Posts tagged Zealand

sand flies of our members found, but we are the official WWOOFers in the valley of the Motueka on the South Island of New Zealand. We arrived at dawn and meet our friendly hosts, Dave and Heather. The property is 14 hectares and has a sizeable vegetable garden, a variety of fruit, nut and native trees (all organic) and a small farm with some cows and ducks and a reverse-Bed & Breakfast. We have our own small but private housing in a mobile home.

The first morning we woke up at 8:15 in the morning to do our daily work four hours in exchange for daily meals and a place to sleep. Harvest of hazelnuts ground was our first task. There we were on our hands and knees under the trees, carefully avoiding the occasional cow dung for the first time we ask, “What on earth have we?” An hour later, Heather, to pick us up, and I was set to weeding and trimming work. Fortunately, I had rubber gloves up to my elbows as blackberries and broom very weed cutter!  In the meantime, Andy was out. a ditch into the pond, it was hot and we were sweaty drain, but it felt good and satisfying a certain way, by hand. A river runs through the path that we swim in a nice, cold, when we were ready to jump. Needless to say, I’ve worked up an appetite during and broke with a hearty breakfast and spent the afternoon completing my book.

This evening was their daughter Brooke and her friend in town. Ant Ant is a forest ecologist and study the area around Hawke’s Bay and I enjoyed hearing about the department of conservation, forest ecology, the history of Maori and environmental impact in New Zealand. All they do is a self-sufficient, earth and energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  New Zealanders are generally on the earth, natural-looking and unpretentious! – How refreshing

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The next morning we had our unencumbered right hand in the cow-dung and hazelnuts, laughing, as the day before we were trying so careful not to touch him. Kids Next Door has a makeshift water slide next to kill us on plastic sheets garbage bag under certain weeds created in this area. I shoveled earth to help, repair of the pond from the rest of the morning and my arm still hurt. It was a humbling experience to date, to say the least. This afternoon we went swimming in the river with their neighbors, who also have a WWOOF (Germany) and enjoyed chatting and jumping rocks. We rented bikes and took a nice hour-long walk along the river on the road here in the valley of the river with beautiful mountains on both sides with spectacular views. Visually, it reminds me very much of Southern Oregon in Ashland / Medford area as I think it is about the same width. Then we had about 15 people on a homemade pizza night. Dave and Heather a brick oven pizza that Dave started to warm up for lunch and pizza were themselves made in about 2-3 minutes. We had a blast with their friends and neighbors, drink beer brewed at home and share stories.

Everything is so fresh and delicious here. Today I was not looking forward to the next morning to dig through the mud, whether breakfast, I just got the following question: “Heather, can I use the opportunity to work in the kitchen today and learn a few things from you?” She makes jams , jellies, sauces, homemade pasta, homemade breads, soups – you name it and everything is fresh from the garden and I have .. went to work and made a vegetable lasagna with homemade pasta and the whole garden. We spent the afternoon with a few nearby wineries and won a Reserve Chardonnay from Sunset Cliffs, an organic producer. The lady has served us well in the cellar is from the Czech Republic, New Zealand and leave never visited. I can see why.

The best part of the experience for me in the world WWOOFing if the cultural aspect. Heather, have Dave, Brooke and Ant are invited and treated as family members. WWOOFers These people have had for 15 years! It really is a symbiotic life with the physical work here on the property, while we take care of our accommodation and food services.