Our nursery, our forests, gardens and fields are all managed Bio-Dynamically.
All Bio-Dynamic Preparations (and additional Preparations that are closely connected with BD) are made on the farm and are stored in specially developed caves: underground. As a WWOOFer you will, from time to time, work in the Preparation Cellar or storage facilities or are invited to make BD Preparations. You may be collecting the ingredients such as Dandelion, Yarrow, Chamomile etc. or you may be excavating a hole in the ground in which the preparation is introduced in order to ferment or ‘hibernate’. etc.
C-Dar Farm is a training facility. We have made a conscious decision NOT to go into any bulk production of any kind of garden produce, lumber, meat or forage. We decided to train WWOOFers and young people (between the ages of 18 – 35) in the Bio-Dynamic Farming method(s).
The Bio-Dynamic Farming Method(s) encompass a great variety of philosophical- and physical (gardening, farming, hot-and green-housing etc.) aspects. It is well known that Dr. Rudolf Steiner’s Farming and Gardening Course is being interpreted in a multitude of ways. In the meantime, many students, farmers, gardeners, doctors and ‘professors’ have tried their hands on what Dr. R. Steiner has indicated – with a variety of results. But, it can be said that anybody who has practically worked with Dr. R. Steiner’s ideas has greatly benefited.
We are making sure that a WWOOFer does not work on the same job for more than one day.
WWOOFing, we understand, is a donation TO the farm (in this case, to C-Dar Farm) and we, in turn, wish to donate something back to the WWOOFer namely: an introduction or training to the Bio-Dynamic Farming Method.
The depth of a WWOOFer’s training does depend upon the length of his/her stay with us.
Some WWOOFers do work with us for a period two weeks (minimum) whereas others have stayed up to seven months. We are prepared to work with a WWOOFer-in-training for the period of a year during which time she or he can obtain a rather comprehensive idea on Bio-Dynamics. After such a course, you will receive a CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IN BIO-DYNAMICS. For further training you may wish to enrol at a College such as Emerson College (England). Consult our LINKS.
It is self-understood that a WWOOFer who has farming experience can be introduced to Bio-Dynamics at a (relatively) faster pace than a person who has never worked on a farm. This should be kept in mind when applying for a WWOOFer position.
We often discuss the life cycle of plants (at the farm), the birthing details of a cow, insemination, slaughtering, seeding of trees, the harvesting of crops, details on making composts and so forth. People who have grown up off the land may not necessarily know such subjects.
We will email you a questionnaire (two pages) when you apply for a position at C-Dar Farm. Upon receipt, please take the time to fill it in carefully. Our team will evaluate your questionnaire and will make a decision whether or not you can be accepted at C-Dar Farm. We may phone you if we have questions OR you may be accepted without further examination.
We recommend that you do some Bio-Dynamic reading before you join us. Dr. R. Steiner’s Agricultural Course is a rather involved and demanding series of lectures and may not be easily understood WITHOUT guidance. However, Secrets of the Soil (and related literature) can give you a broad overview on what we are doing here. Please consult our links.
WWOOFers are mainly working with farming and gardening tools. We do not believe that WWOOFers should operate neither heavy machinery nor any dangerous tools such as chain saws, mowers etc.
IF you are a specialist in a specific field: Mechanic, Stone Mason, Gardener, Carpenter, Soil Scientist etc. please DO indicate this on our questionnaire. We are, at times, able to accommodate WWOOFers with special skills and may be able to financially compensate them for their work (barn building, scientific research, engine repair etc.)
We have a small lab at C-Dar Farm in which you may be able to do some soil- or compost research at your leisure. We have a large library for your perusal.
Our working hours are, generally, from 8 – 5PM with an hour or hour and a half lunch time. Saturdays and Sundays are free. You may wish to go to Vancouver and return on Sunday night – if the work at C-Dar Farm pleases you………We pick you up.
The house rules of C-Dar Farm are being emailed to you together with the questionnaire when you apply for a position. Since we do accommodate smaller and larger groups of visitors from all over the world, English is the main language that is being spoken at C-Dar Farm.
In most cases you have your own room or, at times, you may have to share your room with max. four additional WWOOFers, (Male and female WWOOFers have their own quarters). Long term WWOOFers get their own room. Shower room and other facilities are available and are modern and are kept at the highest standard of cleanliness.
