Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
14 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
23
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Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hello! We are an international couple with four children who moved to the Bay of Islands In 2017. We bought a beautiful property 15 minutes outside Kerikeri and are in the process of building an eco straw bale house, creating a permaculture garden and self sustainable farm on our 14 hectares. We would love to host people to be involved with anything from building and gardening and farm work to helping around the house and with our children who are 13, 11, 7 and 2.
My name is Lauren and I am from the U.S. I now teach yoga and am interested in holistic health. My partner Barney is from Australia, though we have spent many years living overseas and road tripping through Europe with our children. We absolutely love traveling and meeting new people from anywhere and everywhere.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have really immersed ourselves in the natural building and homesteading world. We are learning how to build this house step by step, so you could be learning with us. At the moment, we are working on light earth walls, clay plastering, straw bale walls, earth floors and finishing carpentry. But of course will move onto anything that needs our attention. As for the homesteading part, we have our own homekill and are slowly building up the garden but have spent most of our time with the house and the children. We would love to share what we know and what we are always learning with you! We also have 2 horses, a milking cow, cattle, sheep, piglets, poultry and we have a local kiwi population.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
As stated above, we are trying to transform our 14 hectare block of land to a permaculture farm with a lovely straw bale house. We will need help planting trees, building garden beds, fencing, building the straw bale house, help around the house (some cooking, cleaning and childcare) and generally just some extra hands so we can take on this big project! We are looking for someone (or a couple) to stay for at least a couple of weeks as it takes some time to get into the flow of knowing how things go. You will need a drivers licence and, if you have a car, that would be fantastic.
We're focussing on our build at the moment and prefer builders, carpenters and other similarly skilled people.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We are currently seeking workawayers with their own accommodation in the form of a campervan/van/caravan/tent. We have moved out onto the land in a small cabin which our big family of six are living. We have an outdoor kitchen including sink, benchtop, stove, slowcooker, refridgerator, freezers, and storage, a bathroom/shower unit, a washing machine and dryer. We also have wireless internet out here so we are not so disconnected from the world!
What else ...
New Zealand is such a stunning part of the world. In Northland, the weather is often beautiful, even in the winter. It is a subtropical region so there's lots of rain but there is also lots of sunshine, gorgeous beaches, awesome markets, waterfalls, hiking, biking, glow worm caves, ah-the list goes on. If you're a nature lover, there is so much to see and enjoy. The town of Kerikeri is small but so vibrant at the same time. Great coffee, open minded people, plenty of ex pats as well! The nightlife is not one that we know well (4 kids) but there are a few bars and pubs in town and Paihia, which may be a bit more excitable for nightlife, is only 20 minutes away. We have bikes you can borrow.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Yes, we have reliable wifi.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
20 hours a week/ schedule flexible
Feedback (11)
Emily was an absolute dream to have stay at our place. She was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, had great ideas, brought playfulness and fresh energy to our home. She got on well with the whole family and as well as plastering many of our walls, she taught the children guitar and they had a pasta off (making pasta from scratch… read more
We learned about natural building techniques, cuddled the lamb, and were constantly entertained by the inquisitive and wholesome children.
Lauren and Barney both have lots of lovely insights and stories to share, and made us feel right at home from day one.
Despite… read more
Paul is very knowledgeable about his craft and contributed greatly to our house build. Silvana has a lovely calm presence… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Emily was an absolute dream to have stay at our place. She was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, had great ideas, brought playfulness and fresh energy to our home. She got on well with the whole family and as well as plastering many of our walls, she taught the children guitar and they had a pasta off (making pasta from scratch… read more
We learned about natural building techniques, cuddled the lamb, and were constantly entertained by the inquisitive and wholesome children.
Lauren and Barney both have lots of lovely insights and stories to share, and made us feel right at home from day one.
Despite… read more
Paul is very knowledgeable about his craft and contributed greatly to our house build. Silvana has a lovely calm presence… read more
Because they had to move from 1 place to another we… read more
Especially the exchange of ideas, sharing hobbies and skills was very nice. We learned a lot in the 3 weeks we spent together.
Thanks to the children, it was never… read more
We stayed the whole december at Lauren, Barney, Olive, Ned and Hazel's house and we loved them so much that we came back for two other weeks!
It is a dynamic and harmonious family. Lauren and Barney are a very inspiring couple, open minded, fun, just lovely! We had heaps of deep and rewarding conversations, the kind of discussions… read more
Solène & David are all of these things. They are practical, adaptable, wonderful workers, they are efficient and happy to try anything. They're interesting, they're interested, they're thoughtful (in both senses) and they are good people.… read more
I really enjoyed help them and spend time with Barney at the building site, he was always a good company and a good laugh with a delicious homemade coffee!
The building site is a quiet place with a beautiful view on the Peninsula, where we… read more
Although they did not have experience with building or farmwork, they… read more
