I have been frequently asked already by people I meet how long I intend to WWOOF, most assuming 1 or maybe 2 years, and perhaps the easiest way to answer that is "when I am finished!", but in context of the process of learning and growing the reality is "never". There are bound to be periods where through a lack of funds, or distraction may have me settle for a bit but I am keen to be nomadic and keep building on these experiences for as long as possible.
I have always regretted that I never took the time to travel and explore this world when I was younger, not that I haven't enjoyed the wide range of experiences that life has already presented me with...mostly. To me, this journey is more about deliberately seeking out adventures rather than "building a career", its about letting go of the "settling down" and "growing up" constraints that I felt put me in a box for far too long.
Most of all it is my opportunity to give back and feel useful in the food-chain. Not just to be a consumer but as a builder of systems that sustain life and communities.
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.
— Henry David Thoreau
Skills List
(Always Under Construction)
1. Building Skills
1.1. Design
– Understand principles of:
1.1.1. Eco friendly /passive solar housing
1.1.2. Water collection and filtering
1.1.3. Plumbing water systems including recycling /grey-black water systems
1.1.4. Safe load bearing wall construction
1.1.5. Constructing different roofing techniques
1.2. Permaculture design
– Develop a working understanding of:
1.2.1. Design solutions used in at least 5 different sites
1.2.2. 40-50 Companion planting combinations
1.2.3. Soil preparation and fertility maintenance techniques
1.2.4. Swale and dam construction
1.3. Construction
– Gain practical experience building with:
1.3.1. Straw bales and rendering
1.3.2. Mud brick / rammed earth
1.3.3. Rough sawn & local timber
1.3.4. Installing doors and windows
1.3.5. Hand build cabinets and furniture
1.4. Tools
– Gain practical experience with:
1.4.1. Using a welder
1.4.2. Using a range of hand and power tools
1.4.3. Using a chainsaw
1.4.4. Using farm machinery including tractors etc
1.4.5. Tiling, painting and minor repair work
1.5. Farm Maintenance
– Gain practical experience with:
1.5.1. Maintaining pumps and irrigation systems
1.5.2. Maintaining fences and gates
1.5.3. Maintenance of waste systems
2. Food Skills
2.1. Growing
– Gain a working knowledge (incl growing seasons/conditions/picking and packing) of :
2.1.1. Fruit orchard management
2.1.2. Vineyards (for wine and grape production)
2.1.3. Small crops vegetables
2.1.4. Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Pigs & Poultry
2.1.5. A range of Aussie Bush Tucker foods and their uses
2.1.6. Oyster farming
2.1.7. Fishing techniques and seasons
2.1.8. Beekeeping, including honey collection and processing
2.1.9. Coffee bean, growing and processing
2.2. Food Processing skills
– Gain practical experience of:
2.2.1. Handpicking fruits/ vegetables and berries
2.2.2. Milling flour and other grains
2.2.3. Baking bread/s and cakes (including flat breads)
2.2.4. Butchering and dressing (Poultry/ Game / Livestock)
2.2.5. Scale and clean fish
2.2.6. Making Wine & Beer
2.2.7. Preserving fruits and vegetables
2.2.8. Making sauces, chutneys, jams (with particular focus on applications for bush tucker)
2.2.9. Making Butter and Cheese (particularly Fetta and Cheddar)
2.2.10. Pressing oil from olives
2.2.11. Making pasta
2.3. Recipe collection / Cooking skills
– understand fundamental ingredients and techniques of and build a library of approx 20 dishes from each of the following cuisines groups:
2.3.1. Asian
2.3.2. Indian
2.3.3. European
2.3.4. Vegetarian
2.3.5. Seafood
2.3.6. Bush Tucker (include own experimentation)
3. Animal Husbandry skills
3.1. General animal
– learn the care, breeding and management of:
3.1.1. Poultry
3.1.2. Goats
3.1.3. Sheep
3.1.4. Cattle
3.1.5. Alpacas
3.1.6. Horses
3.1.7. Pigs
3.2. Farm production
– gain practical experience of:
3.2.1. Paddock sustainability - rotation and fodder care
3.2.2. Mustering a variety of herds
3.2.3. Milk collection (goats and cows)
3.2.4. Shearing (sheep /goats / alpacas)and fibre processing
3.3. Horse skills
– learn through practical experience of:
3.3.1. Care and preparation including feed, grooming and tack care/use
3.3.2. Stable management and hygiene
3.3.3. Riding effectively and confidently
3.3.4. Natural horsemanship techniques /training
4. Personal Growth experiences
4.1. Creativity Projects
4.1.1. Carve something in wood
4.1.2. Build a sculpture / useful item with metal
4.1.3. Write 10+ poems
4.1.4. Write 10+ short pieces of fiction
4.1.5. Maintain a travel journal /blog
4.1.6. Improve drawing / sketching technique
4.1.7. Play 5+ songs on guitar or uke
4.2. Cultural growth
4.2.1. Make 10+ international friends and correspond regularly
4.2.2. Learn 2 more languages to a conversational level
4.2.3. Learn basics of 5 more languages
4.2.4. Understand the history(overviews) of 5 other cultures
4.3. Spiritual growth
4.3.1. Understand more about my/our connection with the earth
4.3.2. Learn to quieten my mind through practicing meditation
4.3.3. Stay open to and appreciate all others ideas / philosophies
4.4. Other life skills/experiences
4.4.1. Learn the basics of herbal medicines
4.4.2. Learn to sail in open coastal water
4.4.3. Learn blacksmithing skills
4.4.4. Learn basic farrier skills
4.4.5. Learn basic coppering
4.4.6. Learn a range of cottage industry handicrafts (spinning / weaving / basket making)
4.4.7. Make natural soaps
4.4.8. Make candles from natural materials
4.4.9. Learn techniques to effectively give massage
4.4.10. Go prospecting for gold / gems
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