Then we wwoofed on a funny farm.

"Right, and this little lamb is called Sarah. She thinks she's a dog. The other sheep ignore her and she is quite happy to ignore them as well. Oh, go ahead and give that food to the pigs. Let me just get them for you." 

Robert lets out a tiny smile, begins to yodel (a loud, melodic yodel, I'm telling you, I can't make this stuff up) and three of the ugliest pigs I've ever seen come galloping across the field, sending the sheep flying. I squint at the sheep and notice that some of them are actually ponies, adorable pocket-sized Shetland ponies who have busted out of their pen. As we watch ponies, pigs, sheep, and dogs greet each other in an open field, Robert makes a cheesy Dad joke about how all of his animals are extra free range and I know I'm going to love this place.

This was my first day on my last farm, a little 4 acre plot in England (not Wales, whoops!) with host Robert, and Italian wwoofers, Martha and Giovanni. Our first few days spent raking thistles are interrupted with tea time during which Robert is happy to ask all sorts of questions, like what languages do we think in, and what sustainable things do we do to avoid being affected by the global recession? When he finds out that I have Skype interviews coming up, he is so fascinated that my introduction to the family becomes "This is Elizabeth, and she interviews on SKYPE!!" We learn about his family of six, how he hopes to only eat meat from his own farm some day, and that his wife still doesn't know that the pet turtles he brought in the house will soon grow to 30 lbs each. An organic farm with a host who who works alongside us AND pranks people? Brilliant!

A few days later we were joined by my friend Hannah, veteran wwoofer, sailor, traveler, and one of my favorite people in the world. I had met so many great people traveling, but man was it good to see a familiar face. We shared ridiculous wwoofing stories, scrappy backpacking hygiene secrets (yeah, like I'm letting any of that out), and caught up on what each others lives have been like.

Robert in his backyard

Mart-ha and Giovanni

Hannah mouse!

WWOOF!

The ugliest, and funniest looking, composting machines around! I want one.

Sarah the dog

Okay, there isn't really anything interesting about these sheep. Moving on.

Little punk ponies! You can't tell, but I'm sitting on the ground. Stinkin cute!

Free range chickens wander in the backyard

This poor little guy thinks he's upside down so his head is always turned!

Compost is like gold around here.

Visitor :)

Cricket match! Confusing game that last so long, they take breaks for tea.