I cannot overemphasise the benefits of becoming a live-in volunteer. I am a 52-year-old English woman, and following a career as a journalist, university lecturer and latterly as an education advisor (in England, Greece, Spain, Ireland and Wales) I am now a live-in volunteer on a Highland Cattle breeding farm in The Cairngorms National Park in The Highlands of Scotland. I’ve been here for four months so far, sometimes as the only volunteer, and other times as one of up to five, and the experience has surpassed all my best hopes and expectations in every way possible. I am loving farm life, and also enjoy the housekeeping and hosting tasks relating to the accommodation on the farm for paying guests, and living and working with other volunteers from all over the world is so stimulating. And the relationship us volunteers have with the farmer is a huge part of what makes the experience so interesting, fulfilling and enjoyable, with great conversation and lots of laughter at meal times (we take turns cooking) and the satisfaction of developing new skills and becoming competent in our roles. The farmer bought the land 20 years ago, and developed the farm and built his own house and also the accommodation for paying guests, and he teaches volunteers who want to learn building skills such as carpentry, construction etc. how to go about it. The farmer is also a great cook, and is happy to show and instruct us volunteers who lack cooking skills (like myself) in how to make delicious meals with good, healthy ingredients. He is also very social, hosting dinner parties etc., so we get to meet and enjoy the company of his friends and neighbours as well. This is my second stint as a live-in volunteer, as I spent three months last year as a live-in volunteer at a hikers’ hostel in Southern Utah in the United States, and that was an amazing experience as well. I got to hike in National Parks including Zion and Grand Canyon, and formed friendships with fellow volunteers with whom I remain good friends to this day, one year on from the experience ending. I found both the farm in Scotland and the hikers’ hostel in Utah on the Workaway website. I would urge anyone who is considering doing this sort of thing to go for it. You don’t have to go for such long stints as myself. Some of my fellow volunteers come for just ten days or three weeks or whatever... it all depends on the host’s requirements and your own availability. Some folk use the live-in volunteer situation to try out a new way of life to find out if it is for them, before embarking on a radical life transition, whilst others use their two-weeks annual leave, say, to have a working holiday in a place they want to visit in order to have a more meaningful experience than simply doing the tourist thing. Myself, as someone who had enjoyed my professional life, I have found that doing something radically different as a live-in volunteer, and getting to do it with all sorts of interesting people from all over the globe, has been one of the best experiences of my life. It nourishes me intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, as well as enabling me to develop new skills and enjoy the satisfaction of doing physical work whilst experiencing life in beautiful locations with some truly great people.
That's interesting. I'm moving country and getting on a bit so making careful choices about how to move forward. I have the money to do what Daniel is doing but I'm not sure about the grit or even if I would like to. I think your longer stint would be better to work out whether a smallholding lifestyle is for me. I've always loved animals and gardening but I also like being free of commitments. The only thing is to work out what I want more. It's a tough choice.
Can u tell me the website or how I can get started volunteering and do they pay to get you there im so interested and so thankful i came across your comment I lost my dad 2 yrs ago to cancer and recently my 38 yr old beautiful sister suddenly in her sleep ive done nursing paramedics and farm and animal rescue im from the USA my whole adult life and im ready for an adventure
Darlene Canterbury Workaway.com is the website where I found both of my volunteering positions. Also have a look at videos on TH-cam (search for titles like “Volunteering with Workaway”) where people who have been and done it talk about their own experiences and give advice to others. I wish you luck!
@@nicolafigini784 Good evening, Ms. Figini. I looked on the Workaway website to get some info on a Chateau in France I would like to volunteer at and thought I read that there was an age limit on folks who could volunteer. Did I read that incorrectly? What do you do for health insuranceor pocket money? Thanks in advance.
In 2006 I landed, from London UK, in a small town in the mountains in Italy to volunteer in an organic farm. In high heels and armed with an array of lotions, potions and sunscreen and all the nasty stuff (yuck now I don't use any of that), I was oblivious to farm life. But luckily the young couple I was staying with them were super nice and treated me so well. They were so patient with me and assigned me small silly tasks, like collecting the eggs every morning and feeding the rabbits. I'm so grateful to their gentleness and patience with me and being so kind to me, they took me with them every where they went, even to family and friends! I spoke a few words in italian and they spoke a couple of words in English, yet we managed to communicate. Well long story short, two years later I quit my job in London, packed everything I owned, rented a van with a rather crazy driver and drove to Italy to start my life living with no money but feeling rich. I now grow and preserve my food and live with no money still😄😳
@j lee hi j, I don't have a blog at the moment but I'm planning to have one, plus a TH-cam channel, the problem is my laptop died a year ago and I'm unable to get another one, plus a good video camera, etc. I'm using my mobile phone to watch TH-cam channels and post on instagram, I have a very limited access to internet. My user name is thelandofmint (my profile photo is my green door😁) . Let me know if you find me. All the best. Oh, one of my best friends is a super beekeeper, his honey won several awards 😄.
I wish I could have traveled and volunteered when I was in my 20s.... I am now 61 and I am seriously considering signing up and volunteering and traveling. I am healthy and have knowledge that I think may be useful. Thanks for the video. I may be signing up soon.
Do it! I am 60 this year and am quitting work and have loads of travel planned, which may include volunteering... we are too long dead, don'took back and say "you wish" look forward and say "I am"
I did wwoofing in my 30s before starting to host on my own farm to give me a better idea of the system. I no longer take volunteers. However I have done some more volunteering over the past 3 years during November in the Atlas mountains in Morocco when work on my place has slowed down. Im coming up to 66 now but still very fit and active. I absolutely love it. I do everything from picking pomegranates, harvesting other produce for market, weeding, pruning,collecting goat poo so the Argan seeds can be extracted to make the Argan oil, to milking goats, making breads and cheeses and so much more. My host family are wonderful, hospitable, warm Berbers who have now become friends and call me Ljadda Nassa (Grand Mother). I really urge you to try it Elwood Wood. Pick your host as carefully as can, some wont even consider us more senior people but others realise we too have much to offer. All it costs is your travel, I take a few gifts and my willingness to work and learn as well as share my knowledge if asked.
@@julibeswick-valentine3690 I you know how to GROW argan trees so they have fruits - that would be a great addition to the dry areas of the U.S. (if you are in the U.S.) And you could make an income TEACHING others how to do that and to process the fruits and the oil, even if you are not going to stay in the biz. There are experiments in Florida and Hawaii (maybe degraded land). I would assume Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and California would be good candidates. The tree needs 5 - 8 years to bear fruit. I heard that they have some problems getting young trees to maturity at some point they die off (from a friend that travelled in areas where Berbes make that oil - before it became fashionable. That region is not easily accessible, it is for eco tourists.). Not sure how research in Israel is going. Israel has an tradition in experimenting, and they are only getting hotter and dryer so argan trees would be a good fit.
Good luck to you I’m sure you make a lovely Host, you appear to be a very warm and welcoming person..such sweet little pigs, I love how your dog rests his head on your shoulder..such peace you enjoy.
I know the hostel. It is walking distance from my "farm". I have three poly greenhouses and lots of indoor growing space, growing underlights utilizing my garage. I laughed out loud when you said you started your adventure in Courtenay I bought strawberry plants today, having watched yours on growing an abundance of strawberries. You have inspired me as you have so many others!
Happy New Year. Nice to see you post again so soon. Love your quote "Failing doing something you love, isn't really failing at all" So True. Henry Ford once said "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely." Good luck with your volunteers this year. Cheers from Nova Scotia, Canada....
Dude-- if I didn't have four acres and a project of my own going here in Appalachia, I'd be begging you for a volunteer slot. You are inspirational! I learn so much from you--not just the nitty-gritty stuff, but your beautiful attitude and your courage.
"Mad hermits in Canada... " 😂 I'm a Canadian and Van Is. is my second home... specifically Salt Spring & Pender... let me share something with you you may wish to ponder. "Being well adapted to a fundamentally sick society is no measure of mental health." - J. Krishnamurti Love 💖
@@paulboden7850 oh yes! "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived ..." thats why I went to Asia
Build tiny earth homes for the volunteers. Basically just sandbags filled with dirt, barbed wire inbetween, and spackle outside of it. So cheap to do! Then have a portable outhouse with a big hole in the ground, move the outhouse to each new hole.
@@martinoleary5268 April 2020 : Hello Martin - so many here are concerned for Daniel + Moss with no word since January, if you happen to be a neighbour, only with his permission, 🙏☘️ please post if safe. They are both dear to their followers' hearts and these times are tough. Thanks, and apologies if no connection. Hope just busy with his next big project
@@missp5152 Sorry I'm in lockdown about 100 miles from Sligo/Roscommon. I do note however his Workaway account was last checked on 08/04/2020. That's a good sign. Best wishes. Martin.
We hope all is well with you and pups. Love your programs here in New Hampshire. Do stay well and safe during the strange time we are all going through.
Hello from Vancouver Island! I have been enjoying your channel for a while and then listened with delight to l hear you have visited and lived in my sweet little party of the world. I grew up in Comox, just 5 min from Courtenay. I now live down Island in Victoria. And I grow all that I can organically. I so enjoy your adventures. Keep inspiring us, and have a happy new year!
"WWOOF"ed probably before you were born! Now doing the same as you in North Leitrim. (Restoring an old Cottage and planting a Food Forest on our few acres) We should swap stories!
Hey! I've done lots of Woofing mainly portugal and the uk, also general volunteering for various charities etc in the uk, particularly loved working at a biodynamic farm in Somerset where is spent 5 months, it was my favourite way of existing, it made me know that i want to live a sustainable lifestyle ad work every day for myself working on growing, building and just surviving. I'm going to do two courses in traditional building techniques , it's something that I want to be able to do and i seem to have a natural way for understanding structures and how to use materials, so i'm excited about that! i'm about to start volunteering at a local goat farm once a week to learn about making cheese and looking after the goats, such funny souls!!. I would love to come and volunteer for you, though I am currently starting my own veg garden, having started to rent a house in the countryside with some spare space to do so, so i'm sure it will need almost constant attention, a way of teaching myself more, i intend on doing it nod dig and biodynamically, I wonder if you had any experience of growing this way? Dont ask how but it works!! At the farm we had some very odd rituals with horn silica, spraying it on the herb field at 4am on summer solstice! ! I came to ireland in autumn, it's so beautiful, my mother and I are looking for somewhere to buy land eventually, we are considering Orkney/shetland also! It would be nice to come and work with you in spring for a week or so before going down to look around the south of Ireland,if you ahd any space. Thank you for your videos! I enjoy them so much and look forward to the next, you are an inspiration and a reminder that it can be done! and a reminder not to focus on the setbacks and hurdles that exist in society, to carry on towards the daily life i know is best for me! happy new year to you! Morgan :)
If you have space for people park their caravans, you could have more volunteers. Free meals and a camping spot for work sounds good to me. Jon in rural BC, Canada
his neighbours might think he's starting a traveler's site, frowned upon in the UK and a big taboo in Ireland. i love gypsies, i think they're nuts, sadly most people don't find them so endearing and so panic whenever a caravan pops up anywhere.
Please make sure that tree behind your new volunteer cabin is either took down or made safe you'll know hiw windy it gets around this part of Ireland Happy New Year and hope you have a great year building your dream
Such a lovely dog. I wish I was good at building or something in order to help you, it's such a dream place, I always wanted a place like yours. Greetings from Uruguay and wish you all the best, you seem like a nice guys so I'm sure you'll find some volunteers.
Halloooo from Victoria BC ( south Vancouver Island)! I went WWOOFING 1998 in Colombia on a farm/commune created in the 60s/70s with folks from Ireland with a focus on primal scream therapy (apparently and initially) - No screaming did I witness. I did learn how to wield a machete to clear land and also how to cook a bit on a wood stove. It’s always great to stretch ourselves and try something new;) Cheers Jenny☕️
I just started watching your videos, and I must say I have enjoyed them. Trying to figure out how to fit in some Indian runner ducks into my garden, I had thought about chickens, but you have changed my mind. I’m looking forward to seeing your renovations on the cottage, something I have always wanted to do. It’s good you realized early on what you wanted in life and took steps to achieve it; hopefully the New Year will bring you good luck with all of your endeavors.
Your traveling adventures brought a big smile to my face, It reminded me of the writings Jack London. Thank you for sharing. Who knows, you just might have inspired someone else to take a leap and try doing the same. I have been inspired by Ruth Stout's method of permaculture type gardening. Life is wonderful and you can learn so much from others if you keep an open mind and just TRY.
I was just thinking of you and how getting help from volunteers will probably be difficult to organise for a while. Hope you and Moss (and the rest of your gang) are spending these weird days well and happy!
I watch your videos before going to bed. Your voice is really relaxing and soothing to me. Last night I fell asleep listening about the poor flight experience and I then had a similar dream. I had to return and write to you. Please post more I want to see how far the cottage has come along. xx
You certainly are a man after my own heart! When I was young I also did a lot of solo travelling. For a female, that was ballsy I guess, but maybe I just had the luck o' the Irish on my side. These days I just volunteer for myself and am happy if anything gets done at all. 💜 Happy New Year dear boy. 🍷
Your call out will be a success.. Get the volunteers to help build the accommodation..makes it come around full circle...you can be in a place of watching it evolving into reality..blessings to you and your beautiful dog..😊
I want to jack in my corporate London job every time you post a video, but this one might actually make me do it! Love love love your updates and Mossy Bottom adventures. More please! Happy New Year to you, Moss and the piggies.
I love your organic ploughs (pigs). It appears you're creating a utopia. You'll be inundated with volunteer requests. Blessings to you in 2020. May all your dreams come true.
Hehehe, just yesterday I checked your profile on Workaway (because you mentioned on one of your videos that you're listed there) and today I see you posted a video on volunteering. :-) 20 years ago I went to Ireland (Roscommon) as a volunteer. We were originally there to help the people with physical disabilities who were vacationing in Cuisle (that's how that place was called), but because that particular group came with their own carers, we ended up helping in the kitchen, washing up, serving food and just hanging out with the group. It was the best experience ever. It was also my very first time travelling abroad on my own (and with no money at that). Last year I started looking into volunteering again as an alternative way of spending a week or two of my vacations. I signed up for workaway and hopefully this year I'll find a host for my dates.
Lovely video. I moved from a very unhappy civil servant job in London to the Highlands of Scotland, and volunteered as a wwoofer for my first 6 months up here. I planted trees, learnt about growing vegetables and helped to convert an old barn into cottages. I then became a resident at the farm community where I volunteered, and am still in Scotland (although now, even further north!) 10 years later. It was the best decision I ever made, to move to Scotland and volunteer on a permaculture farm in Perthshire!
I am studying International Food and Agribusiness in the Netherlands. I will be leaving to China in February to do a volunteering internship at a farm for half a year! I will be provided with a place to live and food in exchange for my internship there. I'm very much looking forward to it. I will be designing a permaculture farm of one hectare for them. Hopefully I will succeed :D
daniel likes to keep his location in sligo a closely guarded secret...outside of structured volunteers, there may be local people who'd like to help him and turn up for an hour or two of a weekend
I love Golden. Stayed there several times over the years. I think it was 2015 the last time I was there. I think another road trip there is on the cards maybe next summer if this pandemic is finally behind us. It's a 5.5 hour drive from where I live so could definitely travel there for a long weekend. Glad you enjoyed your stay in Canada. i have been here 14 years now. I would recommend coming here a a volunteer, Loved your story about the plane :)
We haven't heard from you for a while hope you are well wish we could come to volenteing just not possible at the moment love Ireland 🌈 love mossy bottom love to hear from you soon 👍 good luck 🐸 💚💯 Diane xxxx Colin 🌺 🌄
Happy New Year! I wish i were a bit younger ( like about 30 years..LOL), i would love to come volunteer. Although i don’t have any experience with cottage restoration, I have much experience with gardening, chickens, horses, dogs, poop management, dirt moving, planting, harvesting (animal and vegetable) and food preservation. I am fairly strong and in reasonable shape. I have animal husbandry skills ( was a vet tech for years) and human medical skills ( registered nurse), but as a nearly 60 year old female, i’m probably not what you are looking for in a volunteer..😕 My only trip to Europe ( Ireland) from the US, i landed at Dublin, loaded my luggage into my rental car and set off with trepidation for my destination (Trim) for the evening. Shortly after leaving the airport, i took a wrong exit off the first roundabout on my route and got terribly lost in Dublin for most of the day.😱 Needless to say, i was just about in tears by the afternoon-time after multiple stops to ask kind strangers for directions. One trio of gentlemen in a barbershop even gave me a few euro to pay the tolls because i hadn’t thought to exchange any cash. I found every soul that i spoke to exceedingly kind and generous the entire two weeks i was in the country. I’ll probably never have the opportunity to return, but it was an experience of a lifetime for me.
Leslie Gray, if you are willing to work I don't think age is a factor. There are plenty of things you could do that would free up other people to perform the more labor intensive work. Ask, the most that can happen is that people say "No thanks". HNY
PasadenaSue : willingness to work is not a problem... i am hale and hearty, and willing to learn what i don’t have experience with ( cottage restoration/stone masonry,etc)..I have horses and a pack of big-game hounds. I can shovel poop with the best of them. Our dogs range from 50lbs to 80lbs and i handle them daily. At 5’3” and 130 lbs, I carry 50lb sacks of grain or dog food and bags of soil or bales of peat moss or hay... i just imagined that he would be looking for someone younger and more 🏋️♀️
@@ldg2655 Why not apply? Daniel seems like an uncommonly open-minded person. You've made it clear you're able to work and be beneficial to him and his farm. If you don't apply you'll never know!
@@ldg2655 I have found often at my job that the young folk are rather delicate and need this old lady to pick up the slack. Some young people have never had to do the hard physical labor older generations had to do. I don't mean to disparage young people though. So many are obviously working hard and struggling.
Leslie Gray , you sound like the perfect volunteer. 60 really is not that old, especially if you are fit. I live in Ireland now after 15 years living in Asia, I find that in Ireland so many people feel old long before they should.
Gotta add--when I was young, I volunteered for three mont hff s on a kibbutznon the Golan Heights on Israel. Yes, It was awhile back! What a paradigm shift! I got up a 4:00 AM to tend bananas, showered in cold water, and ate _healthier_ and worked _harder_ than ever before in my life. That year changed my life.
Funny that I moved to Canada from England, yet I am following your life in Ireland. Will be spending 3 nights in Golden this month for X-country, downhill skiing and snow shoeing. Courtney on the Island is a great place.
Hello Daniel Be very careful with who you bring to your calm beautiful place. Not everyone is open hearted or hardworking and honest as you seem to be. How do you vet such people? What is their history and background? I've worked with people since 1968 and have often been duped and taken advantage of in time money and generosity. It's good you only have space for two volunteers. I listened to many of your vidios and they are very encouraging and inspiring and as a seventy year old I've taken ideas from your horticultural skills. Very remarkable young man. Heleena
Hi D, love the videos i'm really considering moving to a small holding in Ireland, my thinking is more around establishing a small organic permaculture enterprise style setup, a few questions and comments, can you add information on energy, solar, wind etc, how far does one have to drill for ground water, are you considering an enterprise setup and lastly it would be great if you start establishing data for all the crops and animals that you farming, this will be a great help for those considering small enterprise setups. thanks
I'm up in Belfast. I can help and I drive a motorbike, winter isn't good travel conditions for driving. I've volunteered before, built homes in Romania and Hungry for the poor. I will gladly give a hand when weather improves, if you may need a hand. God speed.
Hey there mate. We haven't heard a peep out of you for nearly two months. Seriously hope you are not under H2O.No doubt you have been extremely busy. Look forward to your next vid.
If i was much younger I would love to visit Ireland and do some volunteering with you!. I am from Ontario, Canada. My daughter did two months worth of volunteering in Morroco and Nepal when she was 18 and I am fairly envious of her. LOL
Also have an acre in Co. Sligo we are setting up to live self sufficiently. We have dogs, chickens and horses and pigs are next on the list. We should share tips
Your beautiful homestead is very tempting and I pretty certain that I would really enjoy spending time there and helping out with furthering the manifestation of your perfect piece of the world and life as you envision it. I know for a fact that I would definitely love to meet and spend time with your furry and feathered companions. I love, love , love animals. Your two new little pigs are truly adorable and Moss is the BOSS! He is just so darn cute and his personality is huge, makes me smile every time I see him and how much he he loves you. I know this may sound a bit looney, but if you wouldn't find it too bizarre please give him a big hug for me and tell him it's from his big fan in WV, USA. I have so much respect for what you are doing and your outlook on life, as much as you have been willing to share with your viewers, and think that you would also be a great partner for some interesting and stimulating conversations. Just have to find the courage to give the traveling volunteer thing a try, wish I could grow that in a garden, lol. Much continued success to you dear gentleman and I look forward to seeing the progression of the Mossy Bottom homestead.
similarly, i volunteered on a farm in japan a couple of times when I was younger, it was amazing, and from then on my dream was to have a farm. Nothing better then being a farmer, we need to be more sustainable. You are absolutely right about the memories that get created when travelling
Greetings - I enjoy your videos. I may be interested in volunteering - I’ll think it over. I grew up on a farm and we have a small farm of our own here in the Midwest. I’ve been around livestock and gardens all my life. I’ve been on five mission trips and earn my living as a tinker / handyman. Paint, tile, masonry, light construction. My family left Ireland during the great starvation. My time is flexible. Take care-
I’ve also backpacked and camped extensively - I don’t need much in the way of creature comfort but a Guinness at the end of the day would be welcome - LOL
You might be interested in checking out folks like Takota Coen (he is in Canada). Because they are so innovative. Check him out anyway, the way he uses lifestock to garden. Or his duckweed pond that supply nutritious food (an extra) for pigs and poutry.
A very happy new year to you Daniel, Moss, Tich n Fatso (great names) and all at Mossy Bottom! I would so love to come and volunteer but caring for my father presently so not so doable. I love to dream and your videos are entertaining and serve as inspiration! Keep em coming as you can😀
Love watching your videos, wonderful knowledge being shared, , excellent presenting skills and a soothing calm peaceful vibes from you and of course Moss! I hope to volunteer at some point in the future.
Happy New Year :) I really look forward to your videos. Good luck in finding the right volunteers. What a fantastic opportunity for them - if I were a few decades younger, I'd love to help out!!! lol Take care. Jan :)
I am so glad to have seen this video today. It’s one of those days where nothing goes right and the rat race is just too much. I would love to come volunteer but am doing my own self-build, albeit not as cool as yours, renovating a 100 year old apartment. But as soon as I finish I’ll be renting it out and on workaway looking for volunteering opportunities. Thank you for reminding me how important it is to just do what you love, and not feel guilty about it.
Discovered your videos about a month ago and have watched them all. Looking forward to following your progress. You've done great so far. You've inspired us to get more active outside and since christmas' been gorgeous mostly. We've done a bit of planting, a bit of coppicing, wood chopping and gathered a lot for chipping. Nicest time of the year in ways. Seriously thinking of planting some (mainly crab) apple trees for cider and have a bit of a hankering for getting a beehive or two (but I'll leave that for a bit). To cut down on your labour, have you looked at Charles Dowding's no dig gardening technique, he claims to get higher yields than via the conventional way and he's a former professional horticulturalist? Your cottage plan is awesome btw. I never heard of rocket fuel stoves before you mentioned them. Pretty amazing but you'd miss looking at the fire in a conventional stove. I suppose having both is possible. All the best.
I did exactly that in 2016. Quit my job, sold everything and left my life in the big city and travelled across the globe to Chile with the intention of exploring the possibility of a living a self-sufficient life close to nature. After a year in the farms, I am definitely convinced of the possibility to live a life that is self-sufficient or almost so in nature. But, I have also experienced and witnessed a lot of practical difficulties to do so for a woman alone. If there are women who have done this on their own, I would love to hear your stories.
By the comments, it seems like Daniel will end up having an army of volunteers! Nice to see there are so many souls willing to help and learn from this amazing life style.
I'd absolutely LOVE to come and volunteer at your place :) I've volunteered at Jacob's Ridge animal sanctuary in Spain for 5 months and it required alot of hard work but the rewards were incredible. Amazing people, lifelong friendships made and a bond wih nature and animals tied forever. What's the best way to get to Sligo from Yorkshire in England?
Fly into Dublin Airport, use Ryanair it shouldn't cost anymore than £20. When you walk out the Airport you'll see it has Bus Stances, look for the stance that has "Bus No 23" direct service to Sligo leaving from it. Shouldn't cost anymore than €18.00 - €22.00 one way, it's abour 2.5 hours if not mistaken. Timetable Link - www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=406&form-view-timetables-from=Ballina+%28Bus+Station%29&form-view-timetables-to=Sligo+%28Bus+Station%29&form-view-timetables-route=&form-view-timetables-submit=1 I've given you the simplest route rather than heading into Dublin City itself and catching other Coaches / Train's. 👍
Haha I had the same experience flying from Turku/Finland to Bergen/Norway - we didnt understand that we were supposed to exit the flight.. Fortunately we figured it out in time!! :DD And yesss i recognize the feeling that days just blend into eachother and months roll by at work.. time feels completely wasted and your pay check simply doesnt compensate. Whereas some short trips, meaningful activities etc leave such lasting and strong impressions! Im making some changes in my life and Daniel has been a big inspiration for me :) he has such an eloquent way of verbalising these common sentiments/experiences that we share, and hes done so much introspection and found a level of peace. And if he can make stuff work in conditions that i consider relatively extreme then so can I in much more conventional ways. The main point for me at the moment is that we all have the right to enjoy our lives and prioritize our happiness - it doesnt mean mindless hedonism but its just an alignment with our own core values and not trying to adjust to some random outer parameters we happen to be surrounded by at the moment. Xx "And that, I think, is probably how life is supposed to be lived" and then cut - just accidentally dropping in some mossy wisdom teachings :)))
Love to hear your adventures, you could do a whole TH-cam channel just with your stories. Sorry, but I'll just have to follow your adventures from USA. Doing my own hobby farm 56 y/o. Taking a break from TH-cam, Robin Bitsnpieces.
I hope I get a chance to volunteer and learn from you. Being in Ireland has been a dream of mine since childhood, since I heard Celtic music for the first time. My ultimate dream goal is to live off the land, have animals, live harmoniously with the earth and fellow living things, use permaculture and sustainability to create an abundant and dynamic harmonious lifestyle.. I want to learn all o can about gardening/farming, herbal medicine, husbandry, building different types of structures, etc forever! Eventually I would like to start an animal rescue, and build small cabins scattered around in different styles tailored for my loved ones. Last year I decided that I would spend the next year saving money to finally visit Ireland, and see if it’s actually where I wanna make these dreams happen. Gotta see if I can handle all that rain haha. I’ve been putting it off for ever for the right timing... I don’t know when it will be but I realized why not do it now, ASAP, at least move in the direction... anywho, currently in the works &save process. I’ll reach out later on to volunteer, if it be for the best then may it be!!! 💚💚💚 thanks for posting 🙏🏼
I live on my boat in kinsale in cork, I'd be happy to come help for a weekend. Lived in my van for a year before the boat so can bring my own accommodation.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I've been thinking about volunteering for some time now, since I would love to break free from boring office job for at least a little bit and experience something new, exciting and more fulfilling. Quite frankly I would love to volunteer on your homestead (mainly because I would really love to visit Ireland and it would be also quite nice to read my books in peace for once after work :D), but I guess I won't be so lucky, since there are many people who are wishing to do the same and you really can't acommodate all. Also love your newest additions, they are adorable :) Wishing you all the best in 2020!
Someone probably mentioned this is the 445 comments, if not, that bear was scratching his/her back against the window sill. Also, wanted to mention regarding the medal you found that St. Joseph is the patron Saint of Home.
I cannot overemphasise the benefits of becoming a live-in volunteer. I am a 52-year-old English woman, and following a career as a journalist, university lecturer and latterly as an education advisor (in England, Greece, Spain, Ireland and Wales) I am now a live-in volunteer on a Highland Cattle breeding farm in The Cairngorms National Park in The Highlands of Scotland. I’ve been here for four months so far, sometimes as the only volunteer, and other times as one of up to five, and the experience has surpassed all my best hopes and expectations in every way possible. I am loving farm life, and also enjoy the housekeeping and hosting tasks relating to the accommodation on the farm for paying guests, and living and working with other volunteers from all over the world is so stimulating. And the relationship us volunteers have with the farmer is a huge part of what makes the experience so interesting, fulfilling and enjoyable, with great conversation and lots of laughter at meal times (we take turns cooking) and the satisfaction of developing new skills and becoming competent in our roles.
The farmer bought the land 20 years ago, and developed the farm and built his own house and also the accommodation for paying guests, and he teaches volunteers who want to learn building skills such as carpentry, construction etc. how to go about it. The farmer is also a great cook, and is happy to show and instruct us volunteers who lack cooking skills (like myself) in how to make delicious meals with good, healthy ingredients. He is also very social, hosting dinner parties etc., so we get to meet and enjoy the company of his friends and neighbours as well.
This is my second stint as a live-in volunteer, as I spent three months last year as a live-in volunteer at a hikers’ hostel in Southern Utah in the United States, and that was an amazing experience as well. I got to hike in National Parks including Zion and Grand Canyon, and formed friendships with fellow volunteers with whom I remain good friends to this day, one year on from the experience ending.
I found both the farm in Scotland and the hikers’ hostel in Utah on the Workaway website. I would urge anyone who is considering doing this sort of thing to go for it. You don’t have to go for such long stints as myself. Some of my fellow volunteers come for just ten days or three weeks or whatever... it all depends on the host’s requirements and your own availability. Some folk use the live-in volunteer situation to try out a new way of life to find out if it is for them, before embarking on a radical life transition, whilst others use their two-weeks annual leave, say, to have a working holiday in a place they want to visit in order to have a more meaningful experience than simply doing the tourist thing. Myself, as someone who had enjoyed my professional life, I have found that doing something radically different as a live-in volunteer, and getting to do it with all sorts of interesting people from all over the globe, has been one of the best experiences of my life. It nourishes me intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, as well as enabling me to develop new skills and enjoy the satisfaction of doing physical work whilst experiencing life in beautiful locations with some truly great people.
That's interesting. I'm moving country and getting on a bit so making careful choices about how to move forward. I have the money to do what Daniel is doing but I'm not sure about the grit or even if I would like to. I think your longer stint would be better to work out whether a smallholding lifestyle is for me. I've always loved animals and gardening but I also like being free of commitments. The only thing is to work out what I want more. It's a tough choice.
What farm are you at? Sounds lovely
Can u tell me the website or how I can get started volunteering and do they pay to get you there im so interested and so thankful i came across your comment I lost my dad 2 yrs ago to cancer and recently my 38 yr old beautiful sister suddenly in her sleep ive done nursing paramedics and farm and animal rescue im from the USA my whole adult life and im ready for an adventure
Darlene Canterbury Workaway.com is the website where I found both of my volunteering positions. Also have a look at videos on TH-cam (search for titles like “Volunteering with Workaway”) where people who have been and done it talk about their own experiences and give advice to others. I wish you luck!
@@nicolafigini784 Good evening, Ms. Figini. I looked on the Workaway website to get some info on a Chateau in France I would like to volunteer at and thought I read that there was an age limit on folks who could volunteer. Did I read that incorrectly? What do you do for health insuranceor pocket money? Thanks in advance.
In 2006 I landed, from London UK, in a small town in the mountains in Italy to volunteer in an organic farm. In high heels and armed with an array of lotions, potions and sunscreen and all the nasty stuff (yuck now I don't use any of that), I was oblivious to farm life. But luckily the young couple I was staying with them were super nice and treated me so well. They were so patient with me and assigned me small silly tasks, like collecting the eggs every morning and feeding the rabbits. I'm so grateful to their gentleness and patience with me and being so kind to me, they took me with them every where they went, even to family and friends! I spoke a few words in italian and they spoke a couple of words in English, yet we managed to communicate. Well long story short, two years later I quit my job in London, packed everything I owned, rented a van with a rather crazy driver and drove to Italy to start my life living with no money but feeling rich. I now grow and preserve my food and live with no money still😄😳
Hi Sue,
See.? I’m nog the only one interested,
Well done, Sue! I would love to follow your life's journey! ♥️
@j lee hi j, I don't have a blog at the moment but I'm planning to have one, plus a TH-cam channel, the problem is my laptop died a year ago and I'm unable to get another one, plus a good video camera, etc. I'm using my mobile phone to watch TH-cam channels and post on instagram, I have a very limited access to internet. My user name is thelandofmint (my profile photo is my green door😁) . Let me know if you find me. All the best. Oh, one of my best friends is a super beekeeper, his honey won several awards 😄.
@@dinetk3125 Thank you😳
@@gerriellsworth4100 Thank you, I have only instagram now, hope to start a TH-cam channel when money permits😳 ❤😘
Huge respect man! "failing doing something you love isn't really failing at all" - yeah!
You just made my day! Bless you.
I wish I could have traveled and volunteered when I was in my 20s.... I am now 61 and I am seriously considering signing up and volunteering and traveling. I am healthy and have knowledge that I think may be useful. Thanks for the video. I may be signing up soon.
Do it! I am 60 this year and am quitting work and have loads of travel planned, which may include volunteering... we are too long dead, don'took back and say "you wish" look forward and say "I am"
I did wwoofing in my 30s before starting to host on my own farm to give me a better idea of the system. I no longer take volunteers. However I have done some more volunteering over the past 3 years during November in the Atlas mountains in Morocco when work on my place has slowed down. Im coming up to 66 now but still very fit and active. I absolutely love it. I do everything from picking pomegranates, harvesting other produce for market, weeding, pruning,collecting goat poo so the Argan seeds can be extracted to make the Argan oil, to milking goats, making breads and cheeses and so much more. My host family are wonderful, hospitable, warm Berbers who have now become friends and call me Ljadda Nassa (Grand Mother). I really urge you to try it Elwood Wood. Pick your host as carefully as can, some wont even consider us more senior people but others realise we too have much to offer. All it costs is your travel, I take a few gifts and my willingness to work and learn as well as share my knowledge if asked.
Do it. Yolo
If you are fit and active, do it! It's never too late :)
@@julibeswick-valentine3690 I you know how to GROW argan trees so they have fruits - that would be a great addition to the dry areas of the U.S. (if you are in the U.S.) And you could make an income TEACHING others how to do that and to process the fruits and the oil, even if you are not going to stay in the biz. There are experiments in Florida and Hawaii (maybe degraded land). I would assume Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and California would be good candidates. The tree needs 5 - 8 years to bear fruit.
I heard that they have some problems getting young trees to maturity at some point they die off (from a friend that travelled in areas where Berbes make that oil - before it became fashionable. That region is not easily accessible, it is for eco tourists.).
Not sure how research in Israel is going. Israel has an tradition in experimenting, and they are only getting hotter and dryer so argan trees would be a good fit.
This is my biggest dream, to be able to invest my time in volunteer work and to know new cultures. I'm from Brazil and I like your videos.
Missing your videos. You are very calming to watch
Good luck to you I’m sure you make a lovely Host, you appear to be a very warm and welcoming person..such sweet little pigs, I love how your dog rests his head on your shoulder..such peace you enjoy.
I know the hostel. It is walking distance from my "farm". I have three poly greenhouses and lots of indoor growing space, growing underlights utilizing my garage. I laughed out loud when you said you started your adventure in Courtenay I bought strawberry plants today, having watched yours on growing an abundance of strawberries. You have inspired me as you have so many others!
Happy New Year. Nice to see you post again so soon. Love your quote "Failing doing something you love, isn't really failing at all" So True. Henry Ford once said "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely." Good luck with your volunteers this year. Cheers from Nova Scotia, Canada....
Dude-- if I didn't have four acres and a project of my own going here in Appalachia, I'd be begging you for a volunteer slot. You are inspirational! I learn so much from you--not just the nitty-gritty stuff, but your beautiful attitude and your courage.
You looking for a volunteer, Christel? I even have a hundred pounds of kitchen/yard compost to donate. Appalachia is my dreamland.
"Mad hermits in Canada... " 😂 I'm a Canadian and Van Is. is my second home... specifically Salt Spring & Pender... let me share something with you you may wish to ponder.
"Being well adapted to a fundamentally sick society is no measure of mental health."
- J. Krishnamurti
Love 💖
very good said!
That reminds me of Thoreau's "most men live lives of quiet desperation."
@@paulboden7850 oh yes! "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived ..." thats why I went to Asia
Build tiny earth homes for the volunteers. Basically just sandbags filled with dirt, barbed wire inbetween, and spackle outside of it. So cheap to do! Then have a portable outhouse with a big hole in the ground, move the outhouse to each new hole.
Roscommon County Council, An Bord Pleanála, Health and Sanitation authority all down on you like a ton of sandbags in double quick time!
A tiny home village is so needed in every county in Ireland, I would live in one in a heartbeat
@@martinoleary5268 April 2020 : Hello Martin - so many here are concerned for Daniel + Moss with no word since January, if you happen to be a neighbour, only with his permission, 🙏☘️ please post if safe.
They are both dear to their followers' hearts and these times are tough.
Thanks, and apologies if no connection.
Hope just busy with his next big project
@@missp5152 Sorry I'm in lockdown about 100 miles from Sligo/Roscommon. I do note however his Workaway account was last checked on 08/04/2020. That's a good sign. Best wishes. Martin.
Why have you stopped posting hope you are well and don't forget to post again soon. You have a lot of viewers who are wondering about you
I agree. I popped in this evening to see if he had left any new messages. I hope we hear something soon.
We hope all is well with you and pups. Love your programs here in New Hampshire. Do stay well and safe during the strange time we are all going through.
Hello from Vancouver Island! I have been enjoying your channel for a while and then listened with delight to l hear you have visited and lived in my sweet little party of the world. I grew up in Comox, just 5 min from Courtenay. I now live down Island in Victoria. And I grow all that I can organically. I so enjoy your adventures. Keep inspiring us, and have a happy new year!
"WWOOF"ed probably before you were born! Now doing the same as you in North Leitrim. (Restoring an old Cottage and planting a Food Forest on our few acres)
We should swap stories!
WWOOF,ed too also a long time ago , good times and great fun.
Hey daniel you all right havent seen you for a while now. I love watching your videos and learned much from them. Please upload another video asap. ☺
I loved your story about our Canadian black bears. They are quite the characters. They also lived in the woods around my parent's cottage in Quebec.
Hey! I've done lots of Woofing mainly portugal and the uk, also general volunteering for various charities etc in the uk, particularly loved working at a biodynamic farm in Somerset where is spent 5 months, it was my favourite way of existing, it made me know that i want to live a sustainable lifestyle ad work every day for myself working on growing, building and just surviving. I'm going to do two courses in traditional building techniques , it's something that I want to be able to do and i seem to have a natural way for understanding structures and how to use materials, so i'm excited about that! i'm about to start volunteering at a local goat farm once a week to learn about making cheese and looking after the goats, such funny souls!!. I would love to come and volunteer for you, though I am currently starting my own veg garden, having started to rent a house in the countryside with some spare space to do so, so i'm sure it will need almost constant attention, a way of teaching myself more, i intend on doing it nod dig and biodynamically, I wonder if you had any experience of growing this way? Dont ask how but it works!! At the farm we had some very odd rituals with horn silica, spraying it on the herb field at 4am on summer solstice! ! I came to ireland in autumn, it's so beautiful, my mother and I are looking for somewhere to buy land eventually, we are considering Orkney/shetland also! It would be nice to come and work with you in spring for a week or so before going down to look around the south of Ireland,if you ahd any space. Thank you for your videos! I enjoy them so much and look forward to the next, you are an inspiration and a reminder that it can be done! and a reminder not to focus on the setbacks and hurdles that exist in society, to carry on towards the daily life i know is best for me! happy new year to you! Morgan :)
If you have space for people park their caravans, you could have more volunteers. Free meals and a camping spot for work sounds good to me.
Jon in rural BC, Canada
his neighbours might think he's starting a traveler's site, frowned upon in the UK and a big taboo in Ireland. i love gypsies, i think they're nuts, sadly most people don't find them so endearing and so panic whenever a caravan pops up anywhere.
Please make sure that tree behind your new volunteer cabin is either took down or made safe you'll know hiw windy it gets around this part of Ireland Happy New Year and hope you have a great year building your dream
Hope you and your animals will be safe while this hurricane storm blows over .. take care Dan
All the very best to Mossy Bottom!!! 🍀❤️🦋
You have such a great energy, it's somehow relaxing to watch your videos! And like the accent too :-D Also love the framing in beautiful nature!
Such a lovely dog. I wish I was good at building or something in order to help you, it's such a dream place, I always wanted a place like yours.
Greetings from Uruguay and wish you all the best, you seem like a nice guys so I'm sure you'll find some volunteers.
Halloooo from Victoria BC ( south Vancouver Island)! I went WWOOFING 1998 in Colombia on a farm/commune created in the 60s/70s with folks from Ireland with a focus on primal scream therapy (apparently and initially) - No screaming did I witness. I did learn how to wield a machete to clear land and also how to cook a bit on a wood stove. It’s always great to stretch ourselves and try something new;) Cheers Jenny☕️
I just started watching your videos, and I must say I have enjoyed them. Trying to figure out how to fit in some Indian runner ducks into my garden, I had thought about chickens, but you have changed my mind. I’m looking forward to seeing your renovations on the cottage, something I have always wanted to do. It’s good you realized early on what you wanted in life and took steps to achieve it; hopefully the New Year will bring you good luck with all of your endeavors.
A very happy new year to you, and Moss. That wonderful dog really loves you.
I love your videos Dan, your ethos and work ethic are commendable.
Your traveling adventures brought a big smile to my face, It reminded me of the writings Jack London. Thank you for sharing. Who knows, you just might have inspired someone else to take a leap and try doing the same. I have been inspired by Ruth Stout's method of permaculture type gardening. Life is wonderful and you can learn so much from others if you keep an open mind and just TRY.
My first 5-minutes on American soil I got arrested for taking a photo that happened to have some federal machine in the background lol I can relate
Your dog is such a lovely soul! I love your life project. Good luck with everything
I was just thinking of you and how getting help from volunteers will probably be difficult to organise for a while. Hope you and Moss (and the rest of your gang) are spending these weird days well and happy!
I watch your videos before going to bed. Your voice is really relaxing and soothing to me. Last night I fell asleep listening about the poor flight experience and I then had a similar dream. I had to return and write to you. Please post more I want to see how far the cottage has come along. xx
You certainly are a man after my own heart! When I was young I also did a lot of solo travelling. For a female, that was ballsy I guess, but maybe I just had the luck o' the Irish on my side. These days I just volunteer for myself and am happy if anything gets done at all. 💜 Happy New Year dear boy. 🍷
Your call out will be a success..
Get the volunteers to help build the accommodation..makes it come around full circle...you can be in a place of watching it evolving into reality..blessings to you and your beautiful dog..😊
Please let us know how you’re doing! Blessings
I want to jack in my corporate London job every time you post a video, but this one might actually make me do it! Love love love your updates and Mossy Bottom adventures. More please! Happy New Year to you, Moss and the piggies.
I would do this in a heartbeat if I could get to Ireland.
Glad you enjoyed Canada!
I love your organic ploughs (pigs). It appears you're creating a utopia. You'll be inundated with volunteer requests. Blessings to you in 2020. May all your dreams come true.
i think volunteering on your homestead would be a very good experience. I great reason to visit Ireland.
Hehehe, just yesterday I checked your profile on Workaway (because you mentioned on one of your videos that you're listed there) and today I see you posted a video on volunteering. :-) 20 years ago I went to Ireland (Roscommon) as a volunteer. We were originally there to help the people with physical disabilities who were vacationing in Cuisle (that's how that place was called), but because that particular group came with their own carers, we ended up helping in the kitchen, washing up, serving food and just hanging out with the group. It was the best experience ever. It was also my very first time travelling abroad on my own (and with no money at that). Last year I started looking into volunteering again as an alternative way of spending a week or two of my vacations. I signed up for workaway and hopefully this year I'll find a host for my dates.
You are an inspiration to me! Keep up the good work. Watching every video of yours from Romania.
Lovely video. I moved from a very unhappy civil servant job in London to the Highlands of Scotland, and volunteered as a wwoofer for my first 6 months up here. I planted trees, learnt about growing vegetables and helped to convert an old barn into cottages. I then became a resident at the farm community where I volunteered, and am still in Scotland (although now, even further north!) 10 years later. It was the best decision I ever made, to move to Scotland and volunteer on a permaculture farm in Perthshire!
I am studying International Food and Agribusiness in the Netherlands. I will be leaving to China in February to do a volunteering internship at a farm for half a year! I will be provided with a place to live and food in exchange for my internship there. I'm very much looking forward to it. I will be designing a permaculture farm of one hectare for them. Hopefully I will succeed :D
Claudia, sounds like an exciting adventure awaits you. Have fun and I hope you are successful with your permaculture design!
Christ that's brave of you! Do you know if they have toilets or if you will be expected to go in the field like so many farmworkers there do?
Please check in when you're able!
daniel likes to keep his location in sligo a closely guarded secret...outside of structured volunteers, there may be local people who'd like to help him and turn up for an hour or two of a weekend
I love Golden. Stayed there several times over the years. I think it was 2015 the last time I was there. I think another road trip there is on the cards maybe next summer if this pandemic is finally behind us. It's a 5.5 hour drive from where I live so could definitely travel there for a long weekend. Glad you enjoyed your stay in Canada. i have been here 14 years now. I would recommend coming here a a volunteer, Loved your story about the plane :)
I use an electric wheelchair and I am looking forward to moving in with you.
LOL 😂
Hope all goes well for you and the volunteers. Best wishes for 2020.
We haven't heard from you for a while hope you are well wish we could come to volenteing just not possible at the moment love Ireland 🌈 love mossy bottom love to hear from you soon 👍 good luck 🐸 💚💯 Diane xxxx Colin 🌺 🌄
New subscriber
I'm a super fan🌟👍😁
I would love to live there
Happy New Year! I wish i were a bit younger ( like about 30 years..LOL), i would love to come volunteer. Although i don’t have any experience with cottage restoration, I have much experience with gardening, chickens, horses, dogs, poop management, dirt moving, planting, harvesting (animal and vegetable) and food preservation. I am fairly strong and in reasonable shape. I have animal husbandry skills ( was a vet tech for years) and human medical skills ( registered nurse), but as a nearly 60 year old female, i’m probably not what you are looking for in a volunteer..😕 My only trip to Europe ( Ireland) from the US, i landed at Dublin, loaded my luggage into my rental car and set off with trepidation for my destination (Trim) for the evening. Shortly after leaving the airport, i took a wrong exit off the first roundabout on my route and got terribly lost in Dublin for most of the day.😱 Needless to say, i was just about in tears by the afternoon-time after multiple stops to ask kind strangers for directions. One trio of gentlemen in a barbershop even gave me a few euro to pay the tolls because i hadn’t thought to exchange any cash. I found every soul that i spoke to exceedingly kind and generous the entire two weeks i was in the country. I’ll probably never have the opportunity to return, but it was an experience of a lifetime for me.
Leslie Gray, if you are willing to work I don't think age is a factor. There are plenty of things you could do that would free up other people to perform the more labor intensive work. Ask, the most that can happen is that people say "No thanks". HNY
PasadenaSue : willingness to work is not a problem... i am hale and hearty, and willing to learn what i don’t have experience with ( cottage restoration/stone masonry,etc)..I have horses and a pack of big-game hounds. I can shovel poop with the best of them. Our dogs range from 50lbs to 80lbs and i handle them daily. At 5’3” and 130 lbs, I carry 50lb sacks of grain or dog food and bags of soil or bales of peat moss or hay...
i just imagined that he would be looking for someone younger and more 🏋️♀️
@@ldg2655 Why not apply? Daniel seems like an uncommonly open-minded person. You've made it clear you're able to work and be beneficial to him and his farm. If you don't apply you'll never know!
@@ldg2655 I have found often at my job that the young folk are rather delicate and need this old lady to pick up the slack. Some young people have never had to do the hard physical labor older generations had to do. I don't mean to disparage young people though. So many are obviously working hard and struggling.
Leslie Gray , you sound like the perfect volunteer. 60 really is not that old, especially if you are fit. I live in Ireland now after 15 years living in Asia, I find that in Ireland so many people feel old long before they should.
Gotta add--when I was young, I volunteered for three mont hff s on a kibbutznon the Golan Heights on Israel. Yes, It was awhile back! What a paradigm shift! I got up a 4:00 AM to tend bananas, showered in cold water, and ate _healthier_ and worked _harder_ than ever before in my life. That year changed my life.
"I will, yeah" ... a famous Irish saying
HI Daniel,
Hope you are safe and healthy. We didn't get much news from you these past few months. How do you do?
Omg those little pigs are adorable.
great videos, love your channel, we are hoping to do the same in wales this year as long as we are allowed out! keep them coming
Hope and pray you are doing alright Mossy, especially at this time of contagion. God Bless you n' yours i.e. Moss
Funny that I moved to Canada from England, yet I am following your life in Ireland.
Will be spending 3 nights in Golden this month for X-country, downhill skiing and snow shoeing.
Courtney on the Island is a great place.
Hello Daniel
Be very careful with who you bring to your calm beautiful place. Not everyone is open hearted or hardworking and honest as you seem to be. How do you vet such people? What is their history and background? I've worked with people since 1968 and have often been duped and taken advantage of in time money and generosity. It's good you only have space for two volunteers. I listened to many of your vidios and they are very encouraging and inspiring and as a seventy year old I've taken ideas from your horticultural skills. Very remarkable young man. Heleena
Plant more trees
Hi D, love the videos i'm really considering moving to a small holding in Ireland, my thinking is more around establishing a small organic permaculture enterprise style setup, a few questions and comments, can you add information on energy, solar, wind etc, how far does one have to drill for ground water, are you considering an enterprise setup and lastly it would be great if you start establishing data for all the crops and animals that you farming, this will be a great help for those considering small enterprise setups. thanks
I'm up in Belfast. I can help and I drive a motorbike, winter isn't good travel conditions for driving. I've volunteered before, built homes in Romania and Hungry for the poor. I will gladly give a hand when weather improves, if you may need a hand. God speed.
Thank you for this! It's wonderful to see the new additions to your 'farmyard'. :)
Hey there mate. We haven't heard a peep out of you for nearly two months. Seriously hope you are not under H2O.No doubt you have been extremely busy. Look forward to your next vid.
What about an artist in residence ......that volunteers too!?.....wish I was 30 years younger ....fabulous opportunity
Happy New Year
If i was much younger I would love to visit Ireland and do some volunteering with you!. I am from Ontario, Canada. My daughter did two months worth of volunteering in Morroco and Nepal when she was 18 and I am fairly envious of her. LOL
Also have an acre in Co. Sligo we are setting up to live self sufficiently. We have dogs, chickens and horses and pigs are next on the list. We should share tips
Lol, funny experienced you're share, I couldn't stop laughing. Thanks for made my day. Happy 2020
I love the way you tell your stories, you have great experiences.
Good luck with your efforts from cavan , I hope you can screen out the looky loos and time wasters , I expect you will .
Where are you and Moss? We miss you. Hope you all are safe.
Moss loves his Dad 🥰
Your beautiful homestead is very tempting and I pretty certain that I would really enjoy spending time there and helping out with furthering the manifestation of your perfect piece of the world and life as you envision it. I know for a fact that I would definitely love to meet and spend time with your furry and feathered companions. I love, love , love animals. Your two new little pigs are truly adorable and Moss is the BOSS! He is just so darn cute and his personality is huge, makes me smile every time I see him and how much he he loves you. I know this may sound a bit looney, but if you wouldn't find it too bizarre please give him a big hug for me and tell him it's from his big fan in WV, USA. I have so much respect for what you are doing and your outlook on life, as much as you have been willing to share with your viewers, and think that you would also be a great partner for some interesting and stimulating conversations. Just have to find the courage to give the traveling volunteer thing a try, wish I could grow that in a garden, lol. Much continued success to you dear gentleman and I look forward to seeing the progression of the Mossy Bottom homestead.
similarly, i volunteered on a farm in japan a couple of times when I was younger, it was amazing, and from then on my dream was to have a farm. Nothing better then being a farmer, we need to be more sustainable. You are absolutely right about the memories that get created when travelling
Greetings - I enjoy your videos. I may be interested in volunteering - I’ll think it over. I grew up on a farm and we have a small farm of our own here in the Midwest. I’ve been around livestock and gardens all my life. I’ve been on five mission trips and earn my living as a tinker / handyman. Paint, tile, masonry, light construction. My family left Ireland during the great starvation. My time is flexible. Take care-
I’ve also backpacked and camped extensively - I don’t need much in the way of creature comfort but a Guinness at the end of the day would be welcome - LOL
You might be interested in checking out folks like Takota Coen (he is in Canada). Because they are so innovative. Check him out anyway, the way he uses lifestock to garden. Or his duckweed pond that supply nutritious food (an extra) for pigs and poutry.
Thanks for your story. If I had been 30 years younger......
Happy New Year.
A very happy new year to you Daniel, Moss, Tich n Fatso (great names) and all at Mossy Bottom! I would so love to come and volunteer but caring for my father presently so not so doable. I love to dream and your videos are entertaining and serve as inspiration! Keep em coming as you can😀
Love watching your videos, wonderful knowledge being shared, , excellent presenting skills and a soothing calm peaceful vibes from you and of course Moss! I hope to volunteer at some point in the future.
Happy New Year :) I really look forward to your videos. Good luck in finding the right volunteers. What a fantastic opportunity for them - if I were a few decades younger, I'd love to help out!!! lol Take care. Jan :)
Oh would love to but I'm in Australia! Good luck anyway and Happy 2020
I am so glad to have seen this video today. It’s one of those days where nothing goes right and the rat race is just too much. I would love to come volunteer but am doing my own self-build, albeit not as cool as yours, renovating a 100 year old apartment. But as soon as I finish I’ll be renting it out and on workaway looking for volunteering opportunities. Thank you for reminding me how important it is to just do what you love, and not feel guilty about it.
Thank you for sharing. This vid is packed with much appreciated. Your companions are sweet and charming.
Happy New Year to you and Mossy and my best wishes for the restoration of your desired nest.
Discovered your videos about a month ago and have watched them all. Looking forward to following your progress. You've done great so far. You've inspired us to get more active outside and since christmas' been gorgeous mostly. We've done a bit of planting, a bit of coppicing, wood chopping and gathered a lot for chipping. Nicest time of the year in ways. Seriously thinking of planting some (mainly crab) apple trees for cider and have a bit of a hankering for getting a beehive or two (but I'll leave that for a bit). To cut down on your labour, have you looked at Charles Dowding's no dig gardening technique, he claims to get higher yields than via the conventional way and he's a former professional horticulturalist? Your cottage plan is awesome btw. I never heard of rocket fuel stoves before you mentioned them. Pretty amazing but you'd miss looking at the fire in a conventional stove. I suppose having both is possible.
All the best.
I did exactly that in 2016. Quit my job, sold everything and left my life in the big city and travelled across the globe to Chile with the intention of exploring the possibility of a living a self-sufficient life close to nature. After a year in the farms, I am definitely convinced of the possibility to live a life that is self-sufficient or almost so in nature. But, I have also experienced and witnessed a lot of practical difficulties to do so for a woman alone. If there are women who have done this on their own, I would love to hear your stories.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉🎊🍸🥂🎉🍾TO YOU @YOUR LOVELY Doggie 🐶👍
If you are still offering this a few years down the road I would love to take you up on it! What a wonderful experience to offer people! 😊🌱
By the comments, it seems like Daniel will end up having an army of volunteers! Nice to see there are so many souls willing to help and learn from this amazing life style.
I'd absolutely LOVE to come and volunteer at your place :) I've volunteered at Jacob's Ridge animal sanctuary in Spain for 5 months and it required alot of hard work but the rewards were incredible. Amazing people, lifelong friendships made and a bond wih nature and animals tied forever. What's the best way to get to Sligo from Yorkshire in England?
Fly into Dublin Airport, use Ryanair it shouldn't cost anymore than £20. When you walk out the Airport you'll see it has Bus Stances, look for the stance that has "Bus No 23" direct service to Sligo leaving from it. Shouldn't cost anymore than €18.00 - €22.00 one way, it's abour 2.5 hours if not mistaken.
Timetable Link - www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=406&form-view-timetables-from=Ballina+%28Bus+Station%29&form-view-timetables-to=Sligo+%28Bus+Station%29&form-view-timetables-route=&form-view-timetables-submit=1
I've given you the simplest route rather than heading into Dublin City itself and catching other Coaches / Train's. 👍
@@user-yt8ig4hd3f Thanks yall! :) really appreciate it
Haha I had the same experience flying from Turku/Finland to Bergen/Norway - we didnt understand that we were supposed to exit the flight.. Fortunately we figured it out in time!! :DD And yesss i recognize the feeling that days just blend into eachother and months roll by at work.. time feels completely wasted and your pay check simply doesnt compensate. Whereas some short trips, meaningful activities etc leave such lasting and strong impressions! Im making some changes in my life and Daniel has been a big inspiration for me :) he has such an eloquent way of verbalising these common sentiments/experiences that we share, and hes done so much introspection and found a level of peace. And if he can make stuff work in conditions that i consider relatively extreme then so can I in much more conventional ways. The main point for me at the moment is that we all have the right to enjoy our lives and prioritize our happiness - it doesnt mean mindless hedonism but its just an alignment with our own core values and not trying to adjust to some random outer parameters we happen to be surrounded by at the moment. Xx "And that, I think, is probably how life is supposed to be lived" and then cut - just accidentally dropping in some mossy wisdom teachings :)))
Love to hear your adventures, you could do a whole TH-cam channel just with your stories. Sorry, but I'll just have to follow your adventures from USA. Doing my own hobby farm 56 y/o. Taking a break from TH-cam, Robin Bitsnpieces.
I hope I get a chance to volunteer and learn from you. Being in Ireland has been a dream of mine since childhood, since I heard Celtic music for the first time. My ultimate dream goal is to live off the land, have animals, live harmoniously with the earth and fellow living things, use permaculture and sustainability to create an abundant and dynamic harmonious lifestyle.. I want to learn all o can about gardening/farming, herbal medicine, husbandry, building different types of structures, etc forever! Eventually I would like to start an animal rescue, and build small cabins scattered around in different styles tailored for my loved ones. Last year I decided that I would spend the next year saving money to finally visit Ireland, and see if it’s actually where I wanna make these dreams happen. Gotta see if I can handle all that rain haha. I’ve been putting it off for ever for the right timing... I don’t know when it will be but I realized why not do it now, ASAP, at least move in the direction... anywho, currently in the works &save process. I’ll reach out later on to volunteer, if it be for the best then may it be!!! 💚💚💚 thanks for posting 🙏🏼
I live on my boat in kinsale in cork, I'd be happy to come help for a weekend. Lived in my van for a year before the boat so can bring my own accommodation.
Do you need a volunteer for 24 hour pig cuddling ? (By any chance : -) )
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I've been thinking about volunteering for some time now, since I would love to break free from boring office job for at least a little bit and experience something new, exciting and more fulfilling. Quite frankly I would love to volunteer on your homestead (mainly because I would really love to visit Ireland and it would be also quite nice to read my books in peace for once after work :D), but I guess I won't be so lucky, since there are many people who are wishing to do the same and you really can't acommodate all. Also love your newest additions, they are adorable :) Wishing you all the best in 2020!
Someone probably mentioned this is the 445 comments, if not, that bear was scratching his/her back against the window sill. Also, wanted to mention regarding the medal you found that St. Joseph is the patron Saint of Home.
Can you show the step by step build of the summerhouse?
I would love to go! The only problem is where to stay and I don’t have much experience in farming but I am hardworker !!!!