Based in the north of England he’s a point or bud. harvesting and even then I may go very experienced grower and has agreed to write a regular column for us. Let us Splitting is usually possible with a easy on any clump that is still ‘in know if his suggestions work for you or if sharp spade. As when dividing any convalescence’. you have other ideas for your region, perennial plant, it is the younger If you don’t grow rhubarb and have please get in touch using: [email protected]. growth on the outside of the clump none to divide it is possible to buy that is likely to be the most vigorous young pot-grown plants. These, and have the best potential to form however, take just as long to estab- photos: imicrovision.com strong new plants. If the centre of lish and crop as an offset taken from Wikimedia Commons licence

page 7 wwoof uk news issue 257 WWOOFing for introverts From spreadsheets to spreading one placement because I compost: a WWOOFing guide for felt having a hot tub was the introverted and socially anx- evidence of a flagrant ten- ious. First time WWOOFer Cee Mac- dency towards socialising. Donald found that WWOOFing My inkling was correct, but works for her. it turns out you can be a This summer I took time out from social household and also my job as a spreadsheet nerd to go be very happy for people to outside and get dirty. I felt positive go off on their own. beautiful Orkney landscape seen on solo walks about many things in that choice. You may want to look for But I also had concerns about how placements that only have one everyone to get together in the eve- someone as highly introverted and WWOOFer at a time rather than a ning, but don’t feel like you need to socially anxious as me would cope crowd of people who might get to- be a part of that if you don’t want with what I saw as the chilled out, gether and socialise at the end of to. If you feel uncomfortable saying community-orientated vibe of the day. There is usually information you just want to be on your own, tell WWOOFing. about the accommodation on place- your hosts you want to finish a grip- ments; if it’s important to you to ping book, or go out and take some In the end, my fears were misplaced. photos with your camera, or go for a I was able to navigate the place- have time alone then look for place- ments which where you get your run. You may plan your social activi- ments in a way that made me ties weeks in advance but don’t be (hopefully) useful to my hosts and own room rather than sharing. When you contact potential hosts, surprised to discover that your hosts gave me some fantastic opportuni- are constantly having people over ties to experience the real joy of you can also signal your social pref- for dinner or to stay with minimal smallholder living. In case anyone erences by talking about being self notice. Two of my hosts said they else was in a similar situation, I sufficient, and the solo hobbies and activities you enjoy. regularly had friends of friends drop- wanted to share some tips on how ping by unannounced. They seemed to get the best out of WWOOF If you are a socially anxious person, to welcome this, which I found very- placements even if you feel people then going to a stranger’s house is baffling. aren’t really your forte. always going to bring up some wor- My final piece of advice about being Introverts are people who recharge ries. At every placement I went to I worried that my hosts would find on your placement is to share a lit- their batteries by being alone, tle, if you feel comfortable, about whereas extroverts get their energy me weedy, ignorant and boring. For me the trick, and it’s not easy, is to how you experience the world. I from being around other people. If have found that people enjoy delv- you know you need some alone time recognise I have those thoughts and then pretend that I’m a relaxed con- ing into the intricacies of their per- to be your best then take that into sonality including where they fit on account when looking through the fident person. And what helps on the introvert/extrovert spectrum. host descriptions. WWOOF placements is that the sort of people who decide to be WWOOF And almost everyone can relate to Hosts often signal what sort of vibe hosts are generally the sort of peo- some circumstances where they there is on their placement. You ple who are warm and kind and worry about how people will react might look for placements where pretty relaxed about meeting differ- to them. WWOOFing can be a great the hosts say they like people to be ent types of people. way to have experiences and meet self sufficient or independent. Place- people who wouldn’t usually get a ments less suited to you will some- On a more practical level, you may chance to, and I encourage you to want to think about how you carve times have hosts say things like ‘we embrace it. really like it when you are part of time for yourself on your placement. This may be by volunteering for A huge thanks to the families who our community or family while you hosted me with such warmth this are here’ or ‘our favourite thing tasks you can do on your own. On my placements feeding the animals summer, and dealt so calmly with me about meeting WWOOFers is the accidentally freeing their chickens long discussions in the evening’. was always my favourite task. Some- and threatening to steal their dogs However, I almost didn’t apply to times there can be a tendency for

wwoof uk news issue 257 page 8 new-style members gathering

‘Friendly, informative and inspiring’ our mem- were the words used by a b e r s h i p WWOOFer to sum up her experi- a b o u t ence of our most recent Members hosts who Gathering held at The don’t reply Centre, near Petersfield in Hamp- and volun- shire on 23rd September 2017. The teers who one day event was a fresh take on fail to our traditional autumnal get- show up. together and WWOOF UK team Everyone member Amanda Pearson tells us agreed this how it went. should not This new member had not yet be hap- plucked up the courage to contact pening. We completed the formal WWOOF scene. If you are a host, do her first host. She thought this event AGM in record time and tucked into you know who your regional host would be a good way to put her toe coffee and delicious homemade contact is? Do you know who your in the water – and she was right; cake before all of the workshops and neighbouring hosts might be? having arrived knowing no one, she tours began. Would it help for all new hosts to left with at least two firm offers First up was a session led by Carol have a buddy? from hosts and some warm WWOOF Lewis, a former social worker turned Sadly, lack of time meant we could memories. interfaith minister and now Spiritual only scratch the surface of this phi- The gathering started at ten o’clock Director (or ethical juggler) for losophical discussion but clearly the and while we waited for our late Gaunts House, a host with a man- mood in the room was that it would arrivals, delayed by major local traf- sion and 2000-acre estate in Dorset. be great to be better connected fic problems, we jumped straight in This community of 25 like-minded with one another on a more regular to a question-and-answer session, equals has welcomed WWOOFers basis. The question remains – how? for many years and Some continued to ponder this over endeavours to create a lunch, whilst others took the oppor- nurturing environment tunity to fit in a spot of sunbathing, that supports personal it was a gorgeous day, or discover growth. the joys of the swaps table, which Carol invited us to step this year was particularly well-laden back and examine the with surplus goodies members had essence of the WWOOF brought to pass on in the spirit of exchange and what it exchange. means to belong to our The spirit did however get a little organisation. Several carried away. A box of cat food was entertaining stories of put on the table by accident and residents past and pre- there was a case of mistaken iden- offering members a chance to raise sent served to remind us that hosts tity when the Centre Manager’s burning issues of the moment. Re- can learn from WWOOFers just as shopping was assumed to be a con- plies came as much from members much as WWOOFers can learn from tribution! Fortunately, everyone had as staff, as knowledge was pooled hosts. She proposed our foremost a good laugh when this error was and experiences shared. question on meeting a member unearthed at the end of the day. Topics included both older and should be ‘what can I learn from Whoever has the food, we hope younger WWOOFers, hosting volun- you?’ your cat enjoys it! teers with children, and the thorny Inevitably talk turned to the role of After the profound discussions of problem of insurance. Frustrations our regional host contacts and how the morning, our next workshop were expressed from both sides of they might energise the local session was much more down to

page 9 wwoof uk news issue 257 earth with everyone absorbing the get a fair price for their veg. ties/Seventies style that the organi- advice medicinal herbalist Sarah Katie joked that in the corporate sation has bravely decided to retro- Furey had to give. A former head world the co-op might be accused of fit rather than pull down and start teacher who has embarked on a sec- price fixing, but this strategy has again. ond career by pursuing her passion given her the rare luxury of a realis- One has been turned into a lodge to for plants, Sarah advised us on the tic and sustainable price for what provide accommodation for, many and varied anti-bacterial, anti- she grows as well as enabling her to amongst others, early arrivals for fungal and antiviral agents to be do something she loves and connect our gathering, as well as course par- found in our back gardens, allot- with her local community. ticipants, visiting school groups and ments or on local walks with much Throughout the day Sustainability users of the nearby South Downs talk of tinctures, teas and syrups. Way. The other building acts as the Sarah was on a mission to let us Centre Education Officer, Louise Ambrose took those not participat- main reception area and classroom know about the free medicinal cabi- ing in the workshops on tours of the for the various courses and work- net nature provides and to recon- shops the Centre offers in green liv- nect us with the knowledge of the former HMS Mercury site. The Cen- tre is a place for independent learn- ing, rural skills and bushcraft, as well wise women rather than as housing the all important the bank balance of the café. big pharmaceutical com- And so to our last tea break, panies. which afforded participants Our trio of contributions a final opportunity to pur- was concluded with an- chase the all new 2018 other practical session WWOOF UK calendar at the from WWOOF UK Direc- bargain price of £6.00. tor Katie Hastings who Some people bought multi- shared her story of set- ple copies (possibly because ting up The Green Isle they featured in it). Those Growers co-operative who missed this limited of- veg box scheme in fer can now buy the calen- Machynlleth, West dar from our website, see Wales. page 3 for details. Katie works with seven All too soon it was time to other local growers to serve 50 peo- ing and study, dedicated to explor- head home. We want to say a big ple with seasonal and organic fruit ing how we can all make greener, thank you to Holly for her excellent and vegetables for six months of the healthier and more ethical choices – organisation, and Dan who provided year, with occasional supplements the perfect backdrop for a WWOOF a taxi service to and from the local from an organic wholesaler. The UK meeting. railway station with his veg-oil- group’s turnover is small – in the Set in 55 acres of woodland and fuelled car. region of £13,000 per year – but, by downland it is not, however, your As ever it was great to meet some working together, they avoid under- typical ‘alternative venue’, as it com- old friends and make some new cutting each other and ensure they prises several office buildings in Six- ones, bound together by our passion

Hosts Seeds of Eden will be launching a community supported agricultural scheme In January 2018 on seven acres of the Stanford Hall estate in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Produce from the scheme will be distributed to local school canteens and the community through a membership system. Alongside the produce they'll also be offering a wide range of educa- tional activities. They're working from scratch, on a field that has been grazing land for as long as anyone can tell, so will need all the help they can get to pull this off. Stanford Hall is a particularly beautiful estate on the river Avon, and would make a great springtime residence for any keen WWOOFer.

wwoof uk news issue 257 page 10 charcoal, veg and new beginnings Returning host Dan Nettelfield around the UK and visit- shares his story, his aspirations and ing farms, between rub- extends an invitation to WWOOF- bish temping jobs in Bris- ers to help make his dreams come tol. Learning all the time, true. Energetic? This man spends it became obvious that his days wielding an axe and then growing vegetables was goes running! the only thing that made I only discovered my official job title sense to me in this over- just recently – I am a wood-collier. I complicated world. Sadly never saw myself as making a fancy things are never quite so fuel for specialist outdoor cooking; it straightforward. Which is just wasn't top of my priority list. It where, fast-forwarding a wasn't even in the top ten results few years, the charcoal spat out by the school careers ad- making comes in. vice computer programme – for the It started as a device to record, the number one suggestion help with my planning was salmon farming. permission problem. I, A land-based way of life started call- and my (now ex) partner, got kicked off Strawberry Field, the beautiful the Forestry Commission approved ing me when I found myself spend- management plan. Within months I ing all day chained to a computer, fifteen acres of North Devon that we were so lucky to ‘own’. We'd spent a was seeing vibrant and vigorous re- looking forward to retirement and growth and many birds now living in desperate to be outdoors. This feel- couple of years turning our field and the thick undergrowth. There are ing was combined with a desire to woodland into an off-grid smallhold- hundreds of newly revived coppice be making a living directly from the ing. Sadly though, we didn't quite manage to jump through all the stools and thousands of new sap- earth in a thoughtful, sustainable lings, all competing for that new- way. There seemed to be so many hoops that the planning authority found daylight. issues that could be helped by re- required of us for living on the land. connecting with soil. As demonstrated by Ben Law and Seeing all that vitality, it's now eas- others, charcoal making definitely ier to believe that young woodland WWOOFing was my way in; I absorbs more carbon than one squeezed in little bursts of travelling has the potential to catapult you through those two whose canopy is already complete. tricky planning And although many of the felled hoops of the func- trees will be burnt as barbecue char- tional and financial coal, some of the stored carbon in tests. There are their trunks will make it into the other seriously structure of my house and tractor good things about shed. And brilliantly, my veg-garden being a wood- benefits from barrow loads of bio- collier, not least char, courtesy of the fine charcoal bringing my over- that gets graded out at the bagging grown coppice stage. woodland back I love the woodland work – particu- into useful rota- larly felling and processing in the tion. At first, fell- winter. I use a chainsaw for felling ing lots of large and cross-cutting and a tractor for trees seemed getting the logs out of the wood. rather destructive Both machines seem pretty much though I always essential, though part of me would had confidence in love to do it all without fossil fuels

page 11 wwoof uk news issue 257 like the good folk at Tinkers Bubble. tiful, hand-crafted and low-impact pleasingly competitive and an im- I'll never forget my fortnight house that, unlike my static caravan, portant part of my social life. WWOOFing there – my life seems will retain heat, have more than an Despite the distinct lack of hours in awfully conventional by comparison. inch of headroom and won't shud- the day, I feel the need to incorpo- So far, I have refused the tempta- der in the gales. rate some commercial veg growing tion of a tractor-driven log-splitter. I have John Seymour-esque dreams alongside what I produce for my Give me my axe any day. Unlike a of a Jersey house cow, pigs, and veg own table. I've just installed a large tractor it doesn't rumble away re- – many small productive fields and a polytunnel that will allow me to quiring ear defenders and result in forest garden all working together grow some valuable crops and keep isolation from the wonderful salad bags going through the countryside all around. And it winter. doesn't have hundreds of mov- I'm looking forward to welcom- ing parts all needing oil and ing you WWOOFers again. I've grease and just waiting to go learnt a lot about low-impact wrong. Wielding an axe takes living over the years and would some skill, enough to engage love to pass on some of that the brain but not so much as to information. I'm also as keen as detract from the meditative ever to learn more from every- swinging and thwacking. It's one who visits. cracking exercise too – fitness and accuracy both improve It could be that you fancy taking on the veg-side of things allow- with pleasing rapidity. ing me more time for charcoal Anyway, the charcoal did the making. If we make a good team trick (or rather has done so far) and you wanted to stay longer, and I'm back living on the land. we might talk about profit shar- Thanks to a successful enforce- ing. Or come and help me with a ment appeal last year, I finally bit of everything. Log splitting is won temporary permission to live in seamlessly in a way Mollinson and not obligatory, all the more for me! this beautiful place. The charcoal This winter I'm putting up an oak- was deemed to give me the Holmgren would be proud of. In re- ality, here on my own, the charcoal framed tractor shed; in the right ‘functional need’ and – big win – my hands it has the potential to be a expected income of £8K was seen as takes most of my time; especially when you insist, like me, on reserv- thing of beauty but with my current ‘viable’. Temporary permission is a skills will be a rather rudimentary tool to test the financial viability of a ing a decent chunk of the day for cooking healthy, veg-tastic meals. affair. So if you have building or business so theoretically, as long as I framing skills; come and join me! can hit that £8K, there's a good And running. I often wonder why I chance the planning authority didn't join the local singing group or Whatever your thoughts, skills or should let me build a permanent perhaps take up knitting but running available time, I’d really love to hear home. I barely dare imagine: a beau- has me hooked – the club in town is from you.

We recently received this from ex-host Dave Fox of Cambridge and wanted to share it with you. ‘In July 2015 I was diagnosed with an advanced cancer which required radical treatment on a ‘potentially cura- tive pathway’, as my surgeon’s letter put it. Three WWOOFers, Dea and Millie from Canada, and Felicity from New Zealand, were here. They helped me greatly during this difficult time, staying on longer than originally planned as my chemotherapy commenced. I live alone and couldn’t do much myself. They kept me going, as well as the . To cut a long story short, I’ve survived a major operation and recent scans show no re- turn of cancer at the moment. Meanwhile all three WWOOFers left Cambridge but have since returned and made permanent homes nearby.’ Dave is now hosting refugees but added: ‘Maybe I’ll rejoin as a WWOOF host sometime. But in any case my various guests always somehow feel like WWOOFers; they help on the allotment, they love the food, and they become friends.’

wwoof uk news issue 257 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

Housesitter/s required from 2nd- Are you a new or landless grower Winter accommodation offered in 10th March 2018 to look after two who has energy and skill to help return for occasional farm sitting, cats and one pony in beautiful start up a collaborative market gar- perfect for couple; room or railway Highland Glen. Wonderful walks, den enterprise on land you could carriage, Nov-Mid March. Also bike rides etc. Will need own trans- potentially live on? Is the South room to rent (£50/week) on our or- port and knowledge of horse care. Shropshire Hills AONB an area you’d ganic farm in mid-Wales. Tel Juliette on: 01349 884440 or consider? If so, get in touch to talk www.thewildernesstrust.org A small email: [email protected] possibilities. [email protected] cabin is also available to carpenter/ builder in return for some work. WWOOFing North and South by We are looking for a couple for the 01686 413857 or 01686 412744 Margaret Halliday winter or longer to join our small [email protected] https://maghal.wordpress.com This community and help out on our book is a must read for anyone Dartmoor smallholding with land, Free holidays for tired WWOOFers. wanting to discover what life as a vegetables and animals in exchange Large shed with woodburner, WWOOFer is like. Margaret gives an for cosy stone bothy with a wood- cooker and necessary cutlery etc, honest account of hosts in Scotland burner. tel. 07765069849 separate shower, loo, and upstairs and New Zealand, describing both email: [email protected] . bedroom, free for short breaks in the highs and lows with sensitivity our six acre wildlife home in rural and humour North Cornwall. No dogs. Email: [email protected]

Host Sally Hall, who is based in Wales, wrote to us in September in response to our news from the office item about insurance, in the autumn issue of WWOOF UK News. We always welcome our members’ feedback and asked Sally if we could reproduce her thoughts here. WWOOF is a fantastic organisation and stands for much of what I believe in – a sustainable way forward for farm- ing. I really enjoyed the latest edition of the newsletter. The inspiring and really interesting pieces on mob grazing and Crossing really represent what I believed WWOOFing is helping to achieve – protecting the environment and our precious flora and fauna. However, I was extremely disappointed to hear about your meeting with an NFU rep and your promotion of its insurance products. This is a very wealthy English agribusiness lobby group which is NOT a union for the majority of farmers. For some reason which is difficult to determine, the NFU has always had im- mense political power – despite it being a minority group (little more than 15% of farmers are actually members) and it is not even democratically elected. It has been instrumental in intensifying farming, with the subsequent welfare and sustainability issues. It does little to promote sustainability and is publicly very economical with the truth when making public statements, for example, the current badger cull in the news this week (Sally wrote to us in early September) it is the NFU that is pushing this forward and with the continued culling in the pilot areas and its likely spread to other areas in the UK we may well see some areas of the UK lose their badger populations. Back in 2013 George Monbiot stated, 'The National Farmers' Union secures so much public cash yet gives nothing back.' 'The NFU's grip on agricultural policy helps enrich millionaire landowners while destroying biodiversity, polluting water and wiping out pollinators.', https://goo.gl/6hZbd\0, I would agree. See also the ethical consumer’s article: https://goo.gl/Xn8G43 If you have any views on this or anything else in the newsletter please contact us using [email protected].

copy deadlines: 12th January for next e-update, 31st January for Spring print issue; send to [email protected] WWOOF UK, PO Box 2207, Buckingham, MK18 9BW