WWOOFS!

In the spring of 2009 we welcomed woofs on our farm for the first time.  Woofs are "Willing Workers On Organic Farms"   Woofs are usually travelers who are looking for a Canadian experience outside of sightseeing or those wanting to experience sustainable farming firsthand.

We had a lively interesting busy summer!

WWOOFs helping us to keep our farm in tip top shape......

 Dajana and Yuko on the transplanter!                          Martin helping plant berry plants

Don, Me and Angie (neighbour - We get everyone helping!) planting.                 A happy German Guest!    

Our first woofs were a German family.  They helped weed weed and weed among other jobs.  We learned the german card game SCAT and learned a lot about Monsanto.    Thank you guys!

Yuko Joined us from Japan.

  She came for animals...THE PIGS arrived just before she left.  COME BACK YUKO WE HAVE DUCKS, GEESE, turkeys AND CHICKENS NOW!!!

Gabi - After spending time in Vancouver Gabi came to our farm - just in time to do lots of weeding....She left JUST before strawberry season....but came back more than once as well for visits!  Gabi learned lots of neat stuff - For instance  - Cauliflower is good eaten raw - especially fresh from the garden!  We miss you Gabi!  And we miss your potato salad!  She came back at Christmas and left for home from here.....

Kate

The city girl from NZ learned to weed, weed and well weed....OK OK she got to waterski too!  Obviously she didn't like having her pic taken as this was the only one I could find!

Stijn - The guy from Belgium....helping plant asparagus!  He loved playing baseball with the kids and baking cookies.  He had woofed so many places and had so many life experiences he kept us entertained!  Thanx Stijn!

Sarah

I was driving up Royston Road (an long slow uphill) and saw a biker with a huge pack on her bike.  I thought, "Wow she's nuts" and then remembered a woof on a bike was arriving.  I pulled over....sure enough our woof!  I grabbed her pack and I'm sure the rest of the ride was much nicer!  Sarah was here for harvest and like the others will never look at a strawberry the same way again!

Elise

I can't find a picture!  Elise came from Quebec and was a star strawberry picker!  She loved staying out in the trailer and thanked us for the privilege.  I'm not sure if it was the peace and quiet......our house can be chaotic!

Maude and Dillan

The French-Irish couple!  A lot of fun to have around.  We will no longer be telling any of our Irish guests about the awesome pub just up the road!  Just kidding! (Inside joke....we might share it with you if you come and visit us....)  Like a lot of woofs, weeding and strawberry picking lets one's mind wander and many a woof told us they had life epiphanies on our strawberry patch.....

$__$

Jim

Jim - the Canuck from England who can't stay away.  He wanted to buy berries,  we were short handed so he was recruited to pick immediately!  He came back 2 weeks later and stayed .....A farmer at heart who loves to travel around Canada for 3-5 months a year.  What a guy!  We learned soooooooooooooo much!  We have our fingers crossed that he'll be back.  Houdini is calling from the freezer Jim, and he's yummy!  (Must be all those devil's thumbprints you fed them!)  And Jim, best of all, WE HAVE GEESE!!!

Kate 2 - Aussie Kate - One of the three...er....Gals that we left in charge of the farm when we went camping.  A hoot to have around!  She joined me in my quest to come up with 30 creative ways in 30 days to cook the never ending zukes growing in our veggie garden.  I am now a BIG fan of zuchini lasagne!  Thanx Kate! 

We loved having you!

Michella - The nutbar from Holland who absolutely LOVED weeding.  She LOVED the sound of weeds POPPING out of the ground.  She's welcome back anytime, the weeds are calling her name!  She was hilarious and kept us laughing all the time!  The three girls (Kerstin, Kate 2 and Michaella) kept our farm running while we had a mini off farm vacation.....We had no worries that they could handle everything!

Kerstin arrived in August (?)  She came for 3 weeks and we couldn't get her to leave! (Sorry Kerstin!)  Seriously, she came back over and over and over.....We loved seeing her every time!  Thanx for all your help Kerstin, the boys will remember your kindness for the rest of their lives!

Alexandra and Maria

City girls from Germany....The funniest was that one of them was afraid of spiders and would stand up screaming and crying (tears and all) every minute the first couple of days on the strawberry patch!  HELLO, organic farm!  We like spiders!  They worked very hard and helped out a lot!

The French Family - A family of 5 joined us.  It was a hoot!  The kids had so much fun building forts, rope circus set ups, and climbing trees...Think fresh french bread and crepes.  Think laughter, ACDC (the band), jokes, big black bears, homeschooling.....We were all very sad when they left.  We hope they will stop by before they head home to France.....Picture coming I hope!

Elaine - Joined us from the prairies.  She worked through howling rainstorms in the fall....quiet and kind - she could have stayed forever if she wanted!