Tag Archives: volunteering

March 2024 – Volunteering

Stats for March: 409 hours of volunteering by 32 volunteers over 16 sessions; 1 new volunteer; 1 work experience placement.
Stats for 2024: 1267 hours, 44 active volunteers, 8 new volunteers, 2 work experience placements.

This month we were looking ahead to our Spring Celebration (Sat 23rd), making preparations and tidying up. We had a big load of wood chippings arrive just in time to finish off some of the muddy areas. Spring bulbs were in full swing by now.

The celebration was wonderful, with a cake, crafts and day-old chicks which were especially appreciated.

Music and yoyo tricks were provided by friends David and Guy (one of which appeared as Albert the Lion).

This month we were also running a £10k matched funded Crowdfunder, which hit the target in the last week. It was amazing to receive generous support from so many members of the farm community.

On Wed 27th we had 27 pupils from Oakwood primary for a tour. They were looking especially at birds so we talked about the wild and the working birds on the farm. It was pouring with rain as they walked here from the school – they bravely and keenly persisted with their tour, and the rain eased off.

Cari Stewart, our volunteer animal lead, took volunteers onto her land, improving drainage and maintaining things for the ponies and lambs. We created a gap in the hedge by Chickens 1 so that visitors can look through to see the lambs in their shelter.

We rationalized our goose and chicken housing to release houses for the second batch of ducks/chicks, which arrived in time for the open day. We have five chicks and 3 ducks in this batch. The chick with a bad leg from the first batch is now with second batch, getting around ok. The chick and ducking from batch 1 are going out into a day hutch each day now.

Pots of perennials like currants, gooseberries, strawberries and day lilies were smartened up for the shop. Our chilli seedlings were all eaten – the slugs beat us again. We set up 15 potato sacks and planted our first early potatoes. Our first direct sow of carrots, parsnips and turnips was hampered by the prevalent rain. On 20th March at 9.30pm we picked about 100 snails off bed 1, mostly making for the newly planted radish seedlings. Many of these snails were small.

The oriental leaves and over-wintered lettuce in the polytunnel began to really produce and give us 10 bags at a picking. Delicious!

We continued the routine tasks of processing logs, clearing sand from the spring and irrigation system refurbishing the compost yard and building up the hot boxes. We started getting horse manure from the ponies next door.

We had a lot of rain to contend with, and the month ended very wet and extremely windy. We closed the shop early on Thursday 28th because the wind was lifting water butt lids and other objects and throwing them around the farm.

By the end of the month the apple blossom was showing. And of course the ducks were still working hard…

Coffee Shop Volunteer

We have a new opportunity for volunteering on the farm.

Our shop continues to grow – we now have an espresso machine for making delicious coffees and we offer cakes and teas too.

On Saturdays we need a volunteer to help Liz, our wonderful Saturday shop assistant.

One day we hope this will be a paid position, but for now we can’t afford it, so instead we have created a great work experience opportunity, like a little job.

We will support you to gain experience and confidence. You will get training in making coffee making and the relevant food hygiene training. After a few months we can provide you with a reference that would help you get a job in a coffee shop at a later stage.

We aim to set up a rota of volunteers, asking you to commit to a 3-hour session (morning or afternoon) once or twice per month.

Full details can be downloaded here and are all below as well.

If you would like to become one of our team, please contact us for an application form.

  • Title: Coffee Shop Volunteer
  • Minimum Age: 16
  • Hours: 3 hours per session. We are looking to cover the slots 0930-1230 and 1330-1630
  • Reports to: Shop Manager/Farm Manager

Purpose

Our shop assistant has an ever-increasing range of tasks to perform and with the addition of an espresso machine for take away hot drinks, we need to provide extra support on Saturdays, our busiest day.

The purpose of the shop volunteer role is to make and serve hot drinks and to provide assistance to the shop assistant, helping to keep the shop running efficiently during opening hours and reducing waiting times for customers.

PRIMARY Responsibilities

  • Taking turns on a rota and being reliable.
  • Communicating promptly with Farm Manager when not available for a session.
  • Following food hygiene procedures, monitoring fridge temperatures
  • Making and serving coffee and other hot drinks
  • Keeping the outdoor seating area clean and tidy

OTHER Responsibilities

Helping the shop assistant by:

Assisting customers with the refill stations:

  • detergent and soap refills
  • milk refills

Keeping the shop well-stocked:

  • making up bags of flour
  • replenishing veg from the fridges
  • replenishing other produce like eggs, bottles, jars, tins

Keeping the shop tidy:

  • general awareness of what the shop looks like and keeping the shelves tidy
  • wiping down surfaces, cleaning the fridges, sweeping the floor
  • breaking up cardboard boxes

Welcoming and showing visitors round the farm:

  • dispensing chicken feed and showing where the chickens are
  • explaining safety precautions

If you would like to become one of our team, please contact us for an application form.