I have just finished my first volunteer farm experience in Wales. The couple I have been working with are both from North London originally, and have been living in Wales for about a decade. The farm is a very large organic vegetable farm. John Crocker takes his farming very seriously. He does a good job of producing food for the local farmers market, and the organic food store he and his wife own in Aberystwyth. Of course it would be very difficult to earn a living solely from vegetable sales, so the shop is the main sourse of income. I have learned many new things about farming while working with John. Especially green manure and organic cycles for growing.

Whilst working with John and Yvonne, I lived in a caravan and worked five hours a day with the weekends off. I managed to stay dry most of the time despite being in wales. Instead of constant showers overhead, I was frequented with the screams and thunder of jet planes doing test flights from the Royal Air force base in Anglesy. Both John and Yvonne were very kind considerate hosts. Yvonne cooked great traditional meals, and most days after work John would treat me to one of his delicious home brewed beers. I was introduced to the local community of organic growers last weekend and a delicious pig roast.

The last week has been full of traumatic events back home, including the death of my Great Uncle, and the course of cancer treatment of a close family friend. All this whilst awaiting the results of my Grandmother's cancer test, which I am relieved to learn has come back negative. Another less grandiose problem has been the unexpected breakdown of my cell phone/camera.

I write this latest post while awaiting my buss to my next destination. I am heading north into Gog territory (Gog is the Welsh term for the people of North wales) and one of my favorite places Snowdonia National Park. After a week I will be heading to the Llyn peninsula to do another volunteer project and then spend a few weeks in Welsh language courses. Things are going great and I am getting allot of time for reading and thinking, some of the perks of traveling. Sorry, no pictures this time since my cell phone is broken.