First week: Notre Dame de Ham After a few days off because of computer failure here is the result of my journey ...
What is woofing (or wwoofing)?
is the question that always comes to the ears, so before going further, I must explain this process. The woofing (WWOOF: World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) would come from the English (thus takes!), In truth the woofing existed since man exists, the English have just put a name on it, and modernized the bazaar coup d'Internet. The woofing therefore exists in virtually every corner of the globe. Practice! What is it? Simply resume the good old principle: I give a hand (or 5 to 6 hours of work per day) cons and lodging. but beware, only organic farms! Of course as everywhere there may be some surprises, such as farmers who will take you to the free labor and exploited to thank you! The advantage is that you're free and can make your backpack when you want!
Sometimes it's as if you were to make friends: you live at the same rate they (forget your fat matt up at 6am for the less fortunate), you eat with them (haaaa cheese freshly molded and these salads of dandelion) you do not hesitate to play with the kids (uh no sorry kids) ... well, you are part of the family of lifted until coated (generally not after 9 o'clock so you're tired). So you spend virtually no money and you can keep your Pépette to go whale watching in the St. Lawrence or go get drunk in estuaries (for example). So for my baptism of woofing, towards Notre-Dame de Ham , two hours drive south west of Quebec. This village has a convenience store (grocery store) and a Bar. Point! (Anyway the whole is 10 minutes by car and have not car!)
First week: Notre Dame de Ham
Friday, May 9, 10:40 has Victoriaville. Person when I arrived. I wait patiently for 10 minutes, 20 minutes, I put my backpack, he began to be heavy this context, however, I planted a little business wherever I went! 1 hour later, a breath of anguish, would have been forgotten? Nevermind, I unsheathed map and phone number (ha I knew I need it) and go in search of a cab (thankfully here is not fashion phones phones are still cabins), a small voice replied, "good hhaa? someone had to pick me up?? Baaa it does not matter "it said," I can simply come in inch (hitchhiking), we explain rapido, I understand it, Re-breath of anguish! 1:20! As I prepare to face the thirty kilometer to go, or on foot (haaaaa this backpack), Annette (the owner of the farm) and her two daughters are coming! Saved!
The farm houses are 6 people (3 girls: Ella 7 years, Fanny 13, Melina 15 years and a boy 16 years Frederick (the same man who sent me thumbs up to the farm. Vengeance!)). Annette, Rejean and their 4 children are a pure family Babos, who advocates the school house, where there is not necessarily schedule and everyone works when he wants.
[home]
This paradise includes an organic garden (which will look after the next two weeks) with two greenhouses, a barn with goats (goats are cool), chickens ( con is a hen), horses, and cows (with training to trafficking);
(my little goats. Whether they are bellesheuuuu) 
[the barn]
a small trailer that has served at a crossing in Quebec a few years ago, and which serves as my bedroom right now (it's cool at night! )
[my beautiful trailer] ¨ stacked wood ¨, a small cozy cottage that used to woofers (not now because he is squatted by Marie-Claude, who occupy the farm for a year ), and finally a very nice small pond when it's hot (it says it has not happened yet) and full of small fish without putting their bellies full.
[the stacked wood and the little pond] Days program roughly follows this pattern: survey 6:30 am (the longer it goes and the more it becomes 7am), coffee, the stable direction for trafficking, a ptite itches to horses (must not forget, they are likely), some seeds for the chickens (hens RRRhhhaa!), breakfast (another coffee, toast, eggs or pancakes, maple syrup good bio) a ride to weed the garden (it is true I have hands of agricultural workers), ha it's time for dinner (lunch hours), a detour to the barn to collect eggs before they come to be eaten by the chickens (hens RRRhhhaa! is increasingly cannibalistic!). After the dishes (it take a little time to identify suspicious volunteers), removal of hay for compost (no sewer here. Long live the toilets!) And return to weed the garden until supper (dinner hours ).
[me to trafficking] But of course there are small variations at the same time as the family prepares a scheduled trip, a year in British Columbia woofing in a motorhome then south to Mexico (well if the motorhome survival). In short it's a joyful mess, and it's fun. Hence
squatting as Marie-Claude.
(me in the gardens) and Ha
are also two dogs!
Sunday, May 11, dinner at Sylvia and Eric, one French and one Swiss expatriates. They live amidst a forest of maple, again in paradise, and have a sugar shack.
[Chez Sylvie and Eric]
A sugar shack is where we will turn water (sap in sum) of maple syrup! This is usually from mid March to mid April that we will harvest the sap of maple. The ideal temperature is 5 ° during the day and -5 ° at night. Do not expect too much because after the sap becomes much thicker and there it works more for the syrup. At the time, sap who had remained warm in the winter the roots up into the branches. We practice small incisions on the trunk, and Yaahhllla, if there is more complete Boilers (buckets).
That's where the sugar shack track.
Soon you will visit this small maple, and that an industrial sugar maple (brrrr it's cold in the back).
[Starting from left: Belinda, Réjean, Annette and Eric]
Tuesday, May 13, arrival of Samuel, a former woofer which is on his third visit. It is cuisto, it will be chic to eat! The days are the same with the exception that no longer fighting to designate who will cook! And in the process, he plunges (Haa happiness).
Thursday, May 15, arrival of Virgil, the son of Rejean followed by Cecile (whose spouse is beer, but I will discuss later) and three daughters. Hula is beginning to be numerous.
And visit the blacksmith who moves directly from the farms with his brand new super break! AC ouaaw relates manicure horse!
Saturday, May 17, preparing a big chouille, with little pause initiation Thai Chi (really unsure of the spelling) by Cécile in the small meadow in front of the forest (hmmmmmm empty his chakras).
Around 13 hours, the festivities begin with the sending of burgers on the barbecue (I imagine a few ha them drool).
Hula people come, it makes the world. Stars are running out of beer, misery! Fortunately, Normand (the famous brewer, spouse Cecilia) arrives with an armful of this precious drink, HAM (haaaa a feast for all lovers of beer). I negotiate a visit illico at the brewery for next Thursday (and on my return to France, I open a gambling illegal!).
The sun sets, people never stop coming, ha bin is full of bottles are hidden in a corner.
Someone puts a hand on the drums and it's gone! Marie-Claude us out these balls fiery and we mimic a particular dance to the sound of drums (definitely got to be fashionable! Tabarnouche, I will take the course!). Everyone gathers around the fire, some others try vocal accompaniment, others frantically moving their behind, or both, and others start to pitch nose, eyes blur (like me). Local production runs under my nose! The devil is strong! I crawl to bed.
Sunday, May 18. I have a headache. I force it too much. Marcus, a neighbor came and picked up cows and goats (goats my little sniff!) And steals some chickens crossing (well that's okay). Little discussion about the price increase. Yep French friend reassures you in your misery, rising prices is everywhere. + 30% on wheat, 1 $ 35 litron the gas, thankfully they have wells Alberta! All this
me very tired! Bedtime at 9am.
Monday, May 19th is the day of departure for large family.
Ca activated in all directions. A sock here, a packet of flour there. We fill the cupboards, it tinkers with the camper. Heck, the tail lights do not work. Ha is not good. At 18h, disaster! departure is deferred to the next. Crisis early last tear, eating and feeling better.
Tuesday, May 20, the day of the great departure of the family.
For real!
After emotional goodbyes, I shake my little handkerchief from the campsite because (called the turtle is saying!). I enter the house, sad and yet very happy to have met such a tribe. Marie-Claude is already at work, there is no noise. Rest the horses, chickens and two dogs. Haaa anxiety. Something tells me that this week will be different ...
