Community Gardens & Organic Produce
Banffshire
Hello All! Please be sure to read this entire description before applying!
I am switching things up a little from the last few years as we grow and learn what works best. This year we are trying for longer stays.
We are looking for individuals or travel buddies or couples that will come together. For folks traveling solo, we have a single birth caravan available for your use. And for companions/couples you can use the caravan for cooking etc. but there is only a single bed in there so you'd be sleeping in the bell tent. Or some variation of this. Basically we have a bell tent that can sleep up to 3 and a small caravan for cooking and charging etc. We are only accepting folks that travel together this year, vs trying to double up our volunteer bookings. I think it's comfier and easier for all! I'm looking for longer stays so you can get trained up and stuck in and hopefully work independently some of the time.
We are also happy to accommodate volunteers that are traveling in vans. As for amenities, it's an outdoor compostable toilet and a pump shower. We still need to heat water on the stove for the shower and Woofers still need to make their own meals with grocery baskets provided.
1. Describe your project, your place, and its inhabitants (including animals):
I purchased the land in August 2022 - since then I have sent up a section for community gardens, and built a geodesic dome/greenhouse that is used to trade and donate produce to locals. We have some geese and sheep (rescues) and started the market garden last year. It's all still early days with big plans and we need help!
This year some of our main goals are to get our natural pond going with the help of some pigs (gleying), improve, expand and appreciate our market garden, care for our many trees that are trying hard to grow, set up rotational grazing on the pasture (more fencing), and build our animals a better barn! Of course, there will be tons of little things in between, the season never goes as planned. We also plan on attending a few markets.
2. List the activities that WWOOFers will participate in and what you want to teach them:
WWOOFers will help maintain existing gardens, with general land and animal maintenance, micro forest care, working in the honesty shop, planting, harvesting etc. All aspects of life on the land. We try to work with what your skills are, and what you are most interested in learning or experiencing. Whatever brings you the most joy is where we want you.
3. How will you feed and house WWOOFers? Please describe your accommodations and plan for meals:
I have spaces for vans or tents to park. We have a small 1birth caravan that is available (important to note that this will be shared with daily volunteers for making tea and snacks), we also have the bell tent for extending sleeping area. Woofers can have a fair share of whatever we produce from the gardens. I also provide a weekly food box with items like pasta, bread, beans, oats, jam etc. depending on their preferences. Occasionally there will be shared meals, but less often these days - I cook mainly vegan, garden meals - curries, soups, salads - happy to share what I make when I have the time to cook.
In the past year I found it easiest to provide a weekly food basket and have most meals separately. You will have access to a gas cooktop, pots, pans, spices, dishes etc, but depending when you come, you may be left to your own devices with food.
IMPORTANT: It gets COLD and WINDY! We don't have much in the way of weather protection just yet. The trees are young and we don't have any buildings or walls. The weather can be harsh and unpredictable. We get nice days starting in May, but then it can turn rough again. If you apply for this experience, please be aware of this - you must be prepared for any conditions. You will not have to work if the weather isn't comfortable but you will still need to eat, sleep and shit in these conditions! Tents need to be tough, pegged down and waterproof and you need warm & waterproof gear! Of course, I will do everything I can to help accommodate you - worst case, you need to move into the greenhouse for a day or 2 if we get freak weather. The small caravan is a shared space for volunteers. It has refrigeration and electricity and gas, so you can make meals and charge devices in there. We still don't have wifi, but I can hotspot you if you need. We do have the bell tent for sleeping, it can fit a few people if you come as a couple or a group - we wont double up strangers, don't worry! We don't usually double book volunteers but it may happen occasionally and we will communicate options with you.
4. What could a WWOOFer's day look like at your site (time slot for participation in activities, expectations...)?
I am hoping for 20 hours per week depending on our arrangement. WWOOFers can design their own week depending on the work that needs done. There is always something, if they prefer to work alone thats fine! There will be occasional projects that would be great to collaborate on. Usually I ask volunteers to start each day by checking on the sheep (give them a bit of love, check their water, quick health check, a few treats), then water the greenhouse and weather depending, the garden. After that it depends on what is most pressing that day. From April-Sept the honesty shop is open, so you may be stocking and preparing stuff for that, or working on the garden or helping with other land maintenance and improvements. I'd love to discuss rough hours when you get there so we can have a plan for your stay and of course, it's great if you get some days off as the area is beautiful. We also need lots of help on the garden! I like to know your interests and skills so we can get the most out of you or help you learn something you're interested in! For example, can you sharpen our knives, improve infrastructure - are you good at marketing or making videos? Please, let me know!
5. Play the guide! Talk about your own hobbies (music, cooking, etc.) and those possible around (hiking, swimming, etc.):
I love cooking - especially with wild herbs & berries. I like to hike and explore the castle ruins in the area. I love a good campfire and gardening or working outside. I always have projects on the go - painting, building, crafts etc. and I know some really cool people in the area that hopefully I can introduce you too!
Please write PUMPKIN in your message so I know you've read the whole description. Thank you!
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Raising of other farm animals
Seed saving or production
Green Building
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Community-supported agriculture (CSA)
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Rotational grazing
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
Former WWOOFer
1.5
Hectares
|
3.6
Acres
Accommodation
Florence
Member since 2022
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 7 days
Banffshire
Aberdeen Airport - Banff for a bus - Huntly for Train
Reviews
Caroline
Germany
•
October 2025
I had a lovely three weeks at [Host]! Flo and Ben are very kind hosts and super easy to work with. The work was varied (weeding and planting in the veggie garden, harvesting, taking care of sheep and geese, restocking the shop, some building activities) and very fun! I stayed in the little caravan as I was the only WWOOFer, and it was very cozy. Flo and Ben supplied me with everything that I needed for cooking, snacks, etc. and it was lovely to get to use all the delicious veggies grown by Flo <3
I heartily recommend staying at [Host]!
PS: The surrounding nature is very beautiful and I went on lots of walks.
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Annie
United Kingdom
•
August 2025
Florence was really kind and welcoming! It's a lovely project that she has going and is great sharing her knowledge! Thank you for a lovely time😊
Lara
Germany
•
July 2025
I really enjoyed my time with Flo and Ben. There is so much motivation and work behind the farm, and it's nice to have contributed a small part. Working with Flo is really cool because she always takes the time to explain things. The week passed quickly and I always felt welcome.
Alec
Belgium
•
June 2025
Flo is an amazong host. I was very ill when I arrived, and she let me stay and rest for almost a week until I got better. She's very flexible and gives you a lot of freedom to choose what kind of jobs you want to do. Her farm is still very much under development, which makes everything you do a huge improvement. That's so rewarding!
Robin
United Kingdom
•
September 2024
Had a great week. Beautiful spot, amazing big skies at sunset and a cracking view of the hills to the west. Hosts Florence and Ben were lovely, made sure I was well stocked up with food and didn't work me too hard. They told me about all the good places to go and explore near by which included the idyllic villages and beaches of Gardenstown and Crovie and a magical lonely valley filled with ancient trees and animal skeletons, could have spent days wondering round exploring there. Florence has done a great job engaging the local community with the land and has built up a big team of committed volunteers and friends, she's provided growing space to several families from the village empowering them to get growing their own food, very inspiring. I'd recommend the place to anyone thinking of going Wwoofing and hope to go back myself one day.
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Louise
Netherlands
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July 2024
Gamrie Gardens is a beautiful place. I had a really good time being there. I loved the sheep just running around living their best lives, and the variety of little trees slowly turning into a majestic forest, and well everything really. Flo is very kind, and fun to be around. She made sure I had everything I needed, fresh eggs, things from garden and then some more. Got to stay in a caravan also, which was very comfortable. Good work and lots of free time. Had some lovely nights by the fire and met some pretty cool people. All in all, I would totally recommend :)
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