Hello WWOOFers!
We are Helen and David (both 60+ yrs old), and we have a smallholding in the south Shropshire hills. It is beautiful, quiet and remote - the perfect place for tranquil off grid, sustainable living. This is mostly a fibre farm and we keep herds of Alpaca and Angora goats. Their fleeces are processed to make beautiful hand dyed knitting yarns and alpaca duvets.
We aim to live as sustainably and as self sufficiently as possible. We keep chickens for their eggs, they are all rescued hens. We organically grow a wide range of vegetables and are looking to constantly improve this, and we are in the process of constructing polytunnels to extend our growing season. Any excess production is sold cheaply or given to the local community. We are also developing a mushroom shed to grow oyster, shitake and medicinal mushrooms. We have the building for this, but yet to actually grow the mushrooms.
We have lots of plans and ideas and just need help to push these projects forward.
We have 3 pet dogs and farm cats too!
Here are some of the things we would like you to assist us with...
Helping us with the vegetable growing, and development of range of produce. The pigs (none currently, but more to come) have been busy clearing a new growing area, where we want to put a couple of polytunnels. We have grown veg for years so have lots of expertise to share, but we are always open for new ideas.
Helping develop the mushroom growing project - We have built the mushroom barn, and we are getting ready to grow exotic mushrooms all year round. We have been on a course, and have made an outdoor mushroom area - so have some knowledge to share
Helping with the animal care and welfare. We have alot of experience of alpacas, goats, chickens and pigs. We will be giving you hands on experience with these animals. If you would like to learn about processing their fibre you can help with this too.
Some farm construction tasks – fencing, barn maintenance, animal shelter making. There is always things to do on the farm - from mending a hole in the fence to creating a new space for vegetable growing or the animals. We use locally sourced materials, and recycled materials wherever possible. You will gain experience and learn to be inventive and resourceful.
This all sounds like alot, and we are always full of ideas, but its not to be done in one week! We have found that it is more beneficial all round if you can stay for a minimum of 3 weeks, however we would love you to stay at least 3 months, and maybe longer if you are enjoying it. This gives you time to become fully involved in farm life and projects.
We do have a small pop-up campsite happening during August and September - You will not be expected to help with this on a day to day basis, but we may need a hand with big tasks like putting up bell tents.
We have a caravan on the smallholding, with a shelter built around it, providing sleeping and seating areas, cooking facilities, off grid electric, warm shower, compost toilets, wood fired stoves (in the caravan, and another in the shelter), stream fed water supply (safely filtered for drinking), with attached eco-greenhouse.
Along with the accommodation, we will provide:
Food/drink – let us know what you want in addition to the food grown on the smallholding. We’ll even throw in the odd bottle of wine!
Laundry and general bathroom supplies (you provide your own personal toiletries tho)
Fuel – gas bottles and wood (though you will have to help chop it down to size!)
12v charging facility, and there is 4g internet, via your mobile phone signal. EE gets the best reception, but it can be a little patchy at times. If you need a more reliable connection at times I can offer my workshop (about a mile from the farm) which has 240v electric and a strong phone signal.
I really enjoy being around the animals and enjoy working with their fleeces and fibre based hobbies. David still works mostly full time, and the farm is his hobby. However we also enjoy music, reading, cooking and a good chat around a campfire with glass of wine.
Read more
Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Sheep or goat farming
Raising of other farm animals
Wild foraging
Traditional crafts
Green Building
Renewable energy production
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Production farm
25.5
Hectares
|
63
Acres
