New small holding with fields, orchard & wooded area

Kent

10 reviews • Updated 1 month ago

Hello, we are Mandy and Greg and we have a little, old dog called Tiny. We moved to our small holding just over a year ago and we are using organic and Permaculture principles to turn our land into a productive site that eventually will become a community land trust. We've planted a small orchard, hops and other edible plants. We have many projects underway and in the planning stages. As our land is quite varied we have different ideas for different areas. For example, we have two open fields on chalk downland. One is going to be a wildflower meadow and the grass needs clearing (we plan to get chickens and they will help with that). The other is going to be an edible meadow and we have started building some hugelkulture mounds. There is a fenced off wooded area that will have the chicken house and that needs some pruning. Another open field is going to have a wildlife pond and our 'secret garden' will be a nice area to sit with no-dig vegetable beds. We also intend to dig swales inbetween the trees in the orchard. We are very pleased to say we have recently bought a very small mini digger to help with this work. Of course, there is always general gardening to do to. We also keep bees. We have a couple of spare bedrooms with their own bathrooms. We'll have meals together and can cater for vegetarians and vegans, although the kitchen very occassionally has meat or fish prepared in it. We are quite creative, Mandy is an artist and Greg a photographer. We sometimes have Raku pottery firing sessions at the farm. We also enjoy, and sometimes teach, partner dancing such as jive, swing and tango. We are in a rural setting. There is a pub a couple of miles away. Dover and Deal are a short drive away. We're happy to give occassional lifts. We are about two miles from the sea.

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Beekeeping

Seed saving or production

Methods or systems

No-till farming

Permaculture

Host type

Self-sufficiency property

1.6 Hectares | 4 Acres

Accommodation

3 WWOOFers

Bedroom

Children not accepted

Pets accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Vegetarian

Vegan

Length of stay

1 day (local)

Weekend

Less than a week

1-2 weeks

Mandy

Member since 2025

Languages spoken: English, French Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 2 days

November 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Kent

Martin Mill train station, near Dover

Reviews

Hamed

United Kingdom • September 2025

This was our very first WWOOFing experience, and we’re so happy it started at Mandy and Greg’s beautiful farm. From the very beginning, the weekend felt special, they are a creative couple building a truly inspiring and dream-like farm. The work was varied and enjoyable, and everything was explained clearly. We especially appreciated the insights about community and permaculture, which gave us new perspectives. Mandy and Greg were warm, welcoming, and wonderful to talk with, the conversations were as valuable as the work itself. We also had the chance to explore the town, enjoy the surroundings, and even join an event, which made the experience even richer. And of course, Mandy’s cooking was fantastic! Thank you to Mandy, Greg, and their lovely dog Tiny for hosting us. We really hope to see their dream come true soon, and we’re also looking forward to coming back again. Highly recommended! 🌱

Natalie

United States • September 2025

I spent about two weeks with Mandy and Greg, and it was everything I hoped for in a WWOOFing experience. The farm is magical, with so much to explore and a wide variety of tasks to choose from. I got to help with several projects, including brush cutting, mowing, and clearing out the brush in the secret garden. Mandy and Greg genuinely care about showing WWOOFers the area, and I was amazed by how much of the southeastern coast I got to explore. I also really appreciated how many community events they took me to, including Apple Day and dancing! They’re both incredibly accommodating, and the house is warm and cozy. I’ll really miss Mandy’s cooking! This was my first WWOOFing experience, and I’m so glad it was with them as I felt completely supported the whole time I was there. I’m already looking forward to coming back!

Duncan

Canada • September 2025

A really cute property with kind and welcoming hosts, Greg, Mandy, and Tiny. Work was easy-going going and food was endless! They took us to see the nerarby cliffs of dover as well as many other quaint towns! Got to expirence Kent in the best way possible, definetly reccomend ale farm.

Beate

Germany • September 2025

I spent almost three weeks with Mandy and Greg and had a very positive experience. They are welcoming, kind, and helpful hosts who created a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The accommodation was comfortable, the food excellent, and we even shared leisure activities such as excursions and dancing (Modern Jive and Argentine Tango). The work was well organized and enjoyable. I helped with building hügelkultur beds, shredding branches, and also gained fascinating insights into beekeeping. Overall, it was a rewarding stay, and I can warmly recommend volunteering at this wonderful place. I sincerely thank Mandy and Greg for the wonderful time!

Jean-Baptiste

France • September 2025

I had a wonderful two-week stay with Greg and Mandy. They are very welcoming hosts and made me feel at home from the first day. The farm is beautiful and well organized, and the work was varied and interesting. Even though my English is not perfect, communication was easy and enjoyable. I really appreciated their kindness, the great atmosphere, and the opportunity to share meals and conversations together. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a rewarding and enriching WWOOFing experience.

Maisie

United Kingdom • August 2025

I really enjoyed my time with Mandy, Greg and their dog Tiny. They are very kind and welcoming people who I would recommend anyone to stay with. During my time at Ale Farm, I felt relaxed and valued - they encouraged me to go out and see the local towns and I really appreciated Mandy's baking and cooking! The work was varied and reasonable, I never felt pushed to do anything which created a lovely atmosphere where I felt very happy to help out. They have also brought together a lovely community of people around them, many of whom I had the chance to meet at a picnic they hosted during my stay :) As a first time wwoofer, they have inspired me to go out and seek other wwoofing expriences if they will be even half as good as this one!