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| Sunset |
I'm really enjoying my time woofing at an organic soon-to-be biodynamic farm in the small island of Loland, south of Copenhagen.
There are two other woofers here - one from Copenhagen, the other from Hungary. If you don't know what woofing is, well, it's this International organisation where you can sign up and arrange to work on an organic farm anywhere in the world for free room and board. This way the farmers get the help they need and the helpers learn about the process of organic farming. It's a brilliant system, and if you are one who would like to travel and interested in organic farming, then woofing is the certainly the way to go. I have many who have gone woofing, and none have described it other than an amazing experience. People coming together on behalf of more responsible farming is a wonderful thing.
The owners of the farm are two wonderful Danes, who are committed to substinence farming and who open their home to people from around the world who are willing to give an helping hand with the farm. This is the perfect arrangement for me- I get to get out of the city, breathe fresh air , meet new people who all are passionate about something that I am passionate about i.e. growing your own food AND I get to learn.
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| the king of the farm |
I'm really experiencing the power of making decisions that are in line with my purpose. It feels good. Ever since I was a young girl in Brooklyn, I was acutely aware that there was grass under all that concrete. And for all the issues that I feel strongly about, nothing is more fundamental than self-determination (in so many forms!) and the necessity of getting my hands in the dirt and feeling a connection to the food that I produce and eat. And what can be more brilliant than learning from others who have had more experience in field?
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| caterpillars thriving |
I've never been to this part of Denmark before. And it is gorgeous. There are two Hungarian pigs that are allowed to roam about and eat what can't be eaten and "work" the soil. There is a lot of emphasis here on the interconnectedness of it all, and nothing excites me more than seeing that put into action.
Food production is big business. Unfortunately, it's not always the best quality of food that ends up in our bodies. Between the stressful toll of everyday living, the plastic wrapped vegetables and the hovering threat of GMOs (if you live in DK you probably get GMOs through your meat - it's allowed to be fed to cows - but if the cows eat it and you eat the cow... and so what? You ask. Well do the research.
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| cucumbers picked by yours truly... |
There is nothing more powerful than growing and picking your own food. And my two hosts are a living testament to that.
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| manifest woman with her hungarian pigs |
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| dinner made by tomatoes via dumpster diving... |
I went with my host today when she went dumpster diving. I heard about it years ago, and like many others, shuddered at the thought of going through garbage to get your next meal. That is privilege. When I went along today and poked my nose into the dumpster, I was surprised by what I saw. Perfect food cast out simply due to a bruise, a "mis"formation or some other cosmetic imperfection that deemed the fruit/vegetable inedible. How could this be? I've always said this and I'm saying it again: poverty is a human-made condition. No one should starve.
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| free food in the garbage while millions starve |
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| jewels fall from heaven |
We drove by this apple tree with its ruby red fruit bejewelling the grass. I grabbed a few in my scarf and will enjoy eating them for the rest of the week.
Be safe & farvel,
the lab
