Merryweather's Herbs - East Sussex

VOLUNTEERING & TRAINING AT MERRYWEATHER'S HERBS
THE 6 ACRES OF ORGANICALLY MANAGED GARDENS AT MERRYWEATHERS REQUIRE A WIDE RANGE OF HORTICULTURAL SKILLS TO KEEP THEM MOVING FORWARD AND AS SUCH PROVIDE A RICH TRAINING GROUND FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO LEARN SUCH DIVERSE THINGS AS VEGETABLE GROWING,
The Herb Garden	COPPICING, TREE & HEDGE PLANTING, GARDEN DESIGN, GENERAL GARDEN MAINTENANCE, WILDLIFE HABITAT CREATION, FRUIT TREE PRUNING, PLANT PROPAGATION AND MUCH MORE. AS WELL AS RUNNING A NUMBER COURSES & WORKSHOPS IN MATTERS RELATED TO THE GARDENS, WE ACCEPT A LIMITED NUMBER OF COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS TO WORK WITH US ON THE PROJECT. IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK WE PROVIDE A BROAD AND DETAILED KNOWLEDGE BASE, PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WORKING AS PART OF A SMALL, DEDICATED TEAM AND AN IDYLLIC, PEACEFUL WORKING ENVIRONMENT, TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE. PEOPLE VOLUNTEER FOR ALL SORTS OF REASONS: • TO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE • TO TRAIN FOR A CAREER • THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK OUTSIDE IN A TRANQUIL SETTING & FORGET YOUR WORRIES FOR A WHILE • EXERCISE AND FRESH AIR • TO HELP WITH A SPECIFIC PROJECT SUCH AS ERECTING THE POLYTUNNEL, OR CLEARING OVERGROWTH FROM THE POND
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING ANY NEW VOLUNTEERS
VOLUNTEER PROFILES LUCY VOLUNTEERED IN THE GARDENS FROM AUTUMN 2008. SHE COMMITTED HERSELF TO WORK WITH US FOR ONE DAY A WEEK FOR AROUND A YEAR WHICH MEANT THAT SHE WOULD EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE GARDENING YEAR. LUCY LIVES IN A FLAT IN BRIGHTON WITH NO ACCESS TO A GARDEN AND ALLOTMENT WAITING LISTS ARE CLOSED. SHE HAS SOME PAST EXPERIENCE WITH VEGETABLE GROWING BUT NOW WANTS TO TRAIN FOR A CAREER AS AN ECOLOGICAL GARDEN DESIGNER & TO WORK TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY. HAVING VISITED GARDENS AT MERRYWEATHER’S HERBS SHE WAS INSPIRED BY WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE FELT THAT THE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING SHE COULD GAIN HERE WOULD BE INVALUABLE FOR HER CHOSEN CAREER PATH. LUCY CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THE WORK OF THE TEAM DURING HER TIME HERE.
		MALCOLM LIVES IN HAILSHAM AND HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING IN THE GARDENS FOR MORE THAN 6 YEARS, WORKING HERE ONE MORNING A WEEK. HE CYCLES HERE AND BACK EVERY WEEK THE 7 OR MORE MILES FROM HIS HOME IN HAILSHAM. MALCOLM SAYS “I LIKE HELPING OUT AT MERRYWEATHER’S HERBS BECAUSE I LOVE THE GARDENS AND THE SETTING THEY ARE IN. IT’S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THINGS CHANGE WITH THE SEASONS AND THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY THERAPEUTIC.”
THE REST OF THE TEAM IAN & LIZ O’HALLORAN HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE THE GARDENS AT MERRYWEATHER’S HERBS SINCE ARRIVING HERE IN 1994. IAN IS A MAN WITH A VISION WHOSE CREATIVE DRIVING FORCE AND ARTISTIC FLAIR HAS MADE THE GARDENS HAPPEN. LIZ’S TENACITY AND STUBBORNESS – AND FAITH IN WHAT THEY ARE CREATING - HAS KEPT THEM GOING THROUGH TIMES OF ADVERSITY (OF WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY).
		CHARLOTTE CAME AS A TRAINEE GARDENER IN SUMMER 2006. HAVING COMPLETED HER TRAINING YEAR SHE HAPPILY MOVED ON TO THE POSITION OF UNDERPAID GARDENER THE FOLLOWING YEAR. AS WELL AS BECOMING A VERY USEFUL GARDENER CHARLOTTE SHARES OUR LOVE OF WILDLIFE AND CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. SHE IS ALSO A FELLOW ARTIST, SPECIALISING IN PRINTMAKING. CHARLOTTE WORKS WITH US TWO DAYS A WEEK, AND DIVIDES THE REST OF HER TIME BETWEEN GARDENING, PRINTMAKING AND DOG-SITTING (HER OWN). UNTIL RECENTLY SHE ALSO HELPED TO RUN POULTRY COURSES AT MIDDLE FARM.
How to contact us: Ian & Liz O'Halloran Merryweather's Herbs, Merryweather's Farm Chilsham Lane, Herstmonceux East Sussex BN27 4QH Tel 01323 831726 email: info@morethanjustagarden.co.uk