WWOOFing at KEASTS

Keasts is not a farm. It consists of a one acre garden with raised vegetable beds, polytunnel, fruit trees a few chickens a hive of bees and a one acre field close by.

WWOOFer accommodation is within a 400 year old farm worker’s cottage – Keasts consists of two cottages made into one. WWOOFing volunteers have a comfortable bed in their own room and access to a fairly modern bathroom. There is TV etc if wanted in one of the 2 rooms. For any who want it you can stay in a yurt, but you’ve got to put it up and take it down afterwards.

Both Dee and I have to work, although I am almost always at home and on hand. We cannot keep Keasts running without help. That help usually consists of the many routine jobs in the garden. We always try to give WWOOFers choice of job and are keen that people do what interests them. Obviously if there is a specific talent we try to make the most of it. However, some jobs just have to be done and it wouldn’t be fair for WWOOFers to be too fussy!

2011 is going to be a very busy year. Having just purchased the field, we first want to plant trees. This needs to be done early in the year. We have two pigs ordered to arrive in March and are thinking about getting some geese as they eat grass – these both need housing. We also want to remove a hedge of horrible inappropriate trees and replant with natural hedgerow. This will also take some effort (and muscle). We are also still working on a new extension to our cottage. We have completed a food storage room and the rest is well on the way to completion. We’re doing almost all ourselves.

We do eat meat, but feel its right to produce our own where ever possible. Other meat is always sourced locally. However, we also enjoy vegetarian food and are very happy to accommodate vegetarians.

We have quite a lot to offer those who want to try new things. Dee is expert at woodwork, reasonably competent in metalwork ,an enthusiastic learner in metal forging (blacksmithing), and , time permitting there may be oportunities to share in these activities.

Anita is less expert but if you want to learn to make bread, process a chicken for the table or look after our animals and garden she’ll show you. We both cook and most jobs are shared.

We try hard to show WWOOFers the local area, which has some beautiful parts. For example, Dartmoor National Park is across the road from Keasts. We never expect WWOOFers to work too hard but do expect some sharing of household jobs, such as washing up. We’re happy for WWOOFers to cook but we certainly don’t expect it.

Because we are small we prefer to limit people’s stay to one week. We don’t want people to get bored and we do need some time to ourselves. Dee is learning French and happy to help French students learning English but any person from any where is welcome.

We usually collect WWOOFers from Okehampton, which is the closest town – there is a bus there from Exeter. If stuck we have been known to take WWOOFers to their next host.

We don’t smoke and don’t allow smoking in the house. Drinking here is OK, no problem. We like people to be open and speak up about what they want and don’t want and we’ll do the same.

Our home number is 01837 861139

email


Address: Keasts, Southerly, Sourton, West Devon, EX20 4HG, England.