The last picture at the farm!
If you’ve already read my last marathon post then congratulations!
For those of you who want to know what the last three weeks have been like but don’t
have the time to read an epic then this post is for you!
I’m a great believer in the universe taking care of us if
you take the time to notice the little things then it’s obvious but every so
often we need the universe to really throw us something fist pumpingly awesome
to realise how much it looks out for us. Recently this happened to me and the
experience that followed couldn’t have been greater.
With my travels in India coming to a close and not wanting
to head back to the real world but also not having a super fat bank account I decided
that I would need to get a job, my obvious choice was to teach English for a
while and I even had some great contacts but I wasn’t really feeling it. Teaching
just seemed too much like a job (because it is one) so I went to bed sending
the universe a wee ask for some inspiration.
The next morning I woke up with a grand inspiration. I was
going to work on a farm. (You might remember a little while ago I posted about
my trip to an astrologer who said I would be happiest working with my hands…) I
immediately looked on the WOOFING website (working on organic farms) and there
looking me smack bang in the face was an ad for OrganiKH Farm. A small organic
farm in Cambodia that’s still in its infant phases (its little over a year old)
the best part was that I didn’t even have to join the WOOFING website (and pay
a fee) as I could contact the farm on FB. I sent a message to Olivier not
holding any hopes (since I have no experience) but within an hour I had a response
and it was positive.
After a few exchanges back and forth it was decided I would
arrive on the 6th July after a few days in Siem Reap. I headed to
the farm by share taxi and arrived to two dogs running and jumping on me and a
house full of people covered in mud building shelves with mud bricks.
My first impression was that everyone clearly loved the
place there were smiles all round and happy banter going back and forth
(although most of it went over my head as when I arrived most of the volunteers
were French) I had a tour around the farm and pretty soon it was time to eat.
Living the dream childhood
The next three weeks turned out to be one of the best things
I have ever done and certainly one of the most amazing travel experiences I have
had. Every day was completely different from gardening, to building with mud,
to building bamboo structures, digging waterways, planting rice and turning
compost. You name it we did it and all with a smile and a laugh
The farm is off the grid with all power coming from two
solar panels and the water being pumped from an underground well. All the
shower and dish water is filtered and goes back to the earth (did I mention the
shower is open air looking out over green waves of rice fields?)
Darin chilling in a hammock Olivier surfing on the counter top
The buildings are all constructed of mud brick, bamboo and
grass roofs and construction continues with another few bungalows planned and
walls on the house to be completed as well as the oven which we started but
when I left wasn’t finished (but I’ll be back for a pizza!)
The farm also has ducks chickens and geese. As well as two
beautiful dogs (who speak more languages than I do) and the latest edition of
two tiny kittens who arrived days before I left.
There’s something truly beautiful about being so close to
nature it’s refreshing to the spirit to be able to enjoy every day so fully. Every
day was spent with my bare feet touching the earth, with my skin feeling the
rain and going to sleep with only the sounds of mother nature to sooth my
dreams.
Silvan cooling off in a water tank Arun showing the camera his best puppy impression
That’s pretty much an over view of the OrganiKH Farm but I couldn’t
end this post without giving a huge shout out to Olivier, Darin, Silvan and
Arun, the beautiful family that make OrganiKH such an amazing place. Every day they
open their home to the many volunteers that pass through and embrace them into
their family. It’s such an amazing place to learn and to grow and this family
encourage everyone to do just that which is what makes it such a truly magical
place. Peace and Love to you all and thank you for all you have given me. Xxx
Volunteer selfie!!
Georgia, thanks for the lovely recap of your travels in Cambodia. Could you get me in touch with Olivier and Darin? I'd like to work on their farm while I'm in SEA, but their profile on WWOOF says that they're not able to communicate on there currently. Any contact info??
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