Farm Rhythms

Over the past two years we have enjoyed having volunteers from WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). Mostly women, these volunteers have worked by our side, usually for 3 weeks or more.  They have skirted, washed and carded wool, and many have learned to knit or spin.  They have moved manure and firewood, done chores twice a day, and learned about the sheep including shearing, parasites, haying, and more.  They have build garden beds, canned green beans, and learned to bake bread.

Each individual comes with hopes and dreams.  Each farm offers something unique and special. One volunteer, Liz, wrote to us about her experience with several farms and how she began to see how to fit into the rhythms of that farm.  She says, Each farm has its own rhythms.  Upon arrival at each farm it was almost like everyone was marching to the beat of a drummer that I coudn't hear.  When they looked at a field, an animal, a building, a garden, they would see what it was , what needed to happen with it, and what should be done next.  I would just see the field, the animal, the building or garden.  It was overwhelming at first, but as I got into the swing of things I learned to see what needed to be done as well.  I could anticipate and identify which tasks had priority over others.

Even after you kind of understand the rhythms though, there are still a lot of variables to keep you on your toes.  Health of plants, animals and people.  Weather, pests, parasites, visitors, and more that you have to learn how to deal with, and at any given point there can be several things you need to keep track of.  You begin to see cycles related to certain aspects for example, the animals have a cycle, so does firewood, the garden, maple syrup production, and fiber processing. The tasks that need to get done for each cycle intersect and change depending on many variables. 

So when deciding what to do for a specific day, if you don't know the rhythms it is very difficult to know what you will do, and why that specific task is so pressing.  It's not something people truly understand until they feel it and experience it for themselves.

The key for success with a group of people on a given farm seems to be
a prioritized list for the day.  Encourage independent working situations as people are ready for them, (which provides a hugs stroke of confidence).  Encourage questions and clarification too.


Typically we find that volunteers ask a lot of questions, mostly doing what they are told.  It is clear they don't want to mess anything up, or do things wrong.  As time goes by they gradually are able to know and anticipate what needs to happen. Once they know the job they no longer need to ask so many questions. 

Open communication is clearly the key, as well as creativity, collaboration, and a positive attitude, which makes volunteering here a joy for everyone.