Organic Farming in The #Netherlands (Female Volunteers Only)

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

Learn and live on a unique organic dairy farm at the countryside of the Netherlands. This farm is run by a family passionate about their organic dairy products. The milk comes from their own cows. Together with the second ESC volunteer you connect with their farmer’s life: you get up in the morning to milk the cows, help to make butter, yoghurt and cheese and sell the products in their local shop. After one year in this project, you will know everything about organic dairy and farming. You can even tell educational stories about the farm. With this program you are encouraged to come up with your own ideas and to follow the Dutch language course. Farmer Koos and his family have many successful years of working with ESC volunteers, and are passionate about giving foreign youth the opportunity to experience Dutch culture in an intimate and educational way. For further information about the host organisation (and photos), we encourage you to visit their website: https://beekhoeve.eu/

ACCOMMODATION, FOOD AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS

This project is available for two female volunteers. You live on the farm’s premisis. The accomodation is shared with the other ESC participant. Meals are often shared with the family. Transportation costs are (partly) covered. We encourage green modes of transportation. When accepted for this project, you can request a refund of your travel expenses upon arrival in the Netherlands.

TRAINING DURING THE ACTIVITY

SIW provides several trainings where you will meet other international volunteers. You are encouraged to enroll into a Dutch language course. These are your tasks: • Work with animals: milking and feeding the cows • Help with the production of organic dairy products • Selling these local products in the shop on site • Product and shop promotion & raising awareness of the importance of organic food products • Maintaining and developing the farm’s educational walking route • Maintenance of the natural landscape and farmland • Giving a hand where needed

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

You: • Enjoy the rural countryside lifestyle, like working with animals and love nature • Are interested in nature and sustainability • Don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and do physical work • Take initiative and are able to work independently • Have good communication skills, and are confident about communicating with adults • Because of the farm’s rural location, we also prefer to select participants that are independently minded and able to entertain themselves in their spare time