WWOOFing brings people together – it’s something we’ve said over and over. But this is on another whole other level. Bastian and Anya met while Bastian was WWOOFing on Anya’s farm in McBride, BC in 2012 and they immediately connected. In 2016 Anya moved to Germany with Bastian and in 2020 they got married! Read the full story below:
In 2012, Bastian spent half a year travelling through Canada after finishing high school. During his trip, he WWOOFed with Anya and her parents on their farm in McBride, BC. Anya and Bastian immediately hit it off. In fact, they got along so well that he visited them again a week later before leaving the area.
Once his trip was over Bastian went back to Germany, but they remained in contact and Anya decided to visit him again the next year, where she got to know his home and his family. Once she went home they kept loose contact but it was not clear how or when they would see each other again. That was until 2015 when Bastian decided to come to the USA for a study abroad year. That summer, Bastian once again visited Anya’s farm and they rekindled their connection.
“This time we both realised that we could imagine a future together,” Anya said.
The couple visited each other a few more times after that and, in May 2016, when she finished her university degree, Anya moved to Germany. Luck for them, Anya’s parents were both born in Germany so she had German citizenship and already spoke the language.
Since moving to Germany Anya has realised her lifelong dream of becoming a professional gardener. She now works in a plant nursery where they produce and sell everything from houseplants to kitchen herbs and trees. Bastian, meanwhile, is working on his PhD in mechanical engineering.
In August 2020 the couple got married with a small circle of friends and family in the backyard of Bastian’s parents’ house. Unfortunately, Anya’s parents and sister were unable to come to the wedding because of COVID-19.
Anya says that she misses Canada a lot. Especially, her family, their farm, the wilderness, and the kind, down-to-earth Canadians. Nonetheless, she says that she is more than happy in Germany.
“I am so grateful that Bastian applied to WWOOF at our farm all those years ago! We wanted to let (WWOOF Canada) know that you played a part in making us some of the happiest people on earth.”
