Violet: Northern California is the land I call home, but Palestine is the land I know to be my mother. My benevolent fellaheen (peasant farmer) ancestors are my inspiration. Caring for The Land as She cares for us is the vision. They offer an invitation to discover what is enough for human-kind and to not get lost in greed and fortune. I practice minimalism of physical objects while prioritizing my basic needs of clean food, clean water, and a clean and safe shelter. Living in tune with the universe is the goal with minimal waste: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle. Farming is inextricably tied with The Land. Land can not be truly “bought nor sold,” as it is a gift that requires the engagement of reciprocity. Feeding myself, feeding the soil, and feeding others would be an honor.
Erin Renée: Erin Renée has been a member of WWOOF since 2016, since then she has farmed in France and the USA. She completed the Earthdance Organic Farm School Market Farmer Program in Ferguson, Missouri in 2020. She worked as a farmer assistant and somatic healer at Rustic Roots Sanctuary in Spanish Lake in Fall 2022-Spring 2023. She grows heirloom greens for Slow Food the the Negroni grant which connects small, underrepresented farmers to restuarant chefs. She is currently working to acquire her own land to steward an artist residency homestead where community and artists can have access to healing, arts and homegrown food and medicinal plants. She is a somatic therapist and artist collaborator with a background in performance art making, dance and theater.
Keyondra: My name is Keyondra. I am 28 years, born and raised from the beautiful city of Atlanta, Georgia. I have always had a love for the outdoors, animals and basking in the beauty of nature. It was always a great coping skill to help me through hard times through childhood and later on as an adult. Something about the sights, smells, and sounds gave me freedom, and relief. Plants and animals were very therapeutic. My faith in existence always was nurtured in nature. I had a dream of having a farm one day, but due to limited information about how to achieve such a thing, I wandered if it could ever come to pass. Thanks to discovering WWOOFUSA.org one fateful day, I discovered I can learn what it’s like to live and work on a farm and get the chance to discover what it’s really like. I’m thankful for WWOOF giving me a chance to discover dreams can come true.
Craig: Craig, 27 from Ohio, living in Boston MA. I’m passionate about participating in the farming sphere and regenerative agriculture. I’m Looking to gain more experience so that my partner and I can start our own farm/ agricultural practice. I’m really looking to expand my knowledge. Lived and worked on farms prior but for limited time in those experiences.
Owen: A certified jack of all trades and master of some, Owen enjoys most the art of working with his hands. Building and creating from ideas and thoughts that transform the physical world and matter, to impact the communities he finds himself in. This is only the beginning of what he brings to the spaces he touches. He carries an heir of peace, calm, and wisdom, that does not limit its reach to anyone who may find themselves within proximity. Always willing to give and share with a love for making people feel seen, heard, and felt. Owen is a joy to be around and exist with in so many ways, that even the plants respond in kind to his presence.
Emily: Hello! My name is Emily and I am an urban gardener from NYC. I studied Dietetics & Nutrition in undergrad, but my introduction to vegetable gardening and the power of medicinal plants was what helped me to solidify my long-term goal of developing a farm and community learning garden. Having the opportunity to live and learn on a farm has been my dream for over 10 years, and I am so glad that my journey has finally led me to do just that! I am grateful and excited to experience all that WWOOFing has to offer!
Whit: Whit is passionate about sustainable agriculture and believes that healthy soils are essential for healthy communities. Whit grew up in Texas and studied history and urban planning before finding his passion for agriculture. Whit served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo, where he taught agriculture classes to middle school students and collaborated with farmers to implement soil care practices like agroforestry, cover cropping, and composting. He has spent time on farms in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States as well as in India. Whit currently lives in Ithaca, New York, where he studies soil science and volunteers as a Master Composter. In his free time he enjoys biking, writing poetry, and taking pictures of mosses and lichens.
Kevin: My name is Kevin. I am a seventh-generation farmer from the Catskill Mountain region of New York State. I have been involved with farming in many aspects since I was very young, and as I got older, I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Forestry at SUNY-ESF. Now, I manage cattle, pigs, and laying hens year-round, and seasonally produce maple syrup and apple cider. I love all aspects of farming and try to immerse myself in as many opportunities as possible. In the future, I look forward to expanding into dairy and large-scale gardening operations. My goal is to create a well-rounded, sustainable farm that can provide the community with a variety of healthy and organic farm products.
Ariel: Ariel is the Director of Operations for an Agro-Tourism company located on the small Caribbean Island of Grenada. She was born in the United States but spent the majority of her life on the Island. In 2012 she moved back to the states and has been going back and forth for the past 12 years. She dreams of educating her community in Grenada about the importance of sustainable living, which includes eating real food and practicing sustainable farming practices to ensure healthy, quality food security practices. The long term goal for her farm is to be able to teach the members of her community how to grow their own food and prepare healthy and delicious meals.
