Host Alison Weeks sent us this encouraging news of her first year as a host.
This has been the first year for me and it has been amazing. In fact I have a WWOOFer staying here now. She is probably the most skilled I have had being the daughter of an organic gardener. I feel very lucky, as she is great to have around too!
I joined in April and things seemed a bit slow and there were responses from people who wanted times that didn’t suit etc. Also there seemed to be a few who hadn’t WWOOFed before. That is OK now but I was advised to get experienced ones at the beginning. But I have had three lots of WWOOFers this year (June, August and November). All have been really great.
What I really like is the fact that they usually have some good reason for what they are doing or a project of some sort. The first couple were researching tree-houses (for their home in Italy). The second was learning about gardening and was a city dweller, and the third is doing a European gap year (aged 24) and is seeing the UK.
The cooking has been fun too, as I have learnt a lot and probably they have. And it has transformed my neglected big garden and veg plot, making it possible to manage.
It has been a good idea to have some rainy day jobs inside (making jam or bread, clearing out store rooms etc.). One WWOOFer was good at making things out of wood. I must remember to ask earlier on in their visit what they can do!
Although I won’t be having more WWOOFers this year I am really hoping that I have more in 2017!
