Greetings!

So hi there everyone! Here's my shiny new (first ever) blog. It's going to take me a while to get used to writing this but I hope it's something that will be entertaining to read.

I wanted to set up a blog for a few reasons. 

1. So my mum wouldn't panic while I'm away!!
2. So I wouldn't forget the amazing times I know I'm going to have. I'm sure there will be ups and downs, and to be honest I just can't wait.
3. To be able to record all the amazing things there is to learn about this beautiful countryside of ours, and how best to look after it.

So, why am I doing this? And what exactly will I be doing?

Well, first the why? Why do I suddenly want to head off into the rain and the mud, (this is the UK after all), and for a year?!

The simple answer is: I'm not entirely sure! I graduated from Edinburgh University over a year ago now and before that, had my 'Gap Year'. At that point, I just didn't have a travelling itch at all and instead finished off some dancing exams and then began a teaching job at a friend's mum's Montessori Pre-School.

After graduating, I found myself back at that school, and this time, doing a diploma! Most of my friends had by this point started getting 'proper jobs', some heading off to London or others settling down here and there. However, as I get closer to finishing my qualification, I just don't feel ready to settle myself. That combined with a growing interest of environmental issues made me realise that I wanted to go find out things first hand. Which leads me to....

What exactly will I be doing?

With any luck....everything! The initial idea was to sign up for a WWOOFing membership and move around various hosts, learning as much as possible on the way. However, since sitting down and looking into it properly, I've had a few more ideas about what I'd like to do.

Whilst I still have a few main, and basic, aims:

• learn to grow food...(pretty important)
• learn to look after animals, (and bees....especially bees!)
• learn to work harmoniously with the environment and manage it with long term vision

I also have some others. One is inspired by this website I found when researching: FoodCycle. Their mission:

 FoodCycle combines young volunteers, surplus food and a free kitchen space to create nutritious meals and positive social change in the community!

 So I will at some point hopefully head to one of their outposts and help make a contribution. Something that has cemented that plan for me was this programme I watched tonight: Great British Waste Menu. Just sitting there watching so much food being turned into delicious meals made me hopeful that we can shift public perception of food and also help those who really could do with some good grub inside them.

And so, for an introduction, I think that's it!