After a year of intense virtual activity, with monthly skype meetings, online planning, presentations from the partners on various aspects of the project, and promotion to interested parties for information and consultation, the 10 WWOOF organisation partner countries of the 'LLOOF' (Living and Learning on Organic Farms) EDVORG project, had their second face to face meeting in September. The LLOOF project is unique in Erasmus terms, being the only project in the funding scheme which has the full quota of 10 partners, and is choosing to distribute funds evenly between the partner countries, despite the disparity of earnings in the different nations involved.
The 3 day meeting took place at a WWOOF host farm set on top of a hill in the beautiful village of Sassonero in Italy and included a conference day, with delegates representing interested parties from Italy and beyond. There were farmers, smallholders, volunteers and hosts from other countries, including Switzerland, Denmark, Germany and Israel, reflecting the true international nature of the project. All were invited to contribute to the discussions and decisions about the make up and content of the LLOOF website.
Presentations were made to the conference to show how the project had taken shape over the last year and the partners talked to the delegates about their individual roles – as well as Italy planning the conference, the tasks undertaken by the groups ranged from the initial needs analysis from Serbia, to the planning of structure and content by Spain, and website and OER by Hungary. Turkey has developed a contacts list, and communicated with Ireland for the distribution of promotion. Online resources, monitoring of soft outcomes and progress reports are handled by Sweden, Czech Republic and the UK. Much under discussion at the conference was the learning content and approach, lead by Germany.
Presentations were made to the conference to show how the project had taken shape over the last year and the partners talked to the delegates about their individual roles – as well as Italy planning the conference, the tasks undertaken by the groups ranged from the initial needs analysis from Serbia, to the planning of structure and content by Spain, and website and OER by Hungary. Turkey has developed a contacts list, and communicated with Ireland for the distribution of promotion. Online resources, monitoring of soft outcomes and progress reports are handled by Sweden, Czech Republic and the UK. Much under discussion at the conference was the learning content and approach, lead by Germany.
The meeting concluded that the best way forward would be to develop an interactive website which would show real people with real experiences, through video presentation, providing opportunities for feedback and interaction. Essentially volunteering is a practical learning process in an informal situation, undertaken in a 'hands on' way, and as many volunteers already produce short videos of their experiences on blogs or Youtube, it would be a short step to ask for specifically tailored videos as short presentations to create the effect "I can meet this person!” so that hosts can directly share their knowledge with many volunteers.
Following this, LLOOF co-ordinator Adam Cade, will be attending an EC Seminar in Brussels on the 15th and 16th October, to consider the development of exchange schemes for new young entrants to farming. This is the culmination of a pilot project 'Knowledge for Young Farmers' to review and develop European exchange schemes for young farmers. The central mission of the LLOOF project –an online learning guide as an interactive extension to the hands on practical learning of volunteering, supported by experienced hosts– is very relevant for the support of encouraging young farmers, indeed WWOOF is one of the largest exchange schemes for young farmers in Europe already in existance, and continually growing. The planned LLOOF website will extend the reach of organic growing and sustainable living education.
Following this, LLOOF co-ordinator Adam Cade, will be attending an EC Seminar in Brussels on the 15th and 16th October, to consider the development of exchange schemes for new young entrants to farming. This is the culmination of a pilot project 'Knowledge for Young Farmers' to review and develop European exchange schemes for young farmers. The central mission of the LLOOF project –an online learning guide as an interactive extension to the hands on practical learning of volunteering, supported by experienced hosts– is very relevant for the support of encouraging young farmers, indeed WWOOF is one of the largest exchange schemes for young farmers in Europe already in existance, and continually growing. The planned LLOOF website will extend the reach of organic growing and sustainable living education.