today we arrived at our new wwoofing farm - barenfang - in treplin, germany - just an hour or so outside of berlin. and because it's sunday, the grill was fired up and the food was plentiful. yum!
after a good tasty meal, alex and i checked out our new home for two weeks. so far, it seems like the best thing about barenfang is the strawberry patch - the ripe, juicy, yummy strawberry patch. i think these strawberries might be the best i've ever had (there's no sour/tartness at all). and the "farm" (pretty small scale) seems to look pretty nice too - beets, lettuce, cabbages, etc - and this is what is harvested on fridays for sale in the berlin market on saturdays.
but the rest of barenfang is pretty bare. perhaps sweden spoiled us. i'm sure it did - well, urnatur did. and i'm sure this is more like traditional wwoofing accommodations - something on par with a camp facility. and while we at least have our own room, it's kinda grimy. basically the structure where the rooms and kitchen are used to be a children's camp - which is very evident. so, it's like camp, but dirtier. but i think, oh, whatever - it's better than pitching a tent. and in a few days we'll be as dirty as the rest of the place - since there's only one "shower" and it's weird looking (think big heating tank suspended over tub) and in a really large, really open room - where other people are living. hmmm...and we brush our teeth in the kitchen sink - just like back in brooklyn. cosy.
and the hosts here, well, they are german. and i don't speak german. yes, they speak some english - but it doesn't appear that they are too into it. maybe it's just because it's their day off and they were relaxing with friends. luckily we are currently joined by 3 other wwoofers - a couple and their toddler from berlin - who are very nice (and the little boy is soooo cute!) but they leave wednesday...so...i hope more people are coming. otherwise it might get real awkward, real soon.
alex is already squeemish from the families of bugs we are sharing a bed with. and i have already started a nice mosquito bite collection on my back. maybe it'll all get better. these are just first impressions. if i think about all my first impressions they weren't always so good. but each farm has really been a good experience and been pretty enjoyable and comfortable. i'll hope for the same here.
hej guys! Well, when i read your blog, i have to say it sounds a little like the farm we experienced the last two days close to Kalmar. Well, it was even worse, because they haven't had a real toilet, no hot water at all, and: no shower. we had to take a "bath" in the river... we skipped that place on the second day and went back to the wonderful farm in the woods, we've worked and lived before. Sometimes a "challenge" is more than you actually can handle... we are happy to be back in the middle of nowhere and really hope you will get along with your new german farm. If not: There is always a couch to crash in Leipzig! We keep following you and send you a big hug from wonderful Sweden,
ReplyDeleteAmelie and Friedemann