WWOOF Farm 1: Teach a' Tairbh (The House of The Bull)

As part of our State of Change we decided to start our Irish adventure by working on farms.   What could be more different from our stereotypical office jobs than rolling up our sleeves and getting down and dirty with nature?  

We were able to find our farming "jobs" through an organization called Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF).  Through WWOOF we are able to look at over 400 organic farmer profiles in Ireland and reach out to the farms we like and see if they need a hand.  In exchange for our work the farmers put a roof over our heads and food in our bellies.     

Similar to our hostel experience, we arrived on our first farm (20km outside Limerick) not knowing what to expect.  Once again we were pleasantly surprised.  Mike, the farm owner, has been exceptionally welcoming and has made us feel right at home.  Mike's farm consists of an orchard with 300 apple/pear/plum trees, 600 blueberry bushes and 40 blackberry bushes.  He's also added a couple of mini cows this year.  Here's a few photos from the first days on the farm.

Desk outside the farm house
Whenever MB misses her office she sits here.  
Strangely enough the only time she sat at the desk was for this photo.

Mini cows.  MB says they produce milk for the single serve milk cartons.

View from the orchard - the rolling hills of Ireland

Apple tree before weeding

Apple tree after weed killer experts MB and Scott get their hands on it

Orchard cup holder

MB working hard

Scott working not as hard

Fruits of our labour - YUM APPLES!

Arriving in Dublin

Starting our decent into Dublin

We've arrived! On the air coach into the city.

After a smooth red eye flight, we arrived in Dublin and found that it reminded us very much of a North American city. Starbucks, McDonalds, H&M and Gaps crowded the city and we even found Tim Hortons in local Spar convenience stores. We both agree that we need to explore the city more to discover its Irish roots.

Line to get GNIB cards at immigration office.
When we got there at 6am the line up was already around the block!

Scott waiting in line while MB made a Tim's run (no joke!)

Our first order of business in Dublin was to get our GNIB cards which will allow us to work in Ireland. The office opens at 8am and we were advised to arrive early, but nothing could prepare us for the line we encountered at 6am!

Beautiful view of River Liffey from our Hostel room

Neither of us has stayed in a hostel before, so we were apprehensive about how the experience would be (especially because we each value our personal space so highly). We were pleasantly surprised by our stay at Abigail's Hostel. Our roommates were friendly and considerate, the staff was helpful and the location could not have been better.

A State of Change

Today we fly to Dublin for a year where the only people we have to answer to are us: The Republic of Us. People tell us we are brave, or foolish, or lucky. Actually we are none of these things. We are two people who got sick of doing what we're expected to do and decided that we either make a change or face NOT changing for the next 30 years. We choose change, life and Ireland. We have no idea what to expect, and that's the point. We have lived with logic for too long. It's time to embrace the magic and all that it entails, especially leprechauns!

Packed and ready to go!