On Offas Dyke in Llanfynydd with mix of habitats plus vegetable and fruit production.
Flintshire
Hello Wwoofers Derek and I (Joan) retired to Crossing Cottage 18 years ago to pursue our hobbies in ecology and engineering. We had help from Wwoofers 10 years ago when we acquired an adjacent field which needed fencing and setting up for growing vegetables. More recently we have participated in a community project with a wildflower meadow and orchard in the middle of the village. Now our energy levels are challenged to do all the jobs we enjoy so some help would be appreciated.
In the autumn we harvest and store our food crops using freezers and bottling. We also prune the shrubs and trees using a shredder to provide ground cover on top of compost. Our aim is to get the vegetable plot ready for spring planting so this is where we would appreciate help in October/November.
Our other busy period is getting the four vegetable beds planted up in March and April. A lot of time is spent in the greenhouse using a propogator to germinate and nurture seeds. Each year we rotate the vegetable beds and add compost and mulch. It is very satisfying to start harvesting spring raspberries. Help in March /April would be invaluable.
Our cottage has three bedrooms. Our guest room has three single beds. We share a bathroom and shower room and there is an additional shower room in the annex. Meals are provided in the dining room/lounge. Our breakfast choice is fruit with cereal and yoghurt ; lunch is usually soup and sandwich around midday; our evening meal is usually two courses using our own produce where possible. We are used to adapting to dietary needs but we like local cheese and lamb/ mutton from the local farm. Most of our shopping is done in Mold where there is a street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
I enjoy landscape sketching and am a member of a local art group. I have a studio in the annexe next to Derek’s workshop which has every sort of tool. Our piano is rather underused but Derek likes to play Queen records down in the chalet where we have two relaxing swingy chairs. The chalet also has a scalextric layout. We usually get down there on sunny days around 4pm. Our life is shared with a young cocker spaniel who makes sure we get out into our beautiful valley and up on the hills.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Forestry
Aquaculture
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Traditional crafts
Renewable energy production
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Hydroponics
Permaculture
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
Former WWOOFer
0.4
Hectares
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1
Acres
Joan
Member since 2024
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 3 days
Flintshire
Penyfford Station which links to Liverpool and on bus route to/From Mold
Reviews
Elliot
United Kingdom
•
April 2026
I had a nice experience working in the garden with Joan at [Host]! We mostly planted and weeded, and it was nice to see a variety of things go into the ground. The work day is roughly 9-5, with several breaks often including a long walk in one of the many lovely parks and forests nearby, or sometimes a longer outing. I really appreciated Joan telling me about the different plants we saw and birds she heard as we walked along. She has a lot of knowledge to share about the local area.
Thank you Joan and Derek!
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Christophe
France
•
April 2026
I had a wonderful week and a half with Joan and Derek. They are incredibly kind and very welcoming; it was a real pleasure to be able to chat and share these moments with them.
I also got to share this time with Steven, another WWOOFer.
We did some gardening, cleared brush, pulled weeds, built a bed potato… and of course went for lovely walks with the dog, Rhosyn.
I’ll cherish these wonderful memories and highly recommend it.
Thank you again for your hospitality. All the best, and perhaps see you soon.
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Alethea
United States
•
April 2026
I had the most wonderful week at [Host]with Joan, Derek, and Rhosynn! I wish I could have stayed longer! Joan and Derek were the most kind and welcoming hosts - I adored all of the cozy breakfasts Derek made, the long walks that Joan took me on, and playing in the garden with Rhosynn.
The village and their garden are so beautiful, and the work was peaceful. Joan and I worked together in the garden and we took breaks for tea and cakes. The days went by so fast!
I learned so much from Joan, and I am excited to integrate what I've learned into my daily life and my preschool classroom! Thank you so much Joan and Derek for such a wonderful stay - I cannot wait to visit you again!! :)
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Steven
Isle of Man
•
April 2026
Joan and Derek are two of the most welcoming hosts possible. As well as their garden, I and another friendly WWOOFer (Hi Christophe!) shared their free time, their delicious dining table and their lovely dog Rhosynn. They are lucky to be situated in very special part of Wales. We met several of their friends and members of the local community and really felt a part of their lives, as only for a little while.
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Elisabeth
Germany
•
September 2025
I stayed with Joan & Derek for two weeks and really enjoyed my time there. They are both incredibly kind and welcoming people, and I felt at home right away. Joan taught me so much about the garden, nature, and also shared interesting things about the local area. It is so beautiful there, the work was not too hard and we went on many walks with their dog, who is so adorable! For dinner we always used vegetables & fruits from the garden to make delicious food and Derek made the best breakfast for us which i already miss! Joan also took me on a few short trips which made the days very varied.
All in all I can’t recommend them enough and I will always cherish the memories I made there and carry them with me throughout my life.
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Léa
France
•
April 2025
I had an amazing two weeks in Crossing Cottage ! Joan and Derek are lovely people, and I had a great in their company. I had the chance to discover many places in Wales which were beautiful, and also took part in many activities in Joan’s community grougs.
Thank you so much for this amazing stay :)
Reply from Joan
Lea was a great help in her time with us. In addition to action in the garden we enjoyed her talent as a musician. We now have a lovely garden chess board. Thank you
