Volunteering
“No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced”
Experience Sustainable Farming First-Hand
At Slade Farm Organics, we have a large and active community of volunteers who are part of the everyday life of the farm. Volunteering here is a chance to get involved in practical farming, spend time outdoors, learn new skills, and connect more deeply with food, farming, and the natural world.
Whether you’re looking for hands-on farm experience, a pathway into agriculture, or simply want to spend more time in nature, there are several ways to get involved.
Monthly Farm Walk & Nature Survey
Connecting People to Nature
We run a monthly farm walk and nature survey, usually on the last Friday or Saturday of each month. These sessions are open to everyone and focus on observing seasonal change, recording wildlife, and exploring the farm landscape together.
They are informal, welcoming, and suitable for all levels of experience — just bring curiosity and appropriate outdoor clothing.
Community Veg Patch Volunteering
We also welcome volunteers to help with our community veg growing areas. This is a flexible, informal volunteering opportunity with no fixed schedule.
Tasks vary through the seasons and may include planting, weeding, harvesting, and general care of the veg beds. It’s a great way to learn about small-scale organic growing and be part of a shared food-growing space.
If you’re interested, the best way to get started is simply to get in touch or come and speak to us, we’ll work out what works best for you.
General Farm Volunteering & Work Experience
If you’re interested in volunteering or gaining work experience on a farm, you’re very welcome to get in touch by phone or email.
People come to Slade Farm for many reasons — from curiosity and personal interest, to exploring a future career in farming or making a complete career change into agriculture. Volunteering offers a real insight into daily farm life.
As a mixed organic farm, we have a range of enterprises including livestock, arable, vegetables, and land management for biodiversity. This means the work varies throughout the year, offering a wide and practical learning experience.
Work on the farm is varied and seasonal. Depending on the time of year, tasks may include livestock care, vegetable growing, fencing, land management, cleaning barns, and general farm work.
We ask all volunteers to be prepared for physical outdoor work in all weather conditions — including rain, cold, heat, and wind. Waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear are strongly recommended.
Accommodation for Volunteers
For volunteers travelling from further away, we can offer free self-catering bunkhouse/hostel-style accommodation, located around a 15–20 minute walk (or 2-minute drive) from the farmyard.
Please note:
Accommodation is available to over 18s only
You will need to bring your own bedding and food
This is simple, shared-style accommodation designed for practical stays on the farm
Students, Longer Placements & Lambing Season
We welcome school, college, and university students who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of farming.
The minimum age for volunteering is 16
We ask for a minimum commitment of 14 days (continuous or spread over time)
This gives a meaningful overview of farm life and allows both sides to get the most from the experience
Lambing season runs from early March to mid-April, and we are particularly keen to host volunteers during this period, although placements are available year-round.
During placements, volunteers may take part in a wide range of tasks including animal care, feeding, bedding down, cleaning, and general farm maintenance.
Please note:
We prefer to hear directly from students only rather than parents
We do not offer veterinary placements for pig work
For those exploring careers in farming and food systems, we recommend the TwoCan Mentor Programme.