**Applications have closed for 2017 – make sure to check back next year!**
“Want to know what it feels like to wake up every morning with a beautiful sea view and flowery fields of black Welsh cows coming to say good morning to you while you enjoy a nice cuppa? Then putting on a very trendy boiler suit with wellingtons and heading to meet up with the most awesome farmer ever, Gerald Miles? Then after feeding the beautiful and very friendly pigs (and playing with the dogs – because they also require special attention) heading out to the fields or the polytunnels, digging, seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, tasting, laughing, singing, dancing while enjoying the beautiful view? Then after enjoying a nice lunch made from tasty organic veggies grown on the farm, heading back to work for a couple more hours before going out to sing with the Ukulele Pirates? (or according to Gerald’s spontaneity and fun attitude, you might do completely different things to the ones just described (like baking bread, making cheese, visiting other farms, going to farming fairs, selling salad to local restaurants etc. But one thing is for sure: you won’t be bored and YOU WILL HAVE LOADS OF FUN!”
So yes, you guessed it right! All this feels AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL, and you will definitely have the time of your life while learning many things about organic gardening, biodiversity, the risks of GMOs and pesticides and how to be a bad-ass agri-activist!” – Lili Balogh, Agri-Activist in 2016
Fed up with the supermarket stranglehold on our food system? Are you active in the fight against the damaging system of corporate-controlled, pesticide-heavy, GM crops – and do you want to push for an alternative?
If you’re between 18 and 30 and have a commitment to anti-GM activism and sustainable, local organic farming, Friends of the Earth Europe is offering the chance for you to support a local campaign alongside an experienced activist against GM crops in South Wales, and gain practical, hands-on, experience of working on an organic farm over a period of three months during the summer of 2017.
About the farm
Caerhys organic farm is located in South Wales, and is supported entirely by sales to the local community around the St. David’s area. The farm is run by Gerald Miles, a prominent anti-GM activist who runs the farm on local, organic principles. By involving the local community and teaching volunteers about sustainable food alternatives, Gerald has created a community of people sharing and supporting organic food production, in a spirit of friendship and trust. (Check them out on facebook).
About Gerald Miles
The project at Caerhys farm is run by Gerald Miles. Gerald has many years of experience in GM activism, and is one of the founders of GM-Free Cymru, a Wales-wide network dedicated to stamping out GM crops. Caerhy’s Organic Community Agriculture (COCA) is also the first Community Sustainable agriculture (CSA) farm in Wales. Gerald has been and is really active in the food sovereignty movement and he dreams of one day creating a jedi-farmer apprenticeship… but he will tell you more about this face to face!
Helen Holder’s fund
This project is generously supported by a donation left in the will of Helen Holder, a brilliant environmental activist who worked for many years with both Gerald Miles and Friends of the Earth Europe.
What you will be doing
During the three-month stay, your time will be split between helping out around the farm – doing WWOOFing tasks – and campaigning to stamp out GM crops – and products containing them – in the local area.
You will also be working with the Young Friends of the Earth Europe Food and Agriculture Working Group – who are currently working on food sovereignty, and keeping the Working Group posted on your campaigning activities via email and Skype. The working group is part of Young Friends of the Earth Europe, a grassroots network of young people and youth organisations working collectively for social and environmental justice on a local, national and European level. Participants in this project will be able to join the Young FoEE Food & Agriculture working group, to continue involvement in these issues after your time on the farm in Wales.
Some Practical Information
In 2017, 4 young people will be selected for this project, to stay on the farm for three months. Two people will start on 1st May until the end of July, and two more people will take part from 17th July until the 9th October. There is one remaining place for the second period between 17th July and 9th October.
During the project, you will be staying in a static caravan and sharing it with one other participant most of the time, except for 2 weeks in July when the first and second round of the projects will overlap and you will share with 3 other participants.
Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by Friends of the Earth Europe. We will cover basic food costs up to £25 per week per participant, which should be enough to buy the basics, but you’ll have to buy any extras or luxuries yourself.
Applying
Applications have closed for 2017. Make sure to check back next year!