We’d heard of ‘woofers’ before, but just this summer we learned of ‘work-awayers‘.
Same idea really but with a slight difference – I’ve still not quite worked out what the difference is. My take on it is that ‘work-awayers’ can be more short term where woofers can be a long term commitment – but I am open to correction on that! And the idea behind both, is that they come and help out, while we the host provide accommodation and food!
So after much soul searching and agreeing that we do need help here at times, we took the plunge! Our first ‘work-awayers’ came and stayed for a week at the beginning of the month. Amy and Kurtis who come from Chicago were in the first month of their 4 month trip to Europe. They had already done one work-away stint in Germany so they were veterans compared to us ‘new kids on the block’!
It was good to have some help about the place. We got lots done in the course of the week – even if the weather conspired against us getting much done outside (I think we only had 2 fine days). Those 2 days we did get stuck into a pile of weeding and stone picking!
Amy and Kurtis hope to get a small-holding of their own when they get back home to US so I think they learned a bit here! You can read their side of the stay right here!
Kurtis has definitely decided against cows! Pigs are OK, but he just didn’t like the whole milking experience!!!!!!
Amy was probably fed up of ‘canning’ as she would call it, making jams and chutneys…. but she also did so much baking here. It was Amy that made the delicious Tomato, Basil and Feta loaf and she also found a recipe for cucumber bread – again to use up the last of the crop!
We struggled once or twice with language difficulties…. cilantro v coriander, biscuits v scones…. it may be English…. but it is different!
One of the evenings Amy and Kurtis cooked up a jambalaya for us which was absolutely delicious! Must try that again!
Would we opt for ‘work-awayers’ again? Yes.
Next time though I think it would be a good idea to have a specific project for completion.
A Year In Redwood 
sounds good but yes, I can see what you mean – I would prefer to have a specific project that everyone could get stuck into and get completed in the time frame