Are you 18+, want to learn regenerative organic farming for three months in the UK or USA? No experience, no fuss?
Thread
RT opportunities.
You are passionate about farming, you don't have a criminal record, you need experience under your belt with the help of farmers who've been in the game for generations. Then you need to register to be a WWOOFEE. wwoofusa.org wwoof.org.uk
What's WWOOF? WorldWide Opportunities on Organic Farms, is part of a worldwide movement linking visitors with organic farmers & growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchange thereby helping to build a sustainable global community
Simple terms: Its like an Airbnb for organic farmers, only difference is that you dont pay them and they dont pay you. It's a voluntary job. You choose them on the WWOOF site, they accept and you go stay with them for three months while they teach you everything under the sun.
What you need to go there??
Pay the annual membership fee which is different for each continent, a visa, pay for your own return flights and a non criminal record (police clearance). The hosts stay in farms which are remote so they'll most likely pick you up at the airport.
How????
Let's start with the WWOOF UK. The joining fee is £20 ~ R402. This allows you access to the farm directory where you see where you'll stay, read reviews, see what's expected of you on a daily basis. Some pictures of the hosts
WWOOF USA is deep within regenerative organic farming culture so it's my fave destination. Annual joining fee: $40 ~ R600. Here's some hosts waiting for you that are available to take in WWOOFEES immediately.
Fun fact, there used to be WWOOF SA but when I search for it online, this is what I get.. wonder why.
Anyway, I've listed just UK and USA however, there are plenty more countries that WWOOF i.e Philippines to Mexico. Its really all about you and where you feel you want to go. The nice part about WWOOFING is that it's safe, secure and legitimate and most hosts have families.
You need to ask your host about the jobs expected of you, tell them about your dietary needs because they cater for your food, don't be shy to ask them about the fun stuff in their area, you dont want to be miserable when you're there, oh and hosts have WIFI so 😃😃👌👌
This experience, cultural and learning exposure is priceless. You're young and have nothing to lose by dedicating three months of your life for experience. Check out the video.
Compost is a mixture of organic residues (manure, animal carcasses, straw, etc.) that have been piled, mixed and moistened to undergo thermophilic (high heat ) decomposition.
Benefits of compost manure. 1) IMPROVES SOIL HEALTH
Composting produces humus, which increases organic matter in soil, improves water-holding capacity, enhances microbial growth and other measurements of soil health.
Thread on ORGANIC FARMING
Part three: Market, opportunities and accreditation.
(last thread)
Happy Woman's Month 🌱💚
For a product to be called ‘organic’, food must comply with the standards specific to organic agriculture, from production, processing, packaging to transport and distribution. There is no legislation available at present governing the production of organic food in South Africa.
The Department of Agriculture has been trying to set separate regulations for production systems under section 15 of the Agricultural Products Standards Act (Act No 119 of 1990). However this requires changes to the Act and legal processes are slow and challenging.
Thread on ORGANIC FARMING
Part Two: a glimpse of what an organic farm entails
The fertility you bring in the soil is important. This can be done at the lowest cost to keep your profit up. You could get HEAPS of wood chips from arborists for a good fungal rich compost and the carbon they contain. Great carbon source
The second HEAP you can expect is i.e chicken manure for compost. The Heap will stink 🤣. So the chicken heap allows for your nitrogen source. Both HEAPS together could give you a great compost. Basically ensure your soil invites the right microbes.
A thread on ORGANIC FARMING.
Part one : background and definition
PS: It's Woman's Month 🌱💚
As populations have grown, farming practices have become more intensified to maximise crop yields and ensure we can feed the ever growing population #foodsecurity. Guys, there's 7,594 BILLION people on earth..(World Bank 2018)
Fertilisers and pesticides are used on crops, and animals may be kept inside in more densely packed sheds to maximise i.e milk yields, or egg production, or SPEED up the time needed for the animal to be ready to be sent to market for meat.
A lot of times in greenhouses, the irrigation will come from the top and plants aren't planted directly in the soil on the ground, but in pots. In tunnels, you plant on the ground soil and your irrigation (drip) will run on the ground.
The main difference is the ventilation and heating. The high tunnels are solar heated by the Sun. They are usually covered in plastic. In a greenhouse you can add additional heat and ventilation via fans and just the raising and lowering of side walls including vents.