Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
1 Aug 2021
Feedback
28
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Email verified
Badges (4)
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Details
Description
Hi, our names are Richard and Becks and we have 3 children; Bella, 11, Sam, 9 and Sophia, 6. We live on a 646 hectare sheep and cattle hill country farm in the Gladstone area, around 25 minutes east of Masterton. Richard runs the farm whilst Becks has her own graphic design Company, of which she is able to work from the farm.
We have just added a video - so if you would like to see some footage of our property, do drop us a message.
We run around 5000 sheep and up to 330 cattle at certain times of the year. We are a busy family with Becks running her graphic design business from home, hence we are looking for someone or a couple to help maintain our garden, assist with general work around our home and help with the kids.
So if you are happy to help in the garden, in the house, a bit of cooking and perhaps some painting please read on..... Richard also loves to explain what we're up to on the farm at that time of the year and will show you around and try and involve you when handling the animals.
While you enjoy your stay here you can experience walking on our well maintained farm tracks, perhaps watch a sheep muster - pack a picnic and take in the views across the Wairarapa valley. You can also make full use of our swimming pool or have a hit of tennis and at the end of the day enjoy a drink on our deck looking across to the Tararua mountain range.
We will provide you with food and accommodation within our home but as we are rural you may find it easier to have your own car to drive.
Please understand that given we live on a farm and our primary produce is meat, we'd therefore prefer to host non vegetarians or vegans as it can make meal times a bit easier. Saying that, if you'd like to see how we farm our animals in open space, then maybe we can convert you!! Last year we won the Greater Wellington Farm Environment awards and are proud of this achievement, so will be happy to explain what we've been doing towards trying to farm in a more sustainable way.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
If you're interested in seeing a real sheep and beef farming business that aims to run a sustainable operation in what we think is a very special part of NZ, then this could be a whole new learning experience!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Mainly looking for some general work around the house and garden with possibly some help with preparing the odd meal. Richard will try to involve you on the farm where possible.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Bedroom with queen bed in our house. Another mattress also available.
What else ...
No vehicles available sorry - we have a great tracks to walk around the farm and there is a side-by-side 4WD vehicle to use should you want to go explore.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Host ref number: 363428294985
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
+8
Feedback (14)
21 Aug 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Noemie)
If every workawayer we host could be like Noemie we would have the best experiences!! Noemie is a lovely, chatty and friendly person who fitted in so easily to our busy little household and we can't thank her enough for all the work and cooking she did for us!! Noemie was great company on the farm and seemed really interested in how and why we… read more
(Excellent
)
20 Aug 2019
Left by Workawayer (Noemie) for host
What can I say except that my stay with this family was AMAZING !
Thank you so much for making me feel like at home.
Loved playing with the kids, having a laugh with the family, and trying some new recipies in the kitchen :)
Job was always easy and to be done at you own pace. Got to go a few time on the farm, which was really interesting, thank… read more
Thank you so much for making me feel like at home.
Loved playing with the kids, having a laugh with the family, and trying some new recipies in the kitchen :)
Job was always easy and to be done at you own pace. Got to go a few time on the farm, which was really interesting, thank… read more
17 Jun 2019
Left by Workawayer (Alessia) for host
What an awesome experience with this family!
Me and Davide stay there for two weeks and we really enjoyed the jobs around the house, mainly gardening and some house cleaning.
Richard was enthusiastic to show us the farm, the landscapes around it and all the farm jobs he was doing.
Davide was super happy to have the opportunity to play soccer… read more
Me and Davide stay there for two weeks and we really enjoyed the jobs around the house, mainly gardening and some house cleaning.
Richard was enthusiastic to show us the farm, the landscapes around it and all the farm jobs he was doing.
Davide was super happy to have the opportunity to play soccer… read more
14 Jun 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Alessia)
We were lucky to host Alessia and her friend Davide for a great two weeks here on the farm. They were a very enjoyable, easy going couple to host with good manners and always a very tidy job completed with tasks given. Alessia is a very mature 19 year old and we were lucky enough to have some amazing photos taken of the family which we really… read more
(Excellent
)
12 Feb 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Elisa & Miquel)
Didn't stay long enough!!! This wonderful couple were some of the best we've hosted over the years. An absolute delight to host and cannot recommend them enough to others looking for help. They are polite, enthusiastic and so helpful. We had a great time interacting with them and they were brilliant with the kids. Typical Frenchy Elisa, spoilt the… read more
(Excellent
)
9 Feb 2019
Left by Workawayer (Elisa & Miquel) for host
We couldn’t expect a better stay !! Wonderful farm in the middle of NZ nature ! The landscape is breathtaking ! We learnt so many thing about working on a farm, taking care of sheep, cattle, a garden .... Beck and Richard really make you feel at home and part of the family ! The 3 kids are totally adorable!!
The accommodation is very comfortable… read more
The accommodation is very comfortable… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
+8
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.5)
Communication:
(5.0)
21 Aug 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Noemie)
If every workawayer we host could be like Noemie we would have the best experiences!! Noemie is a lovely, chatty and friendly person who fitted in so easily to our busy little household and we can't thank her enough for all the work and cooking she did for us!! Noemie was great company on the farm and seemed really interested in how and why we… read more
(Excellent)
20 Aug 2019
Left by Workawayer (Noemie) for host
What can I say except that my stay with this family was AMAZING !
Thank you so much for making me feel like at home.
Loved playing with the kids, having a laugh with the family, and trying some new recipies in the kitchen :)
Job was always easy and to be done at you own pace. Got to go a few time on the farm, which was really interesting, thank… read more
Thank you so much for making me feel like at home.
Loved playing with the kids, having a laugh with the family, and trying some new recipies in the kitchen :)
Job was always easy and to be done at you own pace. Got to go a few time on the farm, which was really interesting, thank… read more
17 Jun 2019
Left by Workawayer (Alessia) for host
What an awesome experience with this family!
Me and Davide stay there for two weeks and we really enjoyed the jobs around the house, mainly gardening and some house cleaning.
Richard was enthusiastic to show us the farm, the landscapes around it and all the farm jobs he was doing.
Davide was super happy to have the opportunity to play soccer… read more
Me and Davide stay there for two weeks and we really enjoyed the jobs around the house, mainly gardening and some house cleaning.
Richard was enthusiastic to show us the farm, the landscapes around it and all the farm jobs he was doing.
Davide was super happy to have the opportunity to play soccer… read more
14 Jun 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Alessia)
We were lucky to host Alessia and her friend Davide for a great two weeks here on the farm. They were a very enjoyable, easy going couple to host with good manners and always a very tidy job completed with tasks given. Alessia is a very mature 19 year old and we were lucky enough to have some amazing photos taken of the family which we really… read more
(Excellent)
12 Feb 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Elisa & Miquel)
Didn't stay long enough!!! This wonderful couple were some of the best we've hosted over the years. An absolute delight to host and cannot recommend them enough to others looking for help. They are polite, enthusiastic and so helpful. We had a great time interacting with them and they were brilliant with the kids. Typical Frenchy Elisa, spoilt the… read more
(Excellent)
9 Feb 2019
Left by Workawayer (Elisa & Miquel) for host
We couldn’t expect a better stay !! Wonderful farm in the middle of NZ nature ! The landscape is breathtaking ! We learnt so many thing about working on a farm, taking care of sheep, cattle, a garden .... Beck and Richard really make you feel at home and part of the family ! The 3 kids are totally adorable!!
The accommodation is very comfortable… read more
The accommodation is very comfortable… read more
10 Jan 2019
Left by host for Workawayer (Caroline )
As good as volunteers can ever be!! These two are the most enthusiastic, helpful, interesting and respectful helpers you could ask for and we are gutted to not have them around any more. We were lucky to have hosted Caroline a few years ago and were stoked when she said she was back in the country with her better half, Max! Fantastic with the kids… read more
(Excellent)
18 Dec 2014
Left by Workawayer (Caroline ) for host
We are so grateful that we had the opportunity to be part of this amazing family!
The kids are very well behaved and so much fun to be around, Richard and Becks were just super nice and did not just teach us a lot, but also were very helpful with giving advise for our journey. We loved to work with the animals, had so much fun with Dan and Elvis… read more
The kids are very well behaved and so much fun to be around, Richard and Becks were just super nice and did not just teach us a lot, but also were very helpful with giving advise for our journey. We loved to work with the animals, had so much fun with Dan and Elvis… read more
2 Oct 2018
Left by Workawayer (Adam & Pavlina) for host
We really enjoyed our stay at Becks and Richard's place, it was an awesome time despite bad weather conditions. The farm is a beautiful place filled by right atmosphere and good mood. Thanks to Richard we had a chance to experience a real life of NZ farmer for a while at least (saw so many lambs, sheep, calfs we weren't able to count), and Becks… read more
13 Sep 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Adam & Pavlina)
Our first Czech republicans and what a pleasure to host them both. They couldn't have timed it worse for the weather, as it rained pretty much the whole time and was very cold! Was really gutted that the sun finally came out the day they were leaving, but at least we were able to get up the top of the farm and see the view of the Wairarapa valley.… read more
(Excellent)
27 Aug 2018
Left by host for Workawayer (Maryanne & Charlotte)
We were lucky to host both Charlie and Maryanne for just over a week and it was an absolute pleasure. They're a fun couple to have around and were always very willing to help out whether it be on the farm, with the kids or up at the house. Maryanne is a very good cook and made the best shepherds pie I've had (won't tell Becks) and Charlie was… read more
(Excellent)
6 Jan 2018
Left by Workawayer (Dorothy & David) for host
What an incredible family! Being Workaway newbies we had no idea what to expect, however, we could not have wished for a better family to stay with, or an environment and area to stay. Our daily activities consisted of waking up and helping the kids get ready for school, gardening, helping (not very helpfully) on the farm, general household tasks-… read more
13 Sep 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Dorothy & David)
We had the absolute pleasure of hosting this outstanding couple of Brits!! We cannot recommend them highly enough and are really gutted that their stay couldn't have been longer. They comfortably and naturally fitted into our family and daily living and the lambs are already missing Dorothy's regular feeding and sneaky cuddling. Dorothy was… read more
(Excellent)
8 Nov 2017
Left by Workawayer (Anna & Janiek) for host
We really loved our stay with Richard, Becks, and the kids. They made us feel welcome on their beautiful farm from the start. We'll never forget the great times we had hanging out with the family, helping around the farm, and looking after the little lambies!
We couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thanks again, Richard and Becks! We'll… read more
We couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thanks again, Richard and Becks! We'll… read more
27 Oct 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Anna & Janiek)
We were lucky enough to host this fantastic couple for 3 enjoyable weeks. We had planned to have them for 10 days, but they fitted in so well and were such a pleasure to host we had to hang onto them for another couple of weeks. They were brilliant with kids, very helpful and tidy around the house and Anna was an amazing mother to her six 'babies'… read more
(Excellent)
9 Oct 2017
Left by Workawayer (Artur & Ariadna) for host
Hi Richard, Becks, Bella and Sam! We are alive, already in Barcelona, sorry sorry sorry for not answering you, we lost our computer, and the password of Workaway mobile. Anyway, how to explain our experience with you? How to explain how important is to have a normal bed to sleep properly, a house to relax yourselve after being travelling around… read more
12 Apr 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Artur & Ariadna)
It was an absolute pleasure to host our first Spaniards and we were very sad to see them go. Right from the start the fitted in and we're very helpful and interested in what Becks and I were up to. They received the worst weather of any of the woofers we've hosted to date, but to their credit they didn't stop them from getting stuck in the garden… read more
(Excellent)
3 May 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Perrine & Xavier)
Perrine and Xavier were again another couple of fantastic froggies that were really disappointed to see leave. They fitted into our busy household with ease and were always willing and offering their help. Xavier is your typical french bloke, cooks amazing food, wears a scarf, was great with the kids, however he was a bit scared of tackle time… read more
(Excellent)
3 May 2017
Left by Workawayer (Perrine & Xavier) for host
We had such an amazing stay with this family!
The house is great, the farm is beautifull and we felt like home since the very first minute. The kids are so nice and it was always a pleasure to spend time with them and to watch them playing "tackle time". We really enjoyed the work, gardening with Becks, farming with Richard, working on the mai… read more
The house is great, the farm is beautifull and we felt like home since the very first minute. The kids are so nice and it was always a pleasure to spend time with them and to watch them playing "tackle time". We really enjoyed the work, gardening with Becks, farming with Richard, working on the mai… read more
27 Mar 2017
Left by Workawayer (Jennie & Olivia) for host
Richard and Becks are amazing people with the cutest little kids. We've never been to a host that made us feel more like home than the Tosswill family did. Even though we spent a few hours with thistles and weeds, the week we spent on the farm was one of the best weeks of our 3 months travels. Ask Richard for a tour around the farm, he would be… read more
28 Feb 2017
Left by host for Workawayer (Jennie & Olivia)
An outstanding pair of a Seaweeds (as our 3 year Soso would refer to them as)!! We have really, really enjoyed hosting Jennie and Olivia for the past week and cannot believe how quickly it has gone. They have probably done the most ordinary jobs of all our volunteers to date, with a number of hours grubbing thistles!! They actually loved it and… read more
(Excellent)
25 Jan 2017
Left by Workawayer (Jasmin) for host
Sorry that this feedback comes so late.
My boyfiend and me, we staied at the Tosswills home for the one week and it was amazing. The children are funny and the complete family is very friendly and adorable! We felt welcome since the first minute. To work with sheeps was a nice experience and we would do it again.
We wish you all the best and… read more
My boyfiend and me, we staied at the Tosswills home for the one week and it was amazing. The children are funny and the complete family is very friendly and adorable! We felt welcome since the first minute. To work with sheeps was a nice experience and we would do it again.
We wish you all the best and… read more
4 Dec 2016
Left by Workawayer (Deborah & Christian) for host
There are not enough words to describe our (unfortunately just) one week stay at this farm! So much love, fun and experiences around this beautiful house and farm! Richard is a hard working guy with the right sense of humor. We are still impressed by the way he controls 4000 sheeps with using bizarre sounds like 'doodeloo'. However he has still to… read more
28 Nov 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Deborah & Christian)
An absolutely outstanding couple!! We had the pleasure of hosting these two Germies for a week and really wished it could have been longer. They instantly fitted into our household, were polite, interested and very helpful. Debbie is full of life with a bubbly personality, however.........................she does struggle with microwaves. We were… read more
(Excellent)
26 Feb 2016
Left by Workawayer (Daryl & Isabel) for host
My girlfriend and I had such a great couple of weeks with Becks, Tozzie and their awesome kids on the farm. We got to experience the Kiwi farm life to the full. The guys were so welcoming, they made us feel like part of the family. Tozzie introduced us to farm life with hands on experiences and we are very thankful to him for showing us these.… read more
25 Feb 2016
Left by host for Workawayer (Daryl & Isabel)
Izzy and Daryl were fabulous! In-fact they were like long time flatmates. They slotted into our young family of 5 with ease and helped in and around our busy lifestyles. They were always keen and eager to help with any task on the farm, in the garden, in the kitchen and with the kids. They loved to ask questions and discover our way of life and … read more
(Excellent)
14 Dec 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Michelle & Julia)
We had the pleasure of hosting these two Germies for initially a week, but due to their ability to fit in with our family this quickly became two weeks!! The poor girls walked right into the busiest week on the farm possible, so I think I have confirmed for them that they don't want to farm sheep now!! The girls were a huge help to me drafting and… read more
(Excellent)
17 Aug 2015
Left by Workawayer (Christine ) for host
I've spent a little bit less than a week with Becks, Richard and the kids.
Even if I was unfortunate with the weather I had a very good time with that lovely familly.
I have worked in the garden and planted native trees on the farm. I have also down some works inside and looked after and played with Sophia and Bella. Everyboby are really nice… read more
Even if I was unfortunate with the weather I had a very good time with that lovely familly.
I have worked in the garden and planted native trees on the farm. I have also down some works inside and looked after and played with Sophia and Bella. Everyboby are really nice… read more
