Spring 2016 - WWOOF Ireland

Newsletter | Spring 2016
Welcome to the Spring Newsletter, 2016
At last some drier weather has arrived so most people will be able to
get out into their gardens and farms in a bit more comfort than for a
while past, but hopefully there’ll still be time to read this newsletter! A
big thank you to all the contributors in both this and earlier newsletters
who have given their precious time to write about and share their
experiences, recipes, ideas and knowledge, and do keep the ideas, articles
and photographs coming, we are always delighted to receive them.
We are excited to announce that WWOOF Ireland and the LLOOF
project will be featured on a Nationwide programme later in the spring.
They would like to base the filming on a WWOOF place where there
is a really interesting project underway - it could be an environmental
building, a new garden, a sustainable energy project, or anything else
that might be happening, and it can be anywhere in Ireland. If you think
you have something that might be of interest, please contact us at the
office to discuss it.
We also have Annie’s Round-Up with news
of the upcoming European Meeting in May,
some useful tips on how to manage scabies,
lots of recipes, a lovely piece written jointly by
four WWOOFers and an article about Green
Burial Grounds.
We hope you enjoy it all!
What’s Inside?
WWOOF Ireland Round-Up
FREE Memberships Offer
WWOOFing at Douce
Mountain Farm
Scabies: What to Do
Lost in Translation
Hosts’ Noticeboard
Recipes for Hungry WWOOFers
Green Burials
The Herb Garden Project
www.wwoof.ie
Catherine Weld, Editor
Newsletter | Spring 2016 WWOOF 1
WWOOF Ireland Round-Up - a busy winter!
Annie King explains what’s been happening at WWOOF Ireland since the last newsletter
Six months have passed since our last newsletter,
bringing to seven the number since the first
WWOOF Ireland online newsletter in 2011!
Even though the days got shorter (and much,
much wetter – WHAT a soggy winter!), they did not
get shorter for WWOOF Ireland. Much has been
happening, especially with work on the LLOOF
free online learning guide project - I hope you have
all seen the information on your Dashboards and
the Notice Board calling for the contributions?
We are also very busy with at least two new Hosts’
applications a week, WWOOF Ireland office staff
visits to Hosts are under way, we have had increased
contact with Immigration, are planning another
Seed Swap Day, and the greatest time consumer at
the moment is organising the European meeting.
Read more below!
Host Visits
Jo Fowler and her husband Geoff made a countrywide round trip of Host visits last year and with
Sally Baker as the newly appointed Regional Rep
for Central County Cork, visits are now starting in
the South West. We are still interested in hearing
from any Hosts who would like to become Regional
Reps – the commitment is very much about creating
a network of like-minded people and providing a
more personalised support system for both Hosts and
WWOOFers.
Changes in Immigration at Dublin Airport
Since last year Immigration Control for Dublin
Airport Terminal 2 has been transferred from
the Gardai to the Department of Justice Border
Management Unit (BMU). During this process
we have had a couple of problems when nonEU WWOOFers have entered this way from a
European country, but have been able to make
contact with the correct Officers in charge and
hopefully there will be no problems that cannot be
sorted out with a telephone call to the office. So if
any Hosts are contacted by Immigration, please tell
them to contact the office; we have now issued an
information sheet about WWOOF Ireland, which
they hold at the BMU and which has the telephone
numbers. Also WWOOFers from outside the EU,
make sure you have all the information that we list
in the ‘HELP’ section on the website, especially the
2 WWOOF Newsletter | Spring 2016
‘Immigration ID’ in hard copy, with you when you
enter, whether it be from your home country or from
another European country. So far there have only
been problems when WWOOFers have not had all
the relevant information, or an exit ticket, which
resulted in one WWOOFer having her initial stay cut
short. Fortunately we were able to rectify this, and
she was allowed to return for a complete stay, with
exit ticket booked!
Simultaneous Seed Swap Day
Last year we hosted two BRING, BUY & BARTER
Simultaneous Seed Swap BBQs in County Donegal
and County Cork which were a great success – Hosts
and WWOOFers from a 20 mile radius in each
venue turned up to swap seeds, seedlings and plants
– and the weather was good to us both north and
south. This year we are extending to include a day
in County Meath at Rock Farm, Slane. The event
will be the Sunday after Easter as it was last year.
However, with the earlier date of the holiday, that
makes it the 3rd April so we hope there will still be
lots of seeds and other produce for people to bring
and barter with. Each BBQ will begin at 2pm –
bring food and drink to share and something to cook
on the BBQ as well as your surplus seedlings!
The venues are:
Co. Meath - Lime House, Rock Farm, Slane,
call: 041 9884861
Co. Cork - Francis and Susy’s place: Ratooragh,
Schull, call: 028 35212
Co. Donegal - Paddy’s Garden, Carrowhugh,
Greencastle, Lifford, call: 074 9381244
For more information contact the Hosts or the
WWOOF office on 027 51254.
Host/WWOOFer Communication
Now the season is starting, please, please everyone
REPLY TO THOSE EMAILS! If you are now
already full, the best thing to do is to amend your
details to say ‘FULL UNTIL SEPTEMBER’ or
something similar at the top of your page. We have
found this is the best way to stop unwanted requests
for WWOOFing, although Rob is working on a
system that will mean Hosts can put up this message
at the click of a button. Work in progress but should
be with you during the next month or so!
Hosting the European Meeting
Planning for the WWOOF European Meeting is well under way, we are expecting delegates from all
over Europe, from Sweden to Spain to Serbia. Also attending will be Sue Coppard, who came to launch
WWOOF Ireland for us four years ago and we are delighted to have her back again. The four days
of meetings for the delegates will include discussions on subjects ranging from WWOOFing refugees to
WWOOF promotion, the ‘rules’ of WWOOFing, organic requirements, standards for accepting Hosts,
and what constitutes ‘traditional’ farming. The venue will be Russagh Mill Hostel, who are WWOOF
Hosts, and there will be an opportunity for WWOOFers and Hosts to meet the foreign delegates at a BBQ
at the WWOOF Ireland Offices on Saturday 21st May; it will be the start of the BBQ season here, and
anyone who wants to come should bring something to eat and drink to share, and something to cook on the
BBQ. More information will be on your Dashboards and the Noticeboard nearer the time.
Living and Learning on Organic Farms - LLOOF Learning Guide
Calling Hosts & WWOOFers
Free Memberships OFFER!
As you probably know by now, WWOOF Ireland
is one of ten European partners involved in
developing and promoting an online Learning
Guide - Living and Learning on Organic Farms
(LLOOF) - as an open educational resource for
adult learners about organic food production,
entrepreneurship, volunteering and cultural
exchange on farm enterprises.
We need 1- 3 minute video tutorials on a range of
subjects for the Learning Guide, and are particularly
focusing on Soil and Compost as this will be the
subject presented at the press launch on the 23rd May.
!
LOOF
WITH L
M
L
I
F
A
MAKE
WWOOF Ireland is offering free memberships to the
makers of the first two films on Soil and Compost that
are moderated and accepted by LLOOF before the end of
April. This means one Host membership and one WWOOFer
membership for each Host/WWOOFer team making a film
that is accepted!
See the LLOOF YouTube Channel at http://lloof.eu for some examples
Visit http://edvorg.weebly.com/get-involved.html for useful downloads
or email: [email protected] or call 085 8308918 for more information.
Newsletter | Spring 2016 WWOOF 3
The true spirit of WWOOFing comes to Douce Mountain Farm
Four WWOOFers from four different countries tell their tales
Tobi
Anita
Jeremy
Ally
Guten Tag, I’m the Old Tobi, I come from
Germany and I arrived in Ireland in September.
Because of my background (I’m studying to become
a teacher for vocational schools) I like to work with
other people, doing my best to help, and the farmers
are happy to work with me because I’m very strong
and I can carry a lot of compost. WWOOF is a
good opportunity to do something different from my
routine and to meet new people, cows and sheep.
I’m not afraid of hard work because I’m a very
strong man. I don’t think I’ll bring my new farming
knowledge in my everyday life; in my future I’m not
planning to have animals or a garden, I’m a city
person! But I’m here, and that means that WWOOF
isn’t an experience only for future farmers. :) I chose
Ireland because I want to improve my English every
day more; I’m also interested in Irish culture and
Smithwicks beer.
Bonjour! I am Jeremy from France. I’m 29
years old and thus, the grandfather of the group.
Back in France, I have a degree in chemistry, but
I have recently decided to take a break and go to
Ireland for a few months in order to improve my
English, which is quite important for me as I have
to be able to understand English very well in my
job. That’s why I think that WWOOFing is an
amazing opportunity to improve my English as well
as trying something entirely different. As I have
a very scientific mind, my very first WWOOFing
experience already taught me a lot of new things
that I did not know about before. Talking in
English also gets easier every day and due to the
daily practice I constantly learn new words and
understand almost everything that people say. Farm
work is sometimes very (h)ard, but as a French man I
luckily possess superhuman strength and endurance.
Ciao! My name is Anita, and I am from Vicenza,
Italy. I have been WWOOFing in Ireland for the
last five months, and so far Douce Mountain farm
is my favourite! I love to be surrounded by beautiful
landscapes and learning about how to grow healthy
organic food. In my culture food is a very important
part of our lives. So that is why it is so important for
me to learn about where my food comes from. I also
love to have a relationship with the farm animals,
they are such sweeties! Overall my experience here
has been super duper incredible, and I feel blessed to
be here. Also, learning about meditation and finding
my inner peace is definitely a plus:)
Hi, I am Ally, an American girl from North
Carolina and I am 20 years old. I have come to
Ireland via the WWOOFing program in order to
experience a new culture at a personal level in order
to break the routine that I live in my country. This
experience really changed my way of perceiving
the world. I have had the opportunity to practice
meditation here which has allowed me to relax
every night. I like to get to know new people and
I like to laugh with them. I really like drawing
abstract art and portraits and I like to take care of
animals. I would like to continue this experience in
other countries after my stay in Ireland, in order to
broaden my view of the world.
4 WWOOF Newsletter | Spring 2016
The four of us arrived at Douce Mountain Farm at
the beginning of January, which seems to be a pretty
unusual time to start a WWOOFing placement.
Thankfully, our farm is located in the very southwest
of Ireland, near Bantry in Co. Cork. Even during
winter time the weather is incredibly mild over here
so it is perfectly fine to do outside work.
Gerd, who runs the farm together with his wife,
Renate, picked us up in Bantry and after another
20 minute drive we arrived at the farm. The first
pleasant surprise was waiting for us in the form
of truly amazing accommodation. Not an ancient
caravan or a cold shed, but a luxurious guesthouse;
separate rooms, two bathrooms and comfortable
beds, almost too good to be true!
Douce Mountain Farm is a small farm located in
the beautiful rural landscape of Ireland. Gerd and
Renate are originally from Germany but have been
living in Ireland for more than twenty years.
In addition to their farm, they also run a guest house
and regularly host meditation retreats and various
events throughout the year. As a result, the summer
is very busy at Douce Mountain Farm as it has built
up quite a reputation, with local as well as German
guests. The farm itself consists of two polytunnels
and other beds for growing vegetables and herbs,
most of them served as food for the guests during
the season. Also some animals call Douce Mountain
Farm their home: eight cows, four sheep, 15
chickens, two ducks, three cats and a fantastic dog.
Our constellation of WWOOFers was promising.
Two female, two male, between 20 and 29 years old
and from four different countries (North Carolina,
Italy, France and Germany), we were a well balanced
team from the very beginning and although we all
had a different mother tongue and different levels of
English, communication was never an issue. Some
of us already had a lot of WWOOFing experience,
some had less or even none, but in the end, it did not
matter at all.
Naturally, there was a lot to be done during
our stay. Our workday usually started at nine. We
had breakfast at the guesthouse and then walked
down to the farm, where various tasks were already
waiting for us. Our work was never repetitive, almost
everyday we worked on interesting projects, like
erecting a new compost heap, mucking out stables,
weeding the polytunnel, washing the polytunnel,
feeding the animals, harvesting vegetables and
sowing new ones (with the friendly assistance of
very helpful cats). Some days we also stayed at the
guesthouse in order to get it back in shape for the
guests. There we cleaned up the yard, spread new
gravel, painted various rooms and polished used
furniture to new glory.
All in all, there was a great variety of tasks that
were sometimes challenging, but never too hard
or beyond our capabilities. Every day we worked
from nine to one, then we all had lunch together
at the farm (Gerd and Renate are both excellent
cooks!). After a relaxed chat with tea and biscuits,
we started working again at two until around four.
In the evening we joined in the regular meditation.
The weekends were free, so we went on hiking trips
or to Bantry, where you can easily spend a day off
sightseeing and a relaxed evening in the pub or
simply buy your much needed dose of tobacco.
All in all, it is safe to say that we all enjoyed our
time WWOOFing at an outstanding farm with
the nicest Hosts you can imagine. (We were even
motivated enough to write this article in our precious
free time!)
Newsletter | Spring 2016 WWOOF 5
Scabies: what to look for and what to do
Susy Greaves, herbalist, offers some advice after reports of outbreaks of mites
There have been a small number of outbreaks
of scabies reported and where WWOOFers are
travelling between Hosts, mites can quickly spread.
However, prompt and appropriate action should stop
any problem in its tracks.
Scabies is a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei). It burrows
into the skin and lays eggs, causing intense itching
and rash. It can take four to six weeks for the skin to
react to the presence of the mite the first time you
have it. It manifests as red pimples, soreness, and
itching, there can also be blisters and sometimes you
can see little track lines of irritation where the female
mite is burrowing to lay eggs.
Something which will point to scabies as the cause
is if the itching is more intense once you go to bed,
because the heat of a body cosy in bed will activate
the mites.
In the early stages it can look like mosquito/flea
bites or acne. The mites can live anywhere on the
body, but most often will be found:
• Between the fingers
• The folds of the wrist, elbow, or knee
• Around the waistline and navel
• On the breasts or genitals
• The head, neck, face, palms, and soles in very
young children
The mites are very tiny, 0.5mm long, so difficult
to see, a really small black dot. Each mite lives for
about three days. Only about 15 or so live on the
body at any one time. The doctor may take a skin
scraping to confirm their presence by identifying
them under a microscope.
Spread is through bodily contact, but it is highly
unlikely to happen during normal daily contact such
as hand shaking or sharing a house. It is more likely
if you are sharing a bed, or having prolonged bodily
contact, cuddling up together a lot. It can sometimes
spread through sharing towels etc, but this is not
6 WWOOF Newsletter | Spring 2016
common. The mite cannot jump or fly, and crawls
very slowly, so needs bodies to be in contact for long
enough to crawl from one to the other.
Animals also have scabies when it’s more
commonly known as mange. It is NOT transferable
between species, so you cannot catch it from your
dog, or give it to him. If the mite does transfer
between you, it will find its new host unacceptable
and will not breed, so will die off. Similarly if your
dog has mange, it will not transfer to your rabbit, or
other species!
Treatments
The form of treatment is to kill the mite. From the
doctor or pharmacist you can buy an ointment
which will need to be applied all over your body, be
left on overnight and then showered off, repeating
two weeks later.
Hydrocortisone cream will help ease the
itching, which may go on for a few weeks after the
application.
Natural treatments can be used to kill the mites:
• Neem Oil
• Aloe Vera
• Rosemary, fresh or dried is also a good remedy.
Put a hand-full of leaves in about 250ml of hot
water. Brew for about 15 minutes, with a lid on the
container. Use as a wash three times a day for at least
seven days, or for as long as symptoms persist.
Essential Oils are very useful, applied directly
onto affected skin by dabbing with cotton wool.
• Tea-Tree Essential Oil. Apply neat
• Lavender Essential Oil: Mix 50/50 with alcohol
(vodka does the job!) and make sure it has soaked in.
Whichever treatment you opt for, to prevent
re-infestation, all bedding and clothes that may
be affected will need to be washed on a hot wash,
and tumble dried if possible. Alternatively, or for
anything that cannot be washed, it can be sealed into
a plastic bag and left for seven days which should
break the cycle of reproduction and kill the mite.
Diet Support: Eat plenty of garlic and onions
which are both anti-parasitic and keep your immune
system strong which always helps to protect against
invaders of any sort!
WWOOFers lost in translation
Ivan Ward’s gentle tales of teaching English
Here at Fortagusta, we have farmed organically for
the past 28 years and have had students almost from
the beginning. Most have been pleasant, interesting
and enjoyable and left us so many happy memories.
However, I’m reminded of a friend in Dublin who
used to keep foreign students. The day before two of
the students were to return to their home country,
she discovered that some of her ornaments from the
mantelpiece were missing. My friend wondered what
to do so she sent the two students to the local shop
to purchase some groceries. She then went to their
bedrooms and discovered that her ornaments were
wrapped in gift wrapping ready to be taken home.
She carefully removed the ornaments and replaced
them with lumps of coal. She never mentioned this
to them and they departed the following day, but it
would have been interesting to be a ‘fly on the wall’
as Granny or whoever opened the present from
Ireland!
Here on the farm we have had lots of fun with
teaching English. I think of Fede from Italy, he was
quite musical and learned so much of his English
from English songs. One doesn’t realise how stupid
and senseless so many songs are, until one tries to
explain the meaning, they may rhyme very well but
otherwise can be so very obscure.
We had Reme and Demetri here from France, I
have such happy memories of them being with us,
they had limited English and spoke quite loudly.
They came here by car and each weekend would go
visit a different Irish city. One weekend they went
to Kilkenny and on their return they explained to
me that they were walking along a street talking
about life here on the farm and about our Labrador,
‘Buttons’ who sat in front of the Aga all the time and
the fact that I was always saying “Move, dog, move”.
A young lady happened to be walking in front of
them in Kilkenny and unfortunately she thought
they were talking to her!!
It must be five years ago that Mickey came to
us from Germany, he continued on to Agricultural
College in Ireland and worked in various places
around the country. Sometimes he would leave his
car here over the winter while he went travelling
around the world. When he was here he would
sometimes go to the local pub. This he enjoyed doing
and all went very well.
HOST’S NOTICEBOARD
RTE Nationwide - we are
looking for a really
interesting project happen
ing at a WWOOF
Host’s place, that can be
used as the basis of a
Nationwide programme fea
ture. The programme
will also explain about the
LLOOF project, and
is an opportunity to promo
te both WWOOF and
LLOOF and the great work
that everyone is doing.
Please let the office know if
you think you may have
something suitable happen
ing later in the spring!
Hosts please ensure that
WWOOFers do not use
chainsaws unless they hav
e written proof of an
appropriate qualification,
and protective clothing.
This is for their safety, and
protection, and because
the WWOOF insurance
will not cover them
otherwise.
Don’t forget to take you
r surplus seeds along
to one of the Simultane
ous Seed Swap Days
on 3rd April, details in
Annie’s Round-Up on
Page 2. Or if there isn’t one
happening in your area,
why not get in touch with the
office about arranging
one for next year!
But on one occasion when he said to me that he
was going to the pub that evening, I am sure he
expected me to say, as I normally would “I hope you
have a pleasant evening” but I replied something
to the effect, that “I’m afraid you’re not”. This he
thought particularly strange as by this stage we were
good friends. I soon clarified with him that it was
Good Friday, one of only two days in Ireland that
the pubs are not open!!
Recently, as dinner was ready for serving, one
of the visitors sat down and declared he was very
angry. This puzzled me as I didn’t believe there was
anything to make him angry, he didn’t even sound
very angry. It was soon understood that he got his
words mixed up and he meant hungry!!
I remember driving with a French guy towards
Wexford, and as we travelled over the Forth
Mountain, I pointed out Rosslare in the distance
and said to him that it was from there that the ships
travelled to France and to Wales. His English was
not very good as he replied that he thought that
Whale fishing was no longer allowed in Ireland!
I enjoy helping all our visitors with their English,
and recalling these and many other amusing
misunderstandings!
Newsletter | Spring 2016 WWOOF 7
Seasonal recipes for hungry WWOOFers
Tracy Ingelbach helps us get ready for summer gluts with these great recipes
Courgette Recipes
You may be planting courgettes at the moment and once they get underway it’s a mad race to cut and use
them before they become monsters. Here are a few simple recipes that will feed your hungry WWOOFers.
Courgette pancakes
I love these for lunch served with a little homemade
tomato relish or chutney. They also make a great
breakfast served with some rashers.
250mls milk
1 egg
150grms flour
1 grated courgette
Pinch chilli flakes
Some chopped chives, chive flowers (or any herb
you have)
Marigold petals if you have them
Salt and pepper as you like
Splash of oil
1. Whisk together the milk, egg and flour to
make a batter.
2. Add the other ingredients and stir together.
3. Heat some oil in a pan.
4. Pour a ladleful of batter into the pan, you
want it slightly thick like a breakfast pancake
not thin like a crepe.
5. Cook until the top is set.
6. Turnover and cook the second side.
Courgette and coconut soup
1 cup chopped onion (approx. 1 large onion)
3 cups chopped courgette (approx. 2 courgettes)
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
Pinch chilli powder or chilli flakes
3 cups vegetable stock
Tin coconut milk
Splash of olive oil
Salt and pepper as you like
1. Heat the oil in a pot, add the chopped onion
and sweat gently.
2. Add the ginger and chilli and stir through.
3. Add the courgette, stock and coconut milk.
4. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 15
minutes.
5. Blend together and check seasoning.
If you want to freeze this soup do not add the coconut
milk before freezing.
Courgette Provençal
This is a great vegetable dish to freeze. I make lots
when courgette and tomato seasons collide to feed us
through the winter.
1 medium chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
Squirt tomato paste
1 chopped pepper
2 medium chopped courgettes
1 tin tomatoes or equivalent fresh chopped
tomatoes if they are tasty
Fresh Italian herbs such as basil, oregano or
marjoram
• Put some oil into a pot and sweat the onion
and garlic until soft.
• Add the remaining ingredients and bring to
the boil.
• Simmer for about 10 minutes.
8 WWOOF Newsletter | Spring 2016
Vegetable soup and brown bread
We have soup and bread for lunch at least three times a week. Vegetable
soup is easy to make, tasty, nutritious and very cost effective especially
if you use your own garden produce. You can use leftover cooked
vegetables or frozen ones if you wish, great for the freezer clear out when
you need to make room for the new summer harvest.
Basic vegetable soup recipe
Brown bread
Vegetable soup has one simple recipe that you can
change depending on what ingredients you have.
Traditional Irish bread is made with buttermilk and
bicarbonate of soda (bread soda). The soda reacts
with the acid in the buttermilk and this causes the
bread to rise. This recipe uses regular milk and baking
powder as soda has a strange reaction with treacle.
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped potato
3 cups vegetables
5 cups stock or water
1. Heat some oil or butter in a pot and add the
chopped onion and sweat.
2. Add the chopped vegetables and continue
sweating.
3. If you want to add any spices, herbs or other
flavourings put them in the pot now.
4. Add the potatoes and cold stock.
5. Bring to the boil and simmer until the
vegetables are soft.
6. Check the seasoning and puree.
Variations on the theme...
Leek and potato soup
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups chopped potato
2 cups chopped leek
5 cups stock
Vichyssoise is chilled leek and potato soup with
cream added
Carrot and parsnip soup
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped potato
1 cup chopped parsnip
2 cups chopped carrot
5 cups stock
225g plain flour
225g wholemeal flour
A handful of wheatgerm
A handful of bran
2 heaped teaspoons baking powder
1 level teaspoon salt
1 dessertspoon treacle or golden syrup
About 600ml milk
1. Heat the oven to 180°C.
2. This mix will fill a 1kg loaf tin or two 500g
loaf tins.
3. Grease the tin well with butter and then
sprinkle well with flour.
4. Put the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl
and stir together.
5. Add the treacle or golden syrup and enough
milk to make a sloppy mixture.
6. Pour into the tin and put into the oven 180°C
for 20 minutes to rise.
7. Lower temperature to 160°C and bake for
another 40 minutes (or 25 for two small
loaves).
8. Tip out of the tin, if it is cooked it will sound
hollow when tapped.
9. Leave to cool before cutting or it will just
crumble.
Sweet potato and butternut
squash soup
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups chopped sweet potato
2 cups butternut squash
5 cups stock
Newsletter | Spring 2016 WWOOF 9
Green Burials: creating life after death
Catherine Weld has been finding out more about the many benefits of green burials
The focus on sustainable living and the environment
shared by WWOOF Hosts may lead some to
consider making plans for their own or close family
members’ funerals, that are an alternative to the
traditional church event.
Green burial isn’t a new idea; it is a concept that
goes back many, many years and the planting of a
memorial tree as a tribute to the life of someone
who has died is an act as old as civilization itself, the
benefits of which have long been recognised. Green
burial is a simple and natural process that allows
a body to return to the earth. It is biodegradable
and by becoming part of the eco-system can help
to nourish the earth and give something back to
the planet. Green burial grounds function not only
as cemeteries for families to visit and enjoy the
tranquility and peace, but also as habitats for plants
and animals. Also, arranging a green burial offers a
chance to talk about and befriend the idea of death,
and to think about it in a positive way.
Although my father was a practicing Christian,
his last few years had been unsettled so he didn’t feel
especially part of his local church. When he died
we were a little bit surprised to read in his will that
he wanted a natural burial, but as it turned out, it
was a very good choice. He was living in the UK
where there are a number of natural burial grounds
Funeral at Higher Meadow Burial Ground
10 WWOOF Newsletter | Spring 2016
and there happened to be one at Higher Meadow
Ground, in West Dorset, on sheep-grazed download,
with far-reaching views over the countryside he had
loved. As this was after his death, the family chose a
spot, but many people book theirs well in advance.
There was a beautiful but simple building for the
ceremony and we employed local undertakers,
just like any other funeral. They brought him in
his willow coffin, which was placed on a bier, and
after the ceremony it was wheeled to the grave for
interment. A few months later, when the ground had
settled, we chose a native sapling (no non-indigenous
species are allowed), and a simple plaque. The tree
is now growing well and it is a moving experience to
visit this beautiful spot.
Additional benefits of green burials include
the opportunity for farm diversification, and for
communities to come together to find ways to make
them happen. This is currently the situation in West
Cork where a group of like-minded people are well
on the way to making this dream a reality. There
is a feeling amongst them that there should be an
alternative to ‘traditional’ burial or cremation for
Woodland Burial Poem
By Pam Ayres
Don’t lay me in some gloomy churchyard shaded by a wall
Where the dust of ancient bones has spread a dryness over all,
Lay me in some leafy loam where, sheltered from the cold
Little seeds investigate and tender leaves unfold.
There kindly and affectionately, plant a native tree
To grow resplendent before God and hold some part of me.
The roots will not disturb me as they wend their peaceful way
To build the fine and bountiful, from closure and decay.
To seek their small requirements so that when their work is done
I’ll be tall and standing strongly in the beauty of the sun.
ISSUES
CREMATION
TRADITIONAL BURIAL
NATURAL BURIAL
Energy
Consumption
High - each cremation uses a large
amount of gas and electricity.
Decomposition = zero
Shallower, more aerobic
decomposition = zero
Contribution
to global
warming
High - crematoria are not run at peak
efficiency; waste heat is not captured
and reused; the aggregate CO2
emissions are considerable.
Moderate - due to intensive land
management, imported memorials
and the waste that goes to landfill.
Zero - possibly less than zero if
trees are planted.
Pollution
Cremations are a significant source
of mercury, dioxins and furans persistent organic pollutants.
Formaldehyde-based embalming
chemicals can pollute groundwater.
Buried plastics and metals do not
biodegrade. MDF & chipboard
coffins introduce formaldehyde.
Only natural, biodegradable
materials enter the ground. No
embalmed remains are buried.
Mercury in fillings remains intact
and inert.
Land usage
Crematoria gardens of remembrance
are extensive, high maintenance,
wildlife deserts, which generate large
amounts of waste.
There is not enough space on the
planet for traditional cemeteries
to accommodate everyone with a
headstone.
Dual land use means land can be
used for burials whilst continuing
to be productive pasture, woodland or wildlife habitat.
Flowers
Encourages the purchase of environmentally damaging imported or hot-house Locally grown flowers only, native
cut flowers, plastic trays, oasis, wire and cellophane, which are thrown away by seasonal bulbs and wildflower
the skip-load each week.
seeds encouraged. No plastic
trays, oasis, wire or cellophane are
allowed. Trees can be an option.
Memorials
Imported headstones travel across the globe from gigantic, environmentally
catastrophic quarries.
Other
Ashes scattered on iconic mountain
environmental tops change the soil characteristics
impacts
and the native flora dies.
Myths
“Saves the land for the living” - No,
cremation contributes to global
warming and uses finite resources,
damaging the earth for future
generations.
Memorials are typically wooden
or local stone from sustainable
sources and have minimal impact
on the landscape.
Cemetery maintenance is energy
intensive and mechanised, uses toxic
weed-killers and creates wildlife
deserts. Vases are insect death traps.
Creates new habitats for
wildlife, encourages biodiversity,
preserves landscape, has minimal
environmental impact as a goal.
“Families regularly visit the grave” - in
reality, after 10 years, most do not,
but the gravestone continues to take
up space and remains a maintenance
burden.
“Methane from burials causes
global warming” - No, any
methane naturally biodegrades
in the soil before reaching the
surface.
those with a different ethos and Tim Rowe, a prime
mover within the group, believes the time is right
and that they are pushing on an open door. However
he explains that there are a number of issues to be
considered:
• Finding a suitable site for lease or sale. This
needs to have sufficient soil depth (not an easy
thing to find in rocky West Cork) and have
potential space for parking, as well as the right
‘feel’ - somewhere where people will want to to
be buried and families to visit.
• Once a potential site has been found, it will be
necessary to obtain planning permission, for
which a lot of environmental issues will need to
be considered, including its proximity to rivers.
• Local support is vital, and not only for financial
reasons. Tim is undertaking a series of ‘roadshows’, explaining through talks and slide-shows
why and how a natural burial ground is a good
option, answering questions and allaying fears.
• Financial support is vital, and ideally could come
partly from deposits and advance payments for
plots, thereby ensuring local commitment.
• Getting people on board with relevant skills, such
as willow coffin makers, a horse drawn hearse,
and celebrants who can offer alternative forms
of service, will help to create a strong team.
Tim is motivated by a passionate conviction that
creating a green burial site is important for both
the community and the environment. As he says,
“Being involved in a funeral is a privilege that reminds us
how wonderful it is to be alive, and that death can come at
any time”.
For more information about the West Cork project
please contact Tim Rowe at [email protected]
or visit the only currently existing Green Burial Site in
the south of Ireland which is in Co. Wexford, at:
www.greengraveyard.com
Newsletter | Spring 2016 WWOOF 11
The Herb Garden Project
Medical Herbalist Jacqueline Kilbryde and her WWOOFers extend her herb garden
I have only been a WWOOF Host for about a year
but last April 2015 two excellent young people, Leo
and Marianne, came to stay here for two weeks to
help me with a medicinal plants and wild flower
project at Cooragurteen, Ballydehob, Co. Cork.
They were extremely friendly and hard working,
helping me create a Mediterranean garden from
a patch that was just rock and scrub grass. They
hacked away at the grass and revealed pockets
of earth amid the rock face. Then we planted
Wormwood, Southernwood, Mugwort, Rosemary,
Lemon Balm, Hyssop, Thyme, Sage, Chamomile
and Lavender. These are all southern European
herbs found in the Mediterranean region.
It looked very nice after completion and the herbs
survived our very wet summer thereafter. I am
waiting to see the growth and survival of the garden
this coming spring and summer.
They also created an area where we sowed wild
flower seeds such as Marigold, Purple Loosestrife,
Tansy, Corn Flowers, Poppies, Corn Marigolds and
Sweet Peas and re-gravelled parts of an already
existing herb garden. The photo with my dog Jess
shows the long view to the Med Garden. It was
a very enjoyable stay for all of us and luckily the
weather stayed appropriately warm!
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