VOLUNTEERING
Over forty volunteers, WWOOFERS (Willing Workers On Organic
Farms)and, not forgetting, our regular staff have contributed
to the success of the farm.
We always welcome new volunteers, below are quotes from those
who have worked at the farm. We hope that they will give you
a feel for the place and the work involved:
"I originally contacted Leigh Court looking for paid work -
none was available at the time - though after having visited
the farm and being so impressed by its beauty and energy, and
resolving what a perfect learning opportunity working here
would be, I decided to volunteer anyway.
Working here makes me feel proud of the fact that the work I
do is something I believe in strongly. I love harvesting and
eating vegetables which in some way I have had a hand in
growing."
Kati.
"My original intention of working one day a week at Leigh
Court was to get an appreciation of the effort to grow
chemical free produce. I was completely unaware of the
kaleidoscope of people I would meet - what a wonderful and
broadening experience it has proved to be.
I’ve...enjoyed selling the town’s produce at a
farmer’s market stall in Bristol. This is the ideal
opportunity for the public to engage with the growers of
their food."
Alan
"Having given up a job as an Insurance Assessor, travelling
350 miles per day on average, the opportunity to work in an
organic garden was just the type of work I needed to regain
my perspective on life.
The six weeks went very quickly, I learned a great deal, lost
a stone in weight, changed my outlook on agricultural policy
and revised the amount of work I thought it took to put food
on people’s plates! I have also made lasting
friendships with excellent people."
Mark
"I have always been interested in gardening and am now doing
gardening at Leigh Court farm.
I work....8.30am-4.30pm...Monday to Thursday and on Fridays I
go to college, as I have to write down all that I have done
during the four days at....the farm.
My job is weeding, digging, planting, cutting down trees
which are dead."
Wayne
"My aim is to get the best experience and knowledge as
possible so that, one day, I’ll be able to go back to
Portugal and start my own business in my farm."
Miguel
"It is perfect balance for me with being a teacher. Children
and vegetables - what a difference! Vegetables stay in their
places - they are quiet and peaceful. At the end of a day at
Leigh Court Garden I feel weary but satisfied, centred and
calm. I see the fruits of my labours - the weeded bed - the
sewn seeds - the harvested beans."
Melanie
"I didn’t find out about the work - it found out about
me. Succumbed to the lure of the site, the project and the
prospect of using learned skills in a charitable, sustainable
way - too much to resist."
Tim
"A particular challenge for me was learning to use the
tractor and machinery to manage the soil in the walled garden
and paddock. During the spring and summer I erected new
growing beds from grass leys and worked the fallow areas to
try and reduce weed stocks.
Through the work I learnt about the technical side of
machinery use and more interestingly observed how the soils
and plants at Leigh Court react to different pieces of
tractor kit in different conditions."
Mathew