Meet Val

Professional parachutists have a motto: pack your own chute. The idea is that by learning to pack their own chute, the parachutist takes their safety into their own hands.

Val is no parachuter, but as a self-sufficient farmer, she understands how empowering a DIY lifestyle can be.


A Woodbury Boston stalwart

Val joined the school community in 2007 and she’s held many roles over the last 15 years. These days, her focus is Learning Support.

As a specialist teacher, Val works with our students to foster deep learning. Throughout this process, she supports them to develop and hone critical reading, writing, and thinking skills in a way that makes sense for each child. 

And nothing is more empowering than realising how learning works for you.


A self-sufficient farmer

Val is well-known around school for her vast knowledge and robust vocabulary. Our students love her explanations of the etymology of words and the fact that she seems to know how to do…well…everything.

A lot of Val’s knowledge comes from her choice of lifestyle. After all, making the most of her knowledge and resources is a big part of self-sufficient farming.


Q. What made you choose a self-sufficient lifestyle?

Val: My interest in self-sufficiency was piqued by a 70s sitcom called ‘The Good Life’ where a couple gave up their jobs and worked to produce all their food on a small lot in suburbia. I found the idea of that sort of freedom irresistible.  
Apart from the freedom, I love the joy of producing something from the beginning to the end and having complete control over the process.
My mother was also a pioneer of organic gardening, recycling, and reuse long before it became fashionable. My generation is the last one to be truly touched by World War II, and I believe that has had an effect on us.  

Q. Why is self-sufficiency important to you?

Val: It’s empowering. Over the last four decades, it has helped me gain skills, understand systems of production, relive history, and much more. It has provided for me a rich and fulfilling life with not a moment to spare and not a moment wasted. I live like a Queen! What could be better than that?

Q. Do you have animals on your farm?

Val: We have about 35 beef cows with calves, at the moment. We also have about 20 sheep, 40 chooks, and a giant fussy pig called Fussy Pig. She has a penchant for carbohydrates. Lately our attempts at trying to get her to eat cauliflower disguised with muesli ended in her licking off all the muesli and leaving all the tiny pieces of cauliflower in her bowl. 

Fussy Pig is a bit of a local tourist attraction, with cars often slowing on the way past to take a look. Sasha, our wonderful Auslan teacher, owns one of Fussy’s piglets (now fully grown), who goes by the name of Beatrix. She also has a fondness for delicacies, particularly chocolate and cheese, I believe.

As much as possible, the animals supply us with meat and other materials that come in handy. 

Kidney fat from the steers becomes dripping for homemade soap. We boil bones to make the stock, which is a source of gelatine and extra protein throughout the year. We eat the eggs and kill the roosters for hearty chicken dinners. 

The pigs, of course, supply pork and the most wonderful smoky bacon. I cure it the old-fashioned way, over five weeks with no refrigeration. After that, I smoke it in the smokehouse.  I also smoke cheese, fish and mutton.  

We close the loop by using their manure on our garden.

Pickling, fermenting, and drying use up a lot of the vegetables, and we use fruit from the orchard to make leather, wine, cordials and preserves. I also make my own butter, cheese, and bread. I used to grow the wheat for the bread myself when we lived in the Wheatbelt, but Albany doesn’t support the successful growing of cereals due to the weather, so I buy the grain instead.


Q. Have you learned anything about yourself over the course of living self-sufficiently?

Val: I have learned how disempowered people have become – like the frog in the water being warmed slowly to boiling point without realising it. I’ve also learned that the situation can turn on a dime, as evidenced by the resurging interest in food production and living in the country during the pandemic. Lastly, I have a better understanding of what the link to nature has done for my psyche. Since I rely on nature to stay alive, I’ve observed it, learned more about it, and I respect it. 



Q. Do you see any connections between your self-sufficient home life and your school life at Woodbury Boston?

Val: Woodbury Boston supports immersion in nature and respect for the natural world. It is present in our ethos, as well as in my teaching practice. We work to highlight and respect the environment in a way that adds quality and richness to all our lives.


Teachers: they’re people too!

Val is always happy to chat about self-sufficiency. In fact, during the pandemic she’s become its local poster woman — having been featured in two articles on the subject! Big thanks to Val for being featured on the blog this month.

 

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Woodbury Boston Primary School is a progressive independent school nestled in the bush between Denmark and Albany WA. We know that children learn best when they’re happy and having fun. With a strong focus on community, respect, independence and nature-based teaching, our students learn the Western Australian Curriculum and so much more. For more information or to book a personal tour, please ring 9845 1185.

Community, SustainabilityMartha Barnard-Rae