Getting back to the land

About seven years ago my longing for the countryside came to a head and I realised that I needed to make another big change in my life.

Brighton is a great place to live – I get to go surfing regularly and can get out on to the South Downs within 10 minutes. I rarely use a car because I can cycle everywhere. But it’s still an urban environment and doesn’t satisfy my yearning for nature.

The decision to move on was also driven by my concern about what we’re doing to the planet. It was increasingly hard to block out the images of rainforest destruction and oceans full of plastic. A similar scene was also playing out around me, where green fields were being concreted over and trees cut down to make way for houses and roads.

I decided to give up my writing work, rented out my flat to a friend and joined the volunteering organisation Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (otherwise known as WWOOF). I wanted to learn about how we can feed ourselves more sustainably as well as get back to rural, outdoor living.

The joys of WWOOFING

WWOOF volunteers choose from a list of ‘host’ farms, smallholdings and land-based projects, which provide accommodation and food in return for labour. I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing by giving up my paid work, but I was confident that I could survive on the rental income from my flat as long as my food and lodging costs were covered.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. I ended up WWOOFing for three years, seeing beautiful parts of the country, learning about organic growing and meeting lots of amazing people.

Working on the land is physically hard but incredibly rewarding, especially when you’re working in harmony with nature. I stayed at a wide variety of places, from large farms to smallholdings, campsites to woodlands. I lived in yurts, camper vans, shepherd’s huts and caravans.

I rose every day with the sun and spent many evenings sitting around campfires. I learned how to grow veggies, herd bullocks, build fencing and ride a tractor. There were so many magical moments: hearing a nightingale for the first time, watching an owl during its daytime snooze, observing a family of badgers as they grew. I’ve never been happier.

The personal connections I made during this period have led to great friendships with people from all over the world, and it was through these connections that I discovered Sacred Earth – the next stage in my journey.

Part 3 coming soon!