WWOOF at Grand View Farm

Hello Grand View Farm friends! This is Jenny, one of the two WWOOFers currently at the Goodling’s farm. As a background to what a “WWOOFer” is, WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunity on Organic Farms. This organization links volunteers with organic farmers and helps people share more sustainable ways of living. WWOOF operates in various countries throughout the world, including the USA. In exchange for lodging, food, and organic farming education, WWOOFer(s) give 4-8 hours/day, 5-6 days a week (depending on host arrangements) of labor to a farm host. WWOOFing is a remarkable program for everyone involved. Farmers get help with farm projects and, in turn, they help WWOOFers experience life on a farm and pick up skills. WWOOFing can also be a great way to meet people and experience a new place. To learn more, visit wwoof.org

At Grand View Farm, we are learning the mysteries of wool fiber production and processing. Kim has patiently taught us to discern fiber quality, skirt fleeces, and prepare fleece for various end products. We learned how to die wool yarn and silk, using natural dyes from local plants. Kim also taught us the basics of caring for sheep and llamas. These animals are very well cared for and loved. No wonder her sheep produce such great fibers.

I’ve loved learning about wool fibers and the joy in creating art with this new medium. I have learned how to weave and made my dad a (very late) Father’s Day gift. With weaving and the fiber arts in general, there is so much new terminology and processes to learn! Another exciting fiber technique I learned was Nuno Felting by making a scarf out of merino wool and silk. Nuno Felting is great fun, which I plan to do many more projects with.

I have also helped preserve, bake, and cook food from the Goodling’s beautiful garden. Pesto, rhubarb crisp, herb vinegars and oils, caramelized onion tart, and Moussaka (Greek eggplant dish) are some of my kitchen projects. I love cooking and the quality and freshness of farm ingredients definitely make a dish superb.

Painting has also been on my list of farm projects. I painted a new slate sign titled “yarn” which some of you may have seen on the Grand ViewFarm facebook page. I am currently painting a bench for the herb garden inspired by the garden’s lavender flowers.

Antony has worked on various build projects with Chuck. He is helping build an outdoor pizza oven using a masonry technique called slip form construction. This will be a fun addition to the farm once it’s completed. Hopefully, we can be among the first guests to try it.J 

We’ve also assisted with Kim’s awesome fiber arts classes. We get the insiders scoop of how these classes run and get to learn all about naturally dying yarn from local foraged plants and even bugs. We’ve met people from all over the country too who have come to learn about dyeing and felting wool from Kim. Some of the class attendees have been fashion designers form NYC, looking to gain a broader understanding of the fibers they design clothes with.

Some other adventures and highlights worth sharing about our farm experience are; we’ve survived a house shaking thunder and lightning storm that caused a power outage.  Also, we chased after squealing farm pigs that escaped their fencing and bolted down the road. We’ve loved watching “Terrific Tess”, the incredibly smart Border Collie dog, herd the sheep, and in her spare time, play hide-and-go-seek. We’ve accompanied the Goodling family on trips to the local swimming hole and went to an outdoor concert preformed by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, ending with fireworks. It’s been an honor being a part of the Goodling families’ lives through work and leisure time spent together. They are extraordinary people and farmers. So much we have learned from them, which we hope to apply to our future farm.