Steve

Travel information

I am currently

Description

I am a full-time worker considering short stays or possibly longer-term travels in the coming months and years.
Organic and sustainable food production and networks are a major interest, and I have past experience as farm worker and horticultural crops work. I have a university degree in organic farming and a masters degree in rural development.
More recently, I got into geographical information systems (GIS/SIG). I completed a masters degree in GIS and I have been working in this technology for the last 11 years.
I have a project idea to apply GIS techniques to the analysis and management of complex cropping and food production systems, such as relay intercropping. Perhaps this technology, sensitively applied, could help to optimise the sustainability of crop production and labour management. Perhaps we can use the tech to help slow or reverse the depopulation and mechanisation of food production, bringing more people back into these activities in a productive and sustainable way.
Another concern is microplastic pollution of soils caused by plastic mulch, and I would like to work in research on the feasibility of alternative mulches to replace the plastic.
However, these may be big, expensive research and development projects, and I first need to reconnect with the sustainable food production sector, so I think Workaway may be a good place to start.

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate

More details about my language interests
I am mostly interested to learn more French. I am currently at Upper Intermediate (B2) proficiency level, and I practise daily with Duolingo. I can teach English.

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Charity Work

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Some knowledge of:  

DIY and building projects

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

Languages

Teaching

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Able to teach about:  

Gardening

General Maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Animal Care

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

In the 1990s I worked in organic dairy farming, and I did a full season of organic horticultural crop production work. Since then I did a Batchelor degree (BSc Hons) in Organic Farming at Aberystwyth University and a Masters degree in Rural Development at Newcastle University. I worked for a year or so at the Organic Research Group in Aberystwyth, and I also worked in socio-economic research in the Aberystwyth School of Business.
I also have a masters degree in Geographical Information Systems (GIS/SIG), and all of my employed work in the last 11 years has been with this technology. I would like to move into working in projects that apply this technology to organic and sustainable food production systems.
In 2019, I had two weeks in a WWOOF placement in Dorset, England, and I very much enjoyed my time there. This was doing mostly horticultural work and kitchen work. I also have some useful kitchen skills and I love cooking.

Age

60

What else ...

I grew up in England, have lived in Scotland and Wales, and currently live in Ireland.
As a student, I traveled in Scandinavia, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy.
I do a regular yoga practice.
I am comfortable in naturist or clothed social situations.
I am bisexual and polyamorous, though mostly single.
I enjoy fairly slow-paced cycle touring. I love most kinds of music, art, and literature.

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements