I woke a little late, but then the clocks had gone forward. I didn’t need to set off for Pandy Farm until at least 11am, so took my time to pack up, make breakfast and get ready.
Today I was to start my scheduled volunteering at Pandy Farm, a sustainable farm in Tregarth, North Wales. It will include farm work such as clearing old crop, prepping ground for new crops to be planted and general farm tasks. I wasn’t 100% on what to expect, and what the people would be like, but was very excited to be taking on a purposeful task. I had heard about this opportunity from my friend Michelle, who is in the process of setting up her own sustainable land with trees and crops, with a long term view to have a market kitchen, livestock, and performance area for events. It was very wet and windy this morning, so on reaching the farm we all collected in the big communal area and chatted over a cup of tea instead of having the farm tour. There are currently 3 other volunteers, a couple called Paul and Lina, who have been living in their van since last May. And Aga, who lives up in Manchester, but gave up work a year ago to have time for her, and hoped she’s have figured out what she wanted to do by now. She also came in a van. Elen lives here and runs the place, with her Dad, Allen. There are also other people who work here, either for a couple of days a week, or who live on site and work for keep.
After a fab lunch of jacket potato, salad (made up of random leaves from anything in the poly tunnel) and a celeriac slaw, I settled into my dwellings. I am in Badger place, a beautiful pentagonal hut on the side of the hill, with all your basic amenities – bed, chairs, desk, fridge, kettle, toaster. The sink is outside, and the toilet is a separate hut down a path. It is so cosy and such a treat from being in the van, room to stand up lol!
I’ve already learnt so much from the people here, so I know its going to be an educational and inspirational few days. Ellen has advised on a couple of books to read – Tir: The Story of the Welsh Landscape, by Carwyn Graves, about the landscape of Wales, how it came to be, talking about the fact the layout of the land has been like this for thousands of years, with proof that houses are built where homes were originally built in neolithic times. She also advised to listen to Mythos, by Stephen Fry, as an intriguing insight into the Greek myths. This was inspired by our evening out at Llangoed Village Hall on Anglesey, to see Stars and their Consolations, a look at the old Greek Myths and how they link to the constellations, set to an electro-acoustic soundtrack. Storytellers Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden did an amazing job of captivating the audience and relaying the stories with such interest and passion. I will definitely be going away and looking more into Greek myths now. After finishing volunteering I will be popping over to Anglesey to catch the ferry to Ireland, but unfortunately I won’t have any time to spend there, as it looks like an lovely island, which I’d like to explore more. I have been there once before, on a camping trip with a few band friends, including Michelle who I mentioned earlier, but didn’t explore a huge amount. I’ll have to schedule a visit in over the summer.
I have to say it’s only been a week living in the van, but feels like an age already. Hopefully that can only be a good thing.