Volunteering On Other Farms to Learn What to Do on Yours
Yesterday was the second time I’ve taken paid-time-off (i.e. ‘vacation time’) to go “help out” on another farm. So far it has been the best way for me to learn new skills and meet new friends. I’ve also taken a few weekend days to work on other farms in the area. I’ve learned some new organic gardening techniques and how to properly use a scythe over at Abundant Dawn; how to identify and all of the great uses for locust trees over at Wild Hill Farms; how to install floor joists and locust-pole-stilts on a cabin at our friends’ Tommy and Amber’s place; and finally how to quickly process your own chickens over at The Walden Effect farm a few hours away.
I can’t stress enough how valuable it has been for me to do these things. Being new to the country and not having anyone around to tell me if I’m doing it right or wrong, the only way to really get some hands-on experience is either to mess it up yourself several times, or learn from someone else in person. Everyone is too busy on their own projects to come help a stranger out with theirs, so it’s off to someone else’s farm to learn for a day. And it has ALWAYS been an awesome experience!
I’m sure all of you will already know this, but just in case… Here are a few pointers when volunteering on someone else’s farm to learn a new skill:
- Show up on time (Start early if you don’t know the way)
- Show up prepared (I bring my own tools if I have them)
- Don’t reschedule
- Don’t be a know-it-all (Just because you read a different way in a book, doesn’t mean it actually works. Learn from those who DO.)
- And above all, WORK. (You are there to help out; people are busy and if you’re not putting in your dues, you’re just costing them time.)
I can’t wait for the next time I get to visit someone else’s operation and learn something new. Missy is planning to volunteer on a local sheep farm during lambing season if she can find someone willing to take her on. The biggest challenge is finding someone who is small enough that they can’t get interns, yet established enough that they have skills and knowledge to share. Since it can sometimes take them more time to show you what to do than it would to just do it themselves, most farms expect a minimum commitment of a full season from their interns. Well that’s just not possible when you work a full-time job. This makes me even more grateful that so many people have opened their farms up and taken time to show a newbie the ropes.
Thank you Anna, Mark, Tommy, Amber, David, Agatha, Jonathan, Abel, Mark S. and neighbors!
Here are some resources if you don’t know anyone in the area and have some time to travel:
- WOOF: World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
- Back To The Earth: Working Farmstays, and Volunteer Opportunities
- ATTRA: Sustainable Farming Internships
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We were thrilled to have you! And I might know a couple of possibilities for Missy’s lamb-learning. I’ll drop you an email.
What a fabulous idea! Sounds like a “win win” all around!
{Jealous}…I love learning from others.
Jana
I think you’ve captured one of the strengths of small community (dare I say rural) living: neighbors help each other out when needed. Nowadays people in urban/suburban areas barely know their neighbors it seems. I know there are exceptions but that level of reliance is not quite there compared to folks who live in smaller communities with fewer resources other than their collective capacity for neighborly support. Good on you for helping out, being willing to learn and I imagine it will come back to you in a big “barn raising” kind of way.
What you are doing is great. Sadly in CA you cannot volunteer unless the farm is a non-profit otherwise you risk having the farm sited with large fines. I wanted to work in exchange for my weekly box of produce at my local CSA and they told me that the labor department would fine them too for such a practice. I guess in CA even family and friends need to earn at least minimum wage at profit farms.
@ Diana – Aren’t you glad the CA government is looking out for your wellbeing? Welcome to the nanny state.
Really they just want their piece of the pie. If you’re getting paid in food they can’t be expected to take half of your CSA box for taxes.
You can’t “trade” services federally either, as far as I know. But screw it. We do it anyway.
This is such an excellent way to learn how to do things. When moving from city to a rural lifestyle, sometimes it is hard to know what to do. Excellent post.