WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) has grown to be a form of cultural exchange in which you live and work as family, whilst immersing yourself in the lifestyle of the people and the country you are visiting.
Working in exchange for your keep is the basis of ALL wwoofing. WWOOF suggest that 4-5 hours a day is fair exchange for a full days' board and lodging. For more information or to join WWOOF, visit their web site at www.wwoof.com.au.
Directions, Map and Bus Timetable
Rick and Naomi Coleman, (wwoof hosts VW 07) have been wwoof hosts since 1995. Our 10 acre property is a teaching and demonstration site, and is located between Philip Island and Wilsons Prom. Since 1994 we have been very busy transforming it into a permaculture paradise, integrating gardens, chooks, geese, orchards, yabbie dams, native bush foods and more.
Wwoofers are invited to come and share our knowledge, lifestyle, food and work. Jobs are varied and include: gardening, planting trees, construction and more. Learn more about permaculture, read our collection of books and visit the local beaches.
Accomodation for 4 people indoors in either caravans or mudbrick classroom. We eat a mixed diet and accept vegetarians but no other dietary restrictions. We have 4 children: Jarryd, Matilda, Riley and Sean, and Harry the dog, Minimum stay of 3 days includes a free tour of property.
We keep a journal of our WWOOFers, with photos and an entry from each person outlining the valuable contribution each has made to our property. We encourage wwoofers to utilise their skills and talents where possible... one of our German wwoofers liked building with wood and constructed a jetty and pontoon out of reused timber pallettes. Later that year an Austrian wwoofer said he too liked working with wood - he built a superb treehouse for the kids.
Southern Cross Permaculture Institute was awarded an environmental grant by the WWOOF network in 2001 to plant a woodlot on 3 acres for conservation and wildlife. An outline of the processes used to plant the woodlot is given here as well as photos documenting the growth of the trees since planting in April 2002. Planting, staking and mulching these trees was completed in Autumn 2002.
We always have lots of work in the garden and on the property, so conatct us to come on down.
Email us if you are interested.
AND THE WWOOFERS SAY...
Extracts from the wwoof journal
"Thanks for everything, and showing your appreciation for all my wwoofing efforts in such a genuine way"
Tony, Victoria.
"This is my first time as a wwoofer and I have loved it.I came to learn and that has happened many times over.Thank you Coleman family for welcoming me into your lives. My memories are many and will travel with me always."
Lisa, Victoria
"Thankyou Coleman family for a most wonderful visit and introduction to Sth Gippsland and cool climate permaculture in action. It has been exciting to see your property as my first wwoof PC property in Vic. Thanks for being so open to share your experience, knowledge, home, property and humour with everyone"
Ry, USA
"Thanks for all your kindness and teaching me the knowledge of permaculture, chess, backgammon, cricket, delicious meals and BBQ's, going to the beach and so on.....I truly enjoyed staying here."
Lee Ju-Han, Korea.
"Thank you very much for everything!! We came here with the intention to stay for 5 days-two and a half weeks later we're still here! Unfortunately we're leaving tomorrow. We can look back upon a great time over here, a wonderful experience."
Leonie and Stephanie, The Netherlands
The only internships in Permaculture that we currently offer are for people interested in being mentored as a teacher of permaculture. We have supported many intern teachers over the years. We ask that you complete a PDC with us for half price as a student, so you can experience our teaching and PDC community first hand. We will discuss our teaching methodology at this time. The next PDC we run you can choose topics you'd like to teach and we will support you to develop effective lesson planning and implementation. If all that goes well, you may be invited to join our vibrant teaching team and be paid for your contribution.
VOLUNTEERS
We encourage potential volunteers to join the wwoof network.
from Friday 26 November 2010 to Saturday 11 December 2010, 8.45am - 5.30 pm daily with weekend break in middle
We run two PDC courses on site each year, and have been teaching permaculture for 17 years. This two week residential program is known for its blend of practical sessions, site trips, theory and active learning exercises. Come and live permaculture while you learn it. We offer real design exercises, small group and individual attention, and a range of teaching styles to cater for different learning needs. Our community atmosphere during the course will ensure you have fun while you learn and make lifelong frienships while you are here. Feel free to contact us before you register if you'd like to talk more about the course.
After you have completed the registration online, you will need to send a deposit of $150 via cheque or internet banking to confirm and to hold your place. The deposit is non refundable but is transferable for 12 months if you need to defer.
BSB 704-191 acc 86586 N&R Coleman SCPI
with YOUR NAME in the reference
Email us to let us know you have made a deposit and we'll send you a registration pack!
from Sunday 19 September 2010 to Sunday 19 September 2010, 2 pm - 4.30 pm
This 2 hour tour of our permaculture property demonstrates the principles of permaculture in practice. Come and see how we have transformed a degraded swamp into a productive paradise. The price of $25 includes afternoon tea and can be paid on the day. You will need to wear good shoes and a hat. Children on the tour are free, but must be able to keep up and not disturb other participants please.
Baby sitting is now available with Matilda's Babysitting Service!! Only $5 per child for 2.5 hours, with a maximum of $10 per family. Please book via email once you receive the registration email from us.
Please note that even if an error message occurs when you register, it is still entering our system. We are working on this problem. You should hear from us by email within a week of registering.
5 July 2010
Rick left for Mongolia for a 7 week food security project in Tosensengel Mongolia, on June 29th. He will conduct a PDC course whilst there with the aim of empowering local people to be able to implement permaculture techniques to extend the growing season in a climate that ranges from -30 degrees C in winter to +30 degrees C in summer.