We are very grateful to Clare McPartlin for getting in touch with us to share her uplifting Coronvirus story.
I thought it might be nice to share a bit about my experience doing WWOOFing during the lockdown.
I joined the UK WWOOFing page after returning home from months of WWOOFing in NZ, I had come home for a variety of reasons, but wasn’t ready to stop WWOOFing so I started to look at farms nearby. I came across a great looking farm, Mere Brow farm. I sent the host a request and was very excited when I was accepted and hopped on a train to go start my new adventure. After a week and a half of being here the lockdown was announced. The host family were very kind and said if I wanted to stay I could, or I could go back to my own family.
I was only meant to be working here for a few weeks but I decided to take up their offer and stay on the farm until the lockdown ended. I figured if I had to be stuck somewhere a farm would be the best place, lots of work to do, getting to be outside all day, and enjoying time with
everyone who lives here. Well I was right, and have been having an amazing time the past 5 weeks in lockdown!
I do really miss my friends and family and just being able to go hang out at the beach or parks and doing normal things. But so far since being here I’ve been doing lots of different things like mulching trees, TONS of grass mowing, planting fruit and veg in a forest garden, making fences, chasing chickens, and learning a lot about permaculture. We have celebrated four birthdays in lockdown, one of them being mine, and the Easter holidays. We found some poorly baby squirrels and looked after them until they could go back into the forest. We’ve also had two sets of baby duck eggs hatch! There have been lots of nights around the fire pit, playing games, and walks around the fields.
With so many different jobs to do, animals to love, and kids to run around with there has definitely been plenty to keep me busy!
I am extremely grateful for this amazing family who have allowed me to stay in their home despite not knowing how long they will be stuck with me. I really feel like part of the family now and can’t think of anywhere better then here to be in lockdown.
Hopefully once this all ends they can return to having lots of WWOOFers and volunteers and a great little community on the farm.
Mere Brow Farm is Fantastic!!!
[Many thanks to Clare McPartlin for her story and the photos.]
