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WWOOF is an acronym for WorldWide Opportunities on Organic Farms. If you are unfamiliar, this is a network of farms that allow free (or close to free) room and food for the opportunity to learn on organic farms. Many of such farms are centered around permaculture, green building, and simple living. The farm, or rather, studio that I happened to stay at did have these elements, but others as well.

My stay at Beech Hollow Studios was a short one of only a weekend. I recommend a first WWOOF experience to be short-term, local, and well researched. This is the criteria I held for myself and it paid off. I had a wonderful time at Beech Hollow Studios, but let me tell you more about the site itself before I ramble.

Beech Hollow Studios

The land was purchased over 20 years ago by a couple, William and Sharron, who built on and developed it completely off-grid while raising their two sons. These are legitimate homesteaders; not the type you may read about selling solutions to your mental ills via seminars. I was told a story over dinner about their house being built for three years prior to the property assessors even knowing it existed due to regulations not being applied unless you had utilities. Far-out, wickedly cool that they pulled something like that off. Before it’s suspected, this is no ramshackle cottage either, but a full-fledged abode with proper segmentation, insulation, solar, and all of the amenities one would ask for in a half-million dollar cookie-cutter mcmansion.

Moving on to the property: it’s heaven in Tennessee. The area itself is punctuated with massive beech trees, caves, and a natural spring. That which has been cultivated has given rise to a beautiful tiny cabin used for Hipcamp as well as William’s shop. William, being a sculptor by trade has placed himself in an area that has, as he put it, “good energy” and I have to agree. Above William’s shop is a gallery of sorts, completely off-grid as well, with forms that range from abstract to lifelike models – all carved with the natural curves of the wood being his guide. Between this shop and the tiny cabin is what they call the parkway which leads around the entire property distant enough from the rest to give a sense of seclusion and peace.

Around the home proper you will pens for animals, a garden, and an outhouse along with other placements needed for simple, down-to-earth living. Some animals you may find include chickens, turkeys, ducks, two wonderful dogs, and one ornery rooster named Bootsy (who will warm up to you and is more bluster than danger). Clothes lines always filled by the former seamstress Sharron and a garden filled with greens that are healthily rotated as the couple survives on this land. No waste or frivolity to be had unless intentionally for the sake of entertainment. And they know how to entertain. The hosts were gracious in their actions as they took the time to both instruct as well as keep courtesies for those with differing stock. I found myself magnetized to their charm and intend to return based on that alone.

One of William’s sculptures, made of materials found either in his travels or on his property. Unassuming in its complexity, carved from a single tree.

Part of the parkway mentioned above. Serenity in a busy world.

My Time

While my time on the property was short, it was immensely impactful. Something I will seldom speak of on here, if I can help it, is my mental illness which most often rears itself in the form of depression. I will not speak of the alternative medicines or what one should or should not do, I will only speak anecdotally on this subject, and anecdotally – this place soothed the spirit.

Day one I came with little anxiety that was quickly turned to eustress as they quickly accepted me and put me to good work. I felt a sense of accomplishment working in nature with these people as I built berms and learned of their accomplishments as well as their strife. The day was quickly capped with learning about the process William took to forming bowls not with a lathe as others may but via chainsaw. He was making them as a form of barter (an economist may laugh at this but it’s true). The night was kept alive with stories of youth while acquainting ourselves with one another. After filling the stomach and soul bed was quickly made with the sounds of nature to help lullaby me to sleep.

Day two started with an abruptness as I am unaccustomed to being woken by the sounds of a rooster crow. That awkwardness turned pleasant when compared to the nip of the air that had settled overnight. As I made my breakfast on the balcony of the shop I quickly thanked the land for providing such a day as I reckoned it would make my hardships easier to bear. Sai weng shi ma, the Chinese may say. William and Sharron would be off this day to see their grandchildren play soccer and I was tasked with pulling weeds. Not glamorous work, but necessary. I am just happy to stick my hands in the dirt. It’s funny what living in a small studio apartment in a metropolitan area does to a person. In my childhood I would have hated this and now I long for it. After two and a half hours of work, the monotony set in, but in their graciousness I found myself in a wonderful area to take a break. Cat-naps, reading, writing, sitting by a stream, it all worked out perfectly for me to finish my work at the pace I set. No dystopic remote employee monitoring software here. In their return we once more had dinner and recapped our days. The night was serene once more with the chill allowing me to fall asleep with celerity.

My breakfast area with a wonderful view overlooking the property through the trees.

Day three, or Mother’s Day (sorry mom, I am the worst) started with some light reading from their shelf as I had depleted my reading supply by this point and was now learning from old Foxfire books and guides to woodworking. This refreshed me for the morning as my rather dumpy diet and disheveled workout routine weakened my body and spirit. Luckily, William was there to help me along in building berms for the coming storm as well as in explaining through experiential learning how their entire spring water reservoir worked. Once we had that up and operating once more (the previous storm had washed part of the pipe downstream) I was able to help on a piece for his son. Coming from someone who has never been handy, being able to help refinish this cutting board guided by a professional as he was a sublime experience despite the simplicity. The finished product came out quite nicely, I believe. Shortly after they left to spend time with their sons and I felt it was time to spend time with my family, and yes, I did call my mother as she deserves it and more.

The re-finished cutting board for William’s son that I was able to help with.

Thank you William and Sharron for sharing your home and stories with me. I will share them with many others before visiting again. I appreciate your hospitality and inspiration. To the all of us: be safe, be well.