Working Organic farm

Placement number: 0218
Location:    England
Preferred Languages:  English
Age Restriction:  None
Date:  All Year 
Minimum Period: 2 weeks to a maximum of 2 months

We are a 43 acre organic farm and we run as a centre
where people come to have experience of the countryside.  We offer
environmental education and workshops in forest skills, animal care, arts
and crafts and organic growing.  As a charity, we try to keep our costs down
as we are therefore able to offer opportunities to groups with low incomes
(many of which are groups from the inner city).  As a result we are always
looking for volunteers to help us on the farm.  
 

Role of Volunteer

Volunteer work is plentiful and varied.  We can offer work in the woodland -
managing the woodland for conservation and to supply logs for the wood
burners.  We also have 2 orchards which need pruning and bramble control.
Work in the vegetable garden would involve planting, digging, weeding and
harvesting as well as making compost and planning rotations.  We keep a
small number of animals on the farm including ducks, chickens and goats,
volunteers would be asked to assist with the animal care.  We have numerous
other projects on the go which could involve assisting with educational
workshops, living willow work, sign painting, fence building and setting up
games, art and workshop spaces.  There is also constant maintenance work on
the buildings which would include painting and DIY. 

The work is varied and we are able to match jobs to the
individual.  Some work would be run as a group activity and other work may
be taken on as a project by an individual.  We currently run working
holidays through the BTCV which work fairly well.  They bring a group of
about 10 volunteers and they work together for a week to complete a task
such as hedge laying or fence building.  We could offer a similar short
break for a group and we can also take individuals for a minimum of 2 weeks
and a maximum of 2 months. 

Cost

Accommodation can be provided but is self-catering. Although the owner may cook for volunteers when appropriate.