• We’ve updated the schedule page with all of June’s gigs
• If you click on any of the photos it connects you to a website called Picasa where all our trip photos are saved
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Well, Smiling Tree Farm - what can we say? This was one of the most comfortable and luxurious experiences we could envisage a WWOOFer having on their travels and it sure has set the bar high for all the farms to come!
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| From Smiling Tree Farm Photos |
Imagine being the guest of Hugh Fearnley Whitsiface crossed with a well manicured blond Nigella, in a panoramic ‘country living’ house which you would pay hundreds to rent for the weekend, being cooked amazing food each mealtime AND getting washed up for after each sitting!! We are being serious!!
We couldn't have been looked after better by our host Christine, we were given the most lovely food, nothing was too much trouble and she was constantly willing to share all her knowledge and answer our never ending questions, whatever the time of day!
This smallholding is unique in that there are no financial limits on how Christine wants to develop it – she worked very hard for years before buying it and her husband provides a second income. So she willingly admits that this isn’t how most people would be able to run it, and acknowledges that less money would actually make her more resourceful…but if you’ve got dream and the drive then the sky’s the limit.
The main things we loved learning about while we were there were:
• The rare breed pigs and sheep – we can now tell the difference between a Gloucester Old Spot, a Tamworth and a Berkshire – it’s all about the ears!
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| From Smiling Tree Farm Photos |
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| From Smiling Tree Farm Photos |
• The renewable energy systems – wind, photo voltaic and ground source heat pumps
• The processes of breeding, rearing and slaughtering animals
• How to set up, edge, and irrigate a vegetable patch
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| From Smiling Tree Farm Photos |
The really notable things about this set up were:
• No expense is spared in terms of animal welfare and feed – these are very happy animals
• Christine’s house is not your typical farm house with dogs, cats and mud abounding! There is a shoes off policy at the door and high hygiene standards – Adam particularly liked this approach whereas Rosie kept forgetting to change from her work clothes!
• Compared to life in a community it was very quiet and its vibe was very dependent on the mood of the few people in the house
• Despite being an isolated farm there was a strong sense of neighbours and community
Feel good factors
• Working outdoors everyday made us sleep so well
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| From Smiling Tree Farm Photos |
• Being under no pressure – Christine was really flexible and chilled about when we did our work
• Learning, learning, learning – we have come away with pages of detailed notes on how to care for chickens, pigs, sheep and cows – invaluable information that Christine was so willing to share with us
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| From Smiling Tree Farm Photos |
• Watching The Good Life series one in the evenings – priceless, very relevant for today and ought to be on the BBC again this year - watch it again if you can!
• Eating guilt free, super happy meat which tasted amazing.
One final, and critical bit of learning for Adam was that you should never challenge a local on their muck shifting techniques, unless you want a muck heap challenge!
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| From Smiling Tree Farm Photos |
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