Learn about conservation, helping on our farm near Methven, New Zealand

New Zealand

Favourited 146 times

Host rating
Feedback
13
Last activity
24/11/2019
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Map

Availability

2021

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

Details

Description
We are a large farm in the mountains of Canterbury,close to Mt Hutt ski area and the Rakaia River. We farm sheep and cattle.
The work we would like help with is based around the homestead and includes gardening, planting trees and general maintenance work. It is hard physical work.
We also have a project creating a recreational and conservation area in the nearby Rakaia Gorge. This also involves hard physical work and includes track creation, weed control
and planting.
This is a busy property with a lot going on and people passing through.
We are a 20 minutes drive from the nearest shop so best to have own transportation if staying for over a week.
The helping times can be flexible.
There is plenty to do if you like the outdoors. Hiking, biking, skiing ,swimming and horse riding if you are an experienced rider.
We are a conservation minded family aiming to integrate farming with sustainability. Not an easy task.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
UN sustainablity goals this host is trying to achieve
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What's this?
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are a welcoming family with good opportunity to discuss sustainability in a farming context. It is a good opportunity to learn about conservation in N Z.
Help
The help is hard physical work and may include using power tools and weed sprays. There is a large vegetable garden and garden as well as planting native trees and removing large tree weeds.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Workawayers will stay in the family house in their own bedroom. It is comfortable and a pleasant environment to be in.
Generally your food will be cooked for you unless we have gone out in which case we will supply food but you will need to cook.
What else ...
Our area has spectacular scenery with plenty of outdoor attractions. The nearest town Methven is a small ski resort with a movie theatre and many restaurants and bars.
We are not vegetarians so if you do not like meat there will be vegetables accompanying the meals and always toast around.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

Place we are building track

Brush our pet dog

House and Pool

Property is between the mountain and the big river

Looking up to Mt Hutt Snow Resort

Feedback left by and about host (13)

18/10/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Gabrielle & Nicole)

Bree and Coly were a good couple to have stay and come and help us out. They were interesting and easy company and worked hard, often at work they had no experience at and was physically difficult.
They helped in the garden and on our conservation project and were quick to pick up new skills.
As well they did some design work.
On our property… read more

(Excellent )

30/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Gabrielle & Nicole) for host

Our stay at the farm with Donna and Ben was our first workaway experience and we are beyond fortunate to have had this opportunity. Donna and Ben were extremely welcoming and accomodating. While we were there we were even able to work on renovating the inside of our van thanks to the help from everyone on the farm.

We thoroughly enjoyed the work… read more

(Excellent )

03/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Franziska & Philip ) for host

We had such a good time here with Donna and Ben! Most of our tasks were garden work, filling up the shed with firewood and working on their track at Rakaia Gorge. But we were allowed to help with the sheep - which was one of our highlights, feed the calves and see some cattle work as well. We always had a lot of fun at work and it never got… read more

(Excellent )

25/08/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Franziska & Philip )

Franzi and Philip were excellent workawayers. They worked really hard and their work was of a high standard. I could ask them do do a job and leave them unsupervised and the work would be completed .
They were also easy company, happy to hang out and do not much or find their own activities to do.
I was pleased with their attitude to health and… read more

(Excellent )

03/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Dan)

Dan was a great person to have come and help us out during a busy time. He was a hard worker and quick to pick up a task. I could leave him to work on his own knowing the work would be well done and he was easy going, so could fit in with the many different people we have around on the farm. He also had an additional skill as a graphic designer… read more

(Excellent )

20/06/2018

Left by Workawayer (Dan) for host

My time at Donna and Ben's farm was incredible! All their family / friends were so welcoming and made me feel right at home around the place. They were great at showing me the ropes and getting me involved in their farming lifestyle - from riding horses and bikes to clearing trees and making bonfires - I learnt and experienced so much while being… read more

(Excellent )

06/04/2018

Left by Workawayer (Franziska) for host

My time here with Donna, Ben and her family was amazing! Donna is not only the best possible host, always concerned about your well-beeing, feeding you well and giving you your privacy, but also she is a lovely person who became a friend to me. The work was as described some (hard) gardening and outdoortasks but it was never too hard and I had… read more

(Excellent )

27/02/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Franziska)

Franzi was an excellent person to have come and stay and work for us. She was enthusiastic , hard working and showed initiative. The work she did ranged from track making, weed cutting with a trimmer, gardening to some cleaning. She was very good at them all and also helped me with my horse to stop some of the bad manners it had picked up with… read more

(Excellent )

15/02/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Ann Cathrine)

AC and Frederikke came to our place for a week. AC had just arrived in NZ to meet with Frederikke so they were very pleased to see each other and most self contained. They had to do some hard work and particularly enjoyed doing some cooking. They needed to be shown how to do some of the work but were quick to learn.

(Very good )

08/01/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Pascal)

Pascal stayed with us over Christmas and had to put up with lots of family and visitors. He was good to have in this situation and fitted in well.
He worked hard and diligently and was reliable even with some of the more boring tasks he had to do. He was fit and strong and keen to try new things.
I enjoyed Pascal being around and would welcome… read more

(Excellent )

08/01/2018

Left by Workawayer (Pascal) for host

I spent the Christmas week with Donna and her amazing family, and it was as i’ve been with my own family. Donna was so kind and welcoming, she did her best to put me at ease and that I feel confortable in her house.
The work was so fair and amazing , I was so pleased to help her and her family. The work was as described mainly gardening (trimming,… read more

(Excellent )

19/10/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Jim)

Our family and staff all enjoyed Jim's company. He was easy to have around and a good honest hard worker putting his all into some demanding tasks.
He quickly picked up what was required of him and tidied up after his work.
Jim also helped with some farm tasks including lambing a ewe and did not balk at the baseness of the task or anything that… read more

(Excellent )

17/10/2017

Left by Workawayer (Jim) for host

Staying with Donna and her family is the quintessential NZ farm experience. The work was as described, heavy gardening, digging, and cleaning, but set on a beautiful sheep and cattle station right beside Mt Hutt! The conservation work Donna is involved in was very gratifying to help with. Everyone on the farm is very friendly and I've defintley… read more

(Excellent )

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