Urban Farm Hub

Hello interested readers and urban farm enthusiasts,

My name is Helen, and I am UFH’s foreign correspondent, also known as Diana’s daughter. I have come here to tell you about my experiences with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) during my gap year between high school and college.

WWOOF is an exchange between hosts and volunteers who, for their work on farms, receive food and lodging. When planning my gap year, I knew that I wanted to work, but more importantly I knew that I wanted to learn. Through WWOOF, I am able to do both, with the added benefit of being outdoors and getting to know different families in a very engaged way.

I have started my trip in Scotland, where I have the pleasure of staying in a gorgeously rural area surrounded by hills and forest. It is so peaceful here, and being from the city I have never experienced anything quite like it. The couple that I am staying with has a large garden where I work, and love to try out different wines and preserves with the wild plants of the area as well as the produce from their garden.

Rowan (or mountain ash) berries for wine and jelly. 

Lots of sugar goes into making wine from oak leaves.

That white dot is where I stay!

So essentially, I am living out my mom’s dream. Please comment if you are interested in knowing the recipes my hosts used to make Rowan Berry and Oak Leaf Wine. I am soaking up every bit of this experience and am looking forward to telling you more!

– Helen