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Help with gardening, native planting, weed control and crafts in Nelson & Bays, NZ

New Zealand
Last activity : 1 May 2025

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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
1 May 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 7 days
Feedback
27
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Availability

2025

Min stay requested: 1 week or less

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What's this?

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Description
We have a large lifestyle block and we have a strong focus on conservation. We are planting and regenerating large areas of native bush. We have 30 alpacas and an organic vegetable garden and orchard. We provide felting, eco-dyeing and mosaics workshop from our studio. We use recycled and eco-friendly materials as much as possible.

We are looking for volunteers who have a genuine interest in conservation, organic gardening and/or arts and crafts. A lot of the work on our farm is physically demanding and requires a good level of fitness and love for the outdoors.

We are located in a peaceful valley at the end of a gravel road. The village of Brightwater is 8 kms away and the nearest town is Richmond, about 15 kms away. There are walking and cycling tracks, beaches and rivers nearby.
We are flexible with the work we offer and this includes farm work, gardening, eradicating large weeds, building and maintenance as well as help with ourt craft workshops.

We host both single volunteers as well as couples. We host once per month for about 10 days.

You need sturdy shoes or boots and suitable work clothes. We have a separate very comfortable sleepout next to our house for our volunteers. The meals are mainly vegetarian.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Help with Eco Projects
Animal Care
Art Projects
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are passionate about growing our own food and restoring native plantings. We spend a lot of time outside and like the demanding physical work. You can learn a lot about gardening, native bush, alpacas and crafts. If you are a hands-on person you will fit right in and we are always keen to learn new skills and techniques ourselves.
Help
The tasks we need help with varies depending on time of the year but includes planting, pruning, vegetable gardening, mowing, weeding. alpaca care and building and maintenance. We prefer people who have some experience with farm chores and gardening as we are not home all the time to supervise. We are also interested in people who have specific art and craft skills to help with our arts and craft workshops and projects.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Accommodation
We offer a comfortable double room. All meals are provided and evening meals are with the family. Meals are mostly vegetarian but we do eat fish and occasionally have organic or wild meat. We can host vegan volunteers.
What else ...
There is lots to see and do in the Nelson Region. On your days off you can go biking, hiking or swimming. Nelson is a vibrant arty town in the summer season with nice markets and cafes.
You have to like a peaceful and tranquil environment while you are staying with us. We are busy people and do most of the work on the property in the weekends and we prefer it if you take weekdays off and work with us in the weekends. We have found that singles or couples who are aged 25+ fit in well and have a great time staying with us.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two

Host ref number: 389657272842

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Feedback (20)

17 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer (sarahsarahsarah) for host

I have only spent a tiny week and mostly with Marion, at their special place, which is very beautiful and quite remote. A true place to find some peace! The nature is unbelievably lush, and they are working hard to preserve it.

Marion was dedicated to show me as many things as possible to make the best of my stay. She gladly taught me how to do… read more

(Excellent )

29 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (KerryPJ) for host

I had a really wonderful time with Marion and Hank at their idyllic property and homestead. They are a very welcoming, kind couple and really look after their Workawayers, with comfortable accommodation, delicious home-cooked food (often home-grown), as well as clear instructions and expectations on the varied work.

I did lots of gardening as… read more

(Excellent )

20 May 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Madison)

Madison is great volunteer and has very broad interests. She is very keen to learn and assist with any task that is presented to her. We gardened and did lots of craft work, our felting group very much appreciated Madison's assistance and company too.
Safe travels home and all the best for your studies Madison.

(Excellent )

20 May 2023

Left by Workawayer (Madison) for host

Marion provides a gentle and kind space. In my week stay, I acquired a wondrous amount of novel skills, including wet felting and eco-dying. Each day was extremely diverse in tasks, from satisfying gardening to printing textiles with leaves and helping out with a vest felting workshop in Richmond. The women at the workshop treated me as family,… read more

(Excellent )

View all 20 feedbacks

Photos

The image depicts a group of alpacas standing in a grassy field, with a wire fence in the foreground and rolling hills in the background.

The image depicts a serene rural landscape featuring a white house nestled among trees, with rolling hills and a blue sky in the background.

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The image depicts a lush, tropical garden with a grassy path, featuring a variety of plants and trees, including palm trees and bushes, set against a bright sky.

The image depicts three alpacas standing behind a barbed wire fence, with a forested hillside in the background. The alpacas are looking at each other.

The image depicts a unique planter box constructed from stacked white tiles, adorned with various mugs and a watering can, situated on a porch with a house in the background.

The image depicts two white alpacas grazing in a grassy field, surrounded by trees and bushes, with a hillside in the background.

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:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

17 Feb 2025

Left by Workawayer (sarahsarahsarah) for host

(Excellent)

29 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer (KerryPJ) for host

(Excellent)

20 May 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Madison)

(Excellent)

20 May 2023

Left by Workawayer (Madison) for host

(Excellent)

1 Jul 2021

Left by Workawayer (AnnaTimothy) for host

Marion and Henk are excellent hosts; friendly, easy going and will make everything for your comfort. The property is peaceful, full of birdlife with beautiful views of The Valley. The canine is comfortable and the food is delicious. Tasks are mainly outdoors and involve weeding, pruning and planting natives. They have plenty of knowledge about… read more

(Excellent)

21 Apr 2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Jodi)

Jodi stayed with us for 4 weeks and was very helpful and completed all work to a high standard. She helped with Autumn garden tasks and also with felting projects in our studio. Jodi was a pleasant house guest and always positive and interested in what we were doing.
Jodi is a very experienced traveller and volunteer and we have no hesitation in… read more

(Excellent)

15 Apr 2019

Left by Workawayer (Jodi) for host

I spent a wonderful four weeks with Marion and Henk. Marion is a dietitian and an amazing artist. Henk has his own business and is very mechanically oriented and can fix anything. They both are very kind and welcoming. Not only is their home beautiful, but the gardens and the rest of the farm are stunning as well.

I mainly helped in the garden… read more

(Excellent)

13 Jun 2018

Left by Workawayer (Julien & Lea) for host

We spent 10 days here. During this time we learnt a lot about gardening and the different uses of the plants, about mosaiks and about New Zealand. Although Marion is not a kiwi, she has a really good knowledge about the country, its strenghts and weaknesses.
It was also a pleasure to eat delicious and hearty vegetarian meals.
Thank you for every… read more

(Excellent)

26 Mar 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Edo & Jolanda)

Edo and Jolanda stayed with us for 10 days and they are skilled and enthusiastic helpers. We sheared the alpacas, worked in the garden and did several art projects. Edo is an accomplished street artist and painted an old bank deposit box for us. Jolanda helped me with a large mosaic project. They were great company and completed all work to a high… read more

(Excellent)

23 Feb 2018

Left by Workawayer (Edo & Jolanda) for host

The ten days we spend with Henk and Marion where very special to us.
Henk and Marion are two very special, inspiring and lovely people.
What they accomplished in the 25 years since they started to transform an almost empty piece of land into an oasis of native forest and surprising artwork all hidden in and around the garden is not something you… read more

(Excellent)

3 Nov 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Sandra)

Thank you for all your help Sandra. You were a fantastic helper with the workshops and in the garden. Enjoy your travels and we hope to see you again soon.

(Excellent)

30 Oct 2017

Left by Workawayer (Sandra) for host

I was privileged to stay with Henk & Marion for 10 days in their peaceful location. They are doing a wonderful job restoring native plants and birds on their developing property and I learnt a lot about eco-dyeing, felting, composting and living in an environmentally friendly way. Thank you both for your hospitality and delicious food. I… read more

(Excellent)

2 May 2017

Left by Workawayer (Brenna) for host

My partner and I had a wonderful time with Marion. Just being in such a beautiful place for a week was a real treat. We had the opportunity to learn about all the gardens - native and for eco-dying - and about Marion's (and Hank's, although we didn't get to meet him) vision for their acreage. The food was delicious every day, and plentiful. We… read more

(Excellent)

15 Apr 2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Jérôme)

Jerome stayed with us for two weeks and helped us with a variety of projects. He is a very helpful and skilled worker. He did a lot of pruning and mulching in the garden and helped with the renovation of an old shed. He was great company and we really enjoyed having him around. We can 100% recommend Jerome to other hosts.

(Excellent)

5 Apr 2017

Left by Workawayer (Jérôme) for host

I spent 2 weeks in Mahoehill and I really enjoyed it. This place is an eden park for me, so quiet, lost in the middle of the hills (and Alpacas !), so nice...If you like gardening, working outside it s reallly the place to be ! Marion is very thoughful (and what's a cooker ! miam miam) and Henk is the King of the hammer...both of them are really… read more

(Excellent)

6 Apr 2017

Left by Workawayer (Kunigunde) for host

I had a good time at Marion and Henks. Stayed there for one week in March and the work was varied: from gardening, helping in the kitchen and in the art studio to providing water for the Alpakas and feeding the chicken.
The house is located at a quite remote spot, I liked that. Beautiful surroundings and a great garden, where they put a lot of… read more

(Very good)

18 Nov 2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Cassandra & Brian)

Thanks so much for your help Cassie and Brian. Your help with planting natives and restoring some of our native bush area is much appreciated. The course participants loved meeting you Cassie! Was a busy day with so many people felting and eco-dyeing and all the cleaning up afterwards.

(Excellent)

17 Nov 2016

Left by Workawayer (Cassandra & Brian) for host

We stayed with Henk and Marion for about a week and a half. Their land is beautiful and Marion does a beautiful job adding art and personality throughout the gardens! We helped weed and with general upkeep in the gardens, planted natives with Henk up the hill behind the house, and participated in a workshop that Marion put on for eco-dying and… read more

(Very good)

13 Mar 2016

Left by Workawayer (Carolin_Nadja) for host

We stayed with Marion and Henk only for 4 days but we enjoyed it a lot! The property is unbelievable huge and it's awesome with how much love into detail they created the garden.
We helped Marion with two clients and their mosaik work which was fun. Besides we worked a lot in the garden and dryed apples. The work was diversified.
Marion is a… read more

(Excellent)

12 Nov 2015

Left by Workawayer (Lars) for host

I stayed with Henk and Marion for 8 days and in that time we worked on building a wooden fence around a vegetable garden against the weka's and rabbits. I think we did a pretty good job on it, if I would say so myself, although there was still room for improvement. Maybe a project for the next Workawayers? The hosts are really easy-going and it… read more

(Excellent)

1 Nov 2015

Left by Workawayer (Rosalyn & Jacomo) for host

The 3 of us stayed with Marion and Henk for 2 weeks and had a fantastic time! The sleep out that we stayed in was cozy and comfortable and the food that was provided and cooked for us was always plentiful and delicious! We were made to feel very welcome and enjoyed the jobs that we were given such as feeding the chooks, planting native grasses,… read more

(Excellent)

8 Apr 2015

Left by Workawayer (Birgit) for host

It was my second workaway position and full of new experiences. Marion and Henk made it easy for me to jump in her very interesting lifestile. Also they have very good equipment to do a good job in the garden and the farm. I felt very certain to take care of the property and the lovely animals during her trip to Australia because they prepaired me… read more

(Excellent)

25 Mar 2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Birgit)

Birgit stayed with us in Nelson NZ for just over 2 weeks. We were away for 8 days and Birgit looked after our property and our animals (alpacas, goats and chickens).
Birgit also helped out in the garden and did some very nice baking. It was great to have a mature workawayer who is helpful and has a positive attitude to new experiences.

(Excellent)

21 Oct 2014

Left by Workawayer (Pauline) for host

Thanks Marion and Henk for these sunny days in your property ! It was very pleasant to work in the garden and to learn mosaics and felting. You provide me good food for a lot of energy ! I liked living with the alpacas and Billy, feed the chickens and walk in the native garden.
Enjoy the valley !

(Excellent)

14 Oct 2014

Left by Workawayer (Melina & Sebastian) for host

We stayed with Marion and Hank for about 2 weeks. We've had an interesting variety of jobs e.g. pruning fruit trees, reforest native bush, planting flowers and vegetables in the garden, taking care of the alpacas and Billy the goat. Marion and Hank are very dedicated to their beautiful farm and we were able to learn a lot about it. Marion also… read more

(Excellent)

18 May 2014

Left by Workawayer (Rebecca & Nicolai) for host

We stayed with Marion and Henk for 10 days. They are excellent hosts sharing a lot of their knowledge and experience with people in a familiar atmosphere. We did lots of different interesting jobs such as felting, gardening, taking care of the Alpacas, painting and working in their forest.
Marion's food is healthy and delicious especially her… read more

(Excellent)

16 Oct 2013

Left by Workawayer (Julius_Thessa) for host

we stayed with Marion, Henk, Marlene and Michael for one week, which was really fantastic! The food was always very good and more than enough, the house is cosy and the hosts are welcoming and willing to share their various talents and knowledge. we had the chance to felt different things and Thessa could finally fulfill her wish of learning how… read more

(Excellent)

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Help with gardening, native planting, weed control and crafts in Nelson & Bays, NZ

Profile information

Host rating

Last replied

Reply rate

Feedback

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Badges (4)

Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Space for parking camper vans

How many Workawayers can stay?

Feedback (20)

Photos

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