Wwoofing and Working Parties at Coombe

Wwoofing stands for "Willing Workers On Organic Farms". People who wish to contribute to organic farms contact a 'host' farm - the farm addresses are published in a booklet once they have been vetted by a wwoofer worker. If the farmer needs work at the time then they pay the worker's food and accommodation in return for free labour. We have had excellent experience with wwoofers, including a physiotherapist who was on holiday and a professional market gardener.

To find out more visit the WWOOF UK site.

Working parties

When we decided to replant the old orchard a massive task confronted us. Not only did we need to plant a large number of trees, this in February/March when the weather can be harsh. We also had to put up tree guards to keep out our local friendly deer. So we invited some 30 able souls to help us, a Coombe Crew. People arrived on Friday night, when we partied a little. On Saturday morning everyone was assigned to a team, be it hole digging or ramming stakes into the ground or nailing wire or fitting 'mulch mats' to keep down the grass during the trees' first years. By darkness we had completed perhaps a quarter of the task. Saturday night we partied harder and on Sunday, with everyone fully trained, miracle of miracles, we completed the remaining three quarters. We did this for four years in a row and now the orchard is replanted. This year we planted two thousand five hundred hedge plants. As well as these large volunteer tasks we also take on woofers, workers on organic farms, who come and help for a few weeks. We provide food and lodging.

If you are interested in helping at Coombe, let us know.