During our two week stay at Lower Shaw Farm, we had the pleasure of learning alongside with two other wwoofers: Manuela from Germany and Sergio from Spain. Despite her small frame, Manuela kicks ass when it comes to destroying old cabinets. She enjoys watching the Big Bang Theory while drinking hard cider. Sergio is our ex-rock singer. His likes include reading about chickens doing yoga and organic gardening.  

Wwoofing is a network of farms, which allow people to volunteer and learn on their farms for predetermined periods of time. The farms vary from small, organic holdings like Lower Shaw (which has been taking wwoofers for thirty years) to large, diverse farms like Semeil in the highlands of Scotland. This 300 acre farm started taking wwoofers last year.   

How did you learn about wwoofing? Why did you start wwoofing? 

Sergio: I came across WWOOF on the Internet, searching for voluntary work in England. I felt like a change in my life and suddenly this idea offered me the perfect chance to learn new things, meet new people and travel, all without spending money, only offering my willingness to work.

Manuela: I read about it in a book about ways to make a sabbatical year. I wanted to escape real life (work).

What are some places that you have (or are going to) wwoof?

Sergio: Lower Shaw Farm is unique. And then I stayed at The HoBB, a beautiful site in the English-Welsh border, run by a couple of artists, where I learnt a lot about building things in a creative way. Also I have been to Tithe Farm, in Lincolnshire, a kind of Bed and Breakfast, where I practiced my bakery skills and slept in a gipsy caravan!!!

Manuela: Farms and Houses in Swindon and different places in Wales.

Tell us about some tasks you’ve had while wwoofing?

Sergio: I’m really proud of helping to build a straw bale house, a 100 per cent green house. I mixed sand, soil and water, and covered the walls of the hut with mud with my bare hands.

Manuela: Gardening, Household, catching pigs, harvesting, working with loads of horse- and sheep shit as fertilizer. Also I knew where the vegetables came from (the shit), I ate them and they tasted delicious.

 Tell us about an interesting thing that’s happened while you’ve been wwoofing? 

Sergio: While I was helping at Lower Shaw Farm, something strange happened. Some things, such as towels, shoes, tools, were being dragged during the night at the back porch of the farm and nobody knew the explanation. Eventually all the wwoofers stayed awake one night to solve the mystery. But the "dragging creature" didn’t come. We had to wait and install a camera and the mystery was solved. It was a young wolf!!!

Manuela: Nothing special has happened. I don't know if this is interesting, but last week I was attacked by a duck. It was so excited about me digging out all the good worms and snails of the soil that it had a mix up with a person and a worm! But the most interesting thing for me is meeting all these different people and hearing their stories.

What is the most rewarding thing, so far, about wwoofing?

Sergio: Wwoofing is a unique experience. To me, so far, the most rewarding thing has been the encounter with wonderful people -both hosts and other wwoofers- and sharing the time of our lifes working together toward a better world for our children.

Manuela: Meeting so many interesting and nice people, gaining new friends. Being outside most of the time. Getting a more grounded life. Harvesting and than eating delicious organic food from the garden. Last week I was sick (throwing up all night) and really everybody was lovely and tried to help me. Being free!!!!