Saturday, September 10, 2011

A wwoofer's paradise

... Or anyone's paradise, really. We have been on the 'farm' in Mallorca now for 4 days, and i still pinch myself every 20 minutes or so to make sure I'm not dreaming. Its the most beautiful place I've ever been, and to be wwoofing here is really kind of ridiculous. Its not a farm but an 8 million euro 'finca' (which technically just means country house) surrounded by 250 acres of mountain and thousands of ancient olive trees, 300 sheep and a bunch of wild goats. Part of the house we are staying in was built by the moors over 700 years ago.
The view

In our courtyard with the farmer's dog. Our apartment is the door up the stairs to the right
We work 5 days a week, for 5 or 6 hours. Its different than other places, because we aren't growing anything for sale. The garden is mainly for the owners or people who rent the property, but there aren't any renters here right now. The farmer, Tolo, is this really bad ass mallorquin who hunts wild goats with a lasso and goes spear fishing, holding his breath for 3 minutes and diving down to spear some fish. Hes also a really funny dude but he gives us pretty lame work. Probably because we would be useless at doing the real work. With all the animals scattered over the 250 acres his dogs are much more useful than us. We spent one day cutting pieces of this strange grass that grows by runners, and then we spent the next day planting all the pieces in another spot. We also weed the garden and pick whatever is still growing there, and the other wwoofer who has been here all summer whipped up some really delicious gaspatcho.

The vegetable garden
The afternoons are much more grueling than the mornings. We have lunch, then lounge by the pool, read, swim, sleep, lounge some more. Intense varsity lounger training. Then we have weekends off, for hiking, going to the beach, going to the market, whatever.

Our afternoons
I really cant believe that we're here, so far from where we started 2 1/2 months ago in Ireland! So much heat and sun. I love it.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Mallorca, Germany

Well, we have come along way from organic farming in Ireland. Pretty much the opposite, at the beach in Palma de Mallorca, which is basically the Spanish Jersey Shore, filled with german and dutch juiceheads. But dont worry, this was just a quick stop and we are off soon for Pedruxella, a remote estate in the mountains where we will be back to farming again, one last time.
In the meantime we have been in Berlin, Brussels, London, Cheshire, London again, and Barcelona! Barcelona is the best city ever. Cool architecture and unique urban planning, great museums, crazy nights. And its legit to nap in the afternoon, and a gorgeous beach is only a short walk away.
Anyway, running out of internet time, but we will be home in 2 weeks so see you soon!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

photo evidence

I had a few minutes to upload some photos, so even though they are not in order, heres some proof of what we've been up to... I dont have any pictures from the farm in holland, they are on sarahs camera, so i will have to add them later.



The Peace Wall in Belfast
Our hosts at Moyleabbey farm in Ireland


Glasgow

Amsterdam

Berlin pub crawl


Brussels

my only photo from the farm in holland, the creepy dharma initiative food

Creamfields crew

Tiesto!
So theres a bit... the computer is really slow for uploading pictures so thats all i have for now. More news later i guess. xoxox