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On the Homestead: The garden has doubled and there's more buzz from the bees

I started my trip through Canada in February 2010. I decided to become a wwoofer, to see Canada's landscape and practice English

Apr 11, 2012 • April 11, 2012 • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

Diane Doiron

With On the Homestead's Diane Doiron away in New Brunswick visiting family, one of her volunteer farm hands, known as "wwoofers" (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), steps in to guest-blog. Hilke, 23, is a university student from Germany who studies environmental engineering — when she's not in Ontario, digging up the ground to prepare for planting season. Hilke first worked at Magnificent Hill farm two years ago and returned this April for three weeks.

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I started my trip through Canada in February 2010. I decided to become a wwoofer, to see Canada's landscape and practice English. In a book about wwoofing, I had found the contact information of the little farm called Magnificent Hill. It took me five minutes to give them a call to ask whether they would be needing help soon, and they did.

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Hilke resting after hauling all the tops and branches of 13 elm trees that were cut down to thin the row of trees that separate the barn from the field.

I flew in from my home in Aachen, Germany just in time for maple syrup production and stayed for three weeks of hard work and fun. At the end of my time on the farm, Lea and Dee took me on a wonderful trip to visit Dee's family in New Brunswick, another beautiful experience.

Now, two years later, I am back on the Hill. I am amazed and wondering how many things changed since I had left. I tried to stay informed via their website, but to be here and to see the new greenhouse in real life is exciting. Lea and I put up a lot of mirrors to get nice bright light in the greenhouse.

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They've also added four beehives since I've have been away. On a sunny day, there is a fantastic sound of working bees on the Hill. I can imagine how they will fly through the young apple trees which were planted just the fall before I was here the first time. Another change is the garden that has doubled in size. After a day of working on the farm, I spend my time in the dorm, which is located on top of the workshop. I have a tea, look around and remember how much fun Lea and I had painting the floor of the dorm two years ago. Before I fall into a wonderful deep sleep, I think about how good and healthy it feels to be on the Hill.

Hilke helps Lea put up a protective fence around the beehives to keep the bears out when the wake up hungry this spring.

It's an amazing place to learn about building, repairing, taking care of animals and nature and to be with great people who probably will never stop realizing their dreams. I will come back again to meet friends and to learn more about their wonderful lifestyle. Thank you, Lea and Dee.

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