Okie dokie.
I think the last time I made an entry in here I was just about to head south to the Aude to WWOOF near Carcassonne. The plan was to be there for three weeks before heading back to Paris.
Was.
Past tense.
Things didn't really work out as expected.
For various reasons, I decided to leave the farm after only eight days and have been back in Dordogne at the home of my first host for the past two weeks...
Overall, I am glad that I had the opportunity to go to the second farm. It made me aware of several things.
1) Farms in France face the same fate as elsewhere in the world. Which is to say that the average small farmer is not really able to compete and with big business, and many farmers cannot rely upon the income from their farms to support themselves. Children of the farmers are opting to move into cities rather than taking over the family farms. Lands are mismanaged. Operations shift to unsustainable practices in an effort to cut costs and boost yields. Pesticides are used liberally (French farmers use more pesticides than other European countries). It's sad.
2) WWOOF is definitely abused by some farmers. I had heard that there has been a lot of criticism of the organization from the government (in France and elsewhere) as WWOOFers do the work that citizens could do. This takes work opportunities away from citizens, allows farmers to get work done without having to pay the government any taxes on wages, and without having to pay out any wages at all, since WWOOFers work in exchange for room and board. Where the abuse of the organization comes in is that WWOOF is supposed to be an exchange. To provide very basic accommodation is not out of the ordinary. To provide very modest food is not uncommon. But to provide these things and consider that the obligations of hosting have been fulfilled would be ignorant. It's sad too.
3) I like clearing forest. I like being in semi-immersion situations to learn language. I like toilet paper. I like clean houses. I like eating meals that are well balanced and have all the food groups. I do not like having to fill up on bread just to have something in my belly. I do not like being in situations where there is a gap in communication that is created by something other than a language barrier. I'm over it.
Regardless, the last two weeks have been fantastic~ filled with all the tasks that are needed in order to prepare a space for winter (clearing, cleaning, cutting, planting, covering, burning). I planted an Amalanchier du Canada (Saskatoon Berry Bush) purely by chance on St. Catherine's day.
Heading back to Paris tomorrow afternoon.
More then.
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