Gardening and house sitting on our slice of paradise in Marton, New Zealand

Details

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  Description

  We are a 1 mama, 2 x 5 year old twin boys, 1 dog family looking for some help on our 8 acre slice of paradise in the beautiful Rangitikei. (not to mention a flock of chickens and two kunikuni pigs!).
  The land we reside on was once a working small farm and homestead. The family that lived here before us have now all grown up and moved away. When they were here the land, plants and animals on it were well looked after based on organic living in tune with nature and permaculture principles. Fast forward six years and minus one house, we are now living on the land off grid, looking to get it back into the same condition from those previous days.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House sitting
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  Interests

  

  Events & social

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Culture

  

  Self development

  

  Farming

  

  Art & design

  

  Books

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  Languages

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Gardening

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Carpentry

  

  Animals

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Team sports

  

  Nature

  

  Fitness

  

  Camping

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Mountain

  

  Dancing

  

  Beach

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Cycling
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We live on the outskirts of a small town in the lower central part of the North Island accessible within 2-3 hours to several major cities including Wellington, Napier and New Plymouth. Whanganui is only 30 mins and also Palmerston North. Our rural Rangitikei New Zealand is beautiful countryside, rolling hills, bush areas, reasonably flat and not far from the sea either. Also, the central plateau and Lake Taupo less than 2 hours away. We would be a great base for anyone who intends to see more of the sights and experiences our lower North island has to offer. Whanganui has a beautiful beach, 30 mins away, if you are inclined to want to spend time there also. Foxton Beach is about 30 mins away as well. Both West Cost beaches so more wild than the east and black sand.
  I have travelled a lot myself and lived/worked overseas including doing what workawayers do (also couchsurfing and hosting when I lived in Napier!), although having children has put all that kind of spontaneity to a halt I'm cool with that - by offering the opportunity to stay at my place for those of you who are looking for some private, sometimes quiet chill time while getting a few jobs done here and there, I would be very happy to have you here to share stories, meals, music etc etc, as this is how I love to travel and experience new countries myself.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Since the last owners were here about 7 years ago, the land has become considerably overgrown so work is required to get on top the blackberry, prune numerous fruit trees, mulch prunings, extend and maintain orchards and bush area, maintain veggie gardens, vamp up the chicken coop and continue with jobs to get the rain water tanks sorted. Some building work is also on the cards, including replacing the roof of the cob hut. These are but a selection of the jobs that are required to be sorted here but I think you might get the picture. Slowly but surely I am chipping away at it all, and I do get some help from friends or the neighbours occasionally but I won't get far without a little help from some new travelling friends.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  I spend some time in South America in my twenties and before children, so I learnt spanish. I am quite out of practice now, but I love to try to speak or sing in another language!
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  Accommodation

  There was a self contained caravan here previously here but not anymore.
  Residing premises include a small yurt and a cob hut. Both need maintenance but they can be lived in over the warmer months. I would like to eventually get them back to an even better living standard.
  The immediate living vicinity I have established includes double garage with plenty of tools at hand, nearly 2 year old yurt that I live in with my family, very rustic kitchen built from recycled windows and doors, shower/bathroom cubicle with a gas califont to heat water. We are off grid for electricity here (solar).
  2 x compostable toilets, and another one that just needs to be fixed up a little to get back into working order.
  The 'outdoor kitchen' is available to use. When I am home I cook! I am happy to supply mainly vegan food to you, although I am not strictly vegan I sometimes have fish and wild meat, I do not drink or buy cow's milk, and I make my own nut milk and I tend to stick to gluten free options. Although when I have workawayers who eat more broadly I will buy organic cheese and bread for them to enjoy. We have about 15 chickens, and do get eggs. I also have an extensive garden getting veggies based on the season. I buy local organic produce to supplement what I'm not able to grow myself.
  As my kids have started school they are here on the weekends and I go to them mid week so I'm not home on Wednesday afternoon/evenings. When I'm home I cook home cooked meals. Also, fridge and cupboards will be available for you to help yourself whenever you need to. I love sharing meals with people from different cultures and very open to trying new foods/recipes so if you are keen to cook I would be more than happy to sample your cuisine!

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  What else ...

  I have mentioned a few things already you can do with your time off, as we are centrally located to many desirable locations. Our town is small and pretty quiet, but you can easily find opportunities to mix with the locals if that is what you want to do (and that can be pretty hilarious and eye opening in a new country right?!) We have two supermarkets and consistently the cheapest petrol/diesel in the North Island. You would need your own transport ideally but buses are an option here aswell. Easy to get around on a bike too!
  I work three days a week away from home, so I am not always here to be working alongside. You would be on your own a bit and able to chip away at your own pace without anyone breathing down your neck! When I am here, my kids are also first priority and I hardly manage (during the school term, I am a teacher) to do more work on top of the regular maintenance/cleaning tasks. So please, come and give me a hand, have fun while you are doing it, chill and relax in a beautiful and very private location close to all amentities. (It really is the best of both worlds I think).

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There is quite a bit of space here but it would need to be sussed for campervan access. If your campervan is self contained it would be sweet as!

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  Can possibly accept pets

  I have a dog that loves to play with other dogs, although she is full of energy and can be too much for some dogs. She is medium sized staffy crossed with some kind of crazy butterfly chasing, bee munching, 0 -100 km in 2 seconds dog. Juni is also deaf, loves human attention and thinks the world revolves around her. Gentle nature, great with kids, lots of fun but still a bit of a jumper!

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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