Taylor is a full time traveler that is passionate about horticulture and organic farming. I saw a post she shared on instagram that touched a bit on her off grid living experience in Hawaii and asked if she would write us some more. I’m all for leaving behind our usual luxuries of life and just being in nature whenever we can, so this really inspires me! Read on for more on her time there where she volunteered at different farms, lived off the land, and had an amazing journey.
////
Hi, my name is Taylor and I was born and raised in Miami, FL.
Growing up a few blocks from the beach has planted seeds of love towards the ocean within me. It’s my escape haven, my natural remedy, the cure to my complications. I love being outside.
Throughout college I volunteered on farms around town in exchange for fresh produce. There’s nothing better than sinking your hands in the dirt and contributing to the growth of food. I feel so aligned when working with the earth – my chakras are in sync, and I glow from the inside out.
Through word of mouth I discovered a program called WWOOF that completely changed my life. WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It’s a free work exchange program connecting hosts with volunteers looking to learn about agriculture.
Right when I graduated I had a one-way ticket to Hawaii in one hand and a back pack in the other. That was it. Next thing I knew I was living on a farm in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
The first farm I lived on provided tent living and we were situated just a few feet away from 20+ pigs. Our work trade consisted of farm labor five days a week, and we never had access to simply luxuries we take for granted today like air conditioning, hot water, and plumbing. These were some of the challenging moments. Living off the grid we depended completely on solar panels / a generator, so it was really eye opening to compare how much energy we used back home vs on the farm.
Even though the circumstances were not so enjoyable in the moment they were amazing tests for soul work. They enhanced my patience and acceptance skills. I also grew a new profound appreciation for farmers. Labor on the land should not be taken lightly. I remember finishing my job at 1 pm and never feeling more physically exhausted in my life.
But I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world! I made friends from all over the globe, lived in Hawaii, and was completely sustainable from the land.
Growing, harvesting, and eating our food was a beautiful practice I’ve completely overlooked while living on the mainland. Have you ever looked at a mango and thought about the amount of time it took to grow? The tree alone takes about ten years itself. Have you thought about the farmer that uses a fruit picker to collect all the fruits just in time before birds / other critters get to it first?
Next time you eat I invite you to think mindfully about what you are putting into your body, where it came from. Get deeply in touch with your food as it is a gift from the earth and sky!
We are showered everyday with gifts from the earth. WWOOFing allows us to pause and reconnect with the ground that we walk on. We can connect to the nurturing and healing essence of food because we work in the source itself: nature.
When you are working, living, and eating outside you tend to fall in love with life in a whole new perspective. Living off-grid tends to cast this spell on people.
Another farm I worked on for a period of time was an off-grid community, tucked in the rainiest pocket of Maui. The town was called Huelo and it was a thriving jungle. The farm was as rustic as it gets. I slept on a wooden plank with a fishnet surrounding myself to block out mosquitoes. I rose and set each day with the sun. I had no cell service and the bathroom was an outhouse in which we used huge oregano leaves to substitute toilet paper. I ate everything that we grew right there on the farm.
The work trade was light, and I left with an abundance of knowledge regarding agriculture I hadn’t known prior, which was my main reason immersing myself in this program!
All in all, WWOOF is an eye-opening, grounding experience I recommend to anyone trying to disconnect, meet new people, travel somewhere new, or experience a different lifestyle! I am so grateful for the experiences I’ve received from Hawaii. The nature was peaceful yet wild… a truly captivating place. I felt love coming from all directions, energetically I was at peace. I’m learning to bring that aloha spirit with me everywhere I am.
Mahalo ☺
