A Permi's Progress: Miriam the WWOOFer.

During October things around here became rather hectic. It all began with my mum visiting for 4 days and then on the day she was to leave, I had a WWOOFer arriving just a few hours later. After picking Miriam up off the bus in Rushworth, we did a couple of quick egg deliveries and then came back to the house where we then had to repack in order to travel to Ballarat on the following morning. I had been booked to run a workshop down there on Integrating Chickens in a Permaculture System. An early start, long drive, then the workshop. We stayed with my dear friends Pat and Ian overnight and on the Sunday morning, we arose and began killing and dressing two ducks and a rooster. Miriam was totally new to this and so I offered her the chance to take part, but did explain that she could opt out if this was something she would rather not tackle. What a goer she is, the duck she plucked came out as clean as any a professional could have done.. Go Girl. After the long drive home on the Sunday afternoon, rest was not quite in our grasp. We had to unload and then reload the car in readiness for the trip to Elmore on the Monday morning to set up the WWOOF stand. The Elmore Field Days is an annual event where I promote WWOOF Australia, something I am most passionate about and feel that by promoting it, I am giving a little back for the tremendous amount I gain from being a host. The first two days saw us talking to and sharing information with a large number of folk, chatting with other hosts and people who are on the WWOOFing trail. Then on the Thursday we found ourselves with very high temperatures, dry and dusty roads out front of our site and a slower crowd meandering through. I must say, home looked so good that night and we both felt totally exhausted by days end. A good rest overnight saw us both ready to take on the work around the property here. The biggest thing happening right now is mulching and our first area of interest is at the head of the chookpens. We got all the paper and mulch down and then got busy relocating the strawberry bed to that zone. Leaving it's old place bare and ready for the big sandpad to be built. The sandpad is needed for the hothouse and water tank to go on. They both need a good level piece of ground and with my place being on such a slope a sandpad is vital. In the evenings Miriam and I share many a good chat and lots of laughter over our widely varied meals. Talking about such a wide range of topics that we never seem to run out of a good conversation. A magnificent young lady I am blessed to have met. Wherever Miriam goes from here I am sure her journey will be a good one.