Profile information
Host rating
Not yet rated
Feedback
-
Email verified
Badges (1)
Details
Description
We are a family of four with two lively boys living in Hawkes Bay. Bianca is passionate about parenting and people and has a love of all things craft (In particular any wool based craft). Bianca also loves experimenting with growing nutrient rich kai (food). Matt is a self-employed landscaper. He has a keen interest in nutrition and well-being. When he is at home he is mostly working on the land, planting trees, mowing or weedeating. Our home is always busy and often we appreciate an extra pair of hands around to lighten the load on this new venture of converting a piece of farmland into a lifestyle block of native bush and food forest. If you have any permaculture experience we’d love that help.
Our property is in Maraetotra, which is approximately 30 minutes from Hastings, 20 minutes from Havelock North, and 15 minutes to two of Hawkes Bay's most appreciated sandy beaches. Oceans Beach and Waimarama Beach are popular spots for surfcasting or surfing. And offer beautiful sunrises and long walks along the beaches. Maraetotora also has a popular summer swim hole at Mareatotora Falls just 5 minutes down the road. The soothing Mohi bush block is 10 minutes up the road to escape the hot summer suns and experience a small block of NZ native bush and walks. If you are looking to get out of the city and enjoy what rural NZ has to offer it doesn't get much better than this. Your own transport is advised but we are open to picking you up and taking you places in our local area if you are staying for a week or more.
We have an approximately 1.8 hectares lifestyle block that is being converted back to native bush. Also with a food forest and gardens for food and general appreciation. We are building a home incorporating light earth walls and earth plasters.
Guests must enjoy being around children, although childcare is unlikely to be part of any role. Our children are life learners (they don’t go to school) and are very inquisitive and sometimes like to ask lots of questions. They are 12 & 14.
We have two lovely cats Chestnut and Mimi.
Thanks for your interest, we are happy to answer questions.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Plant care
Music
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Camping
Beach
Nature
Fitness
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We love sharing our community, culture and family with workawayers. We are patient with workers whose second language is English and our kids love connecting with you to learn about where you come from. We are happy to show you around our local area and some of our favourite spots if you would like.
We enjoy sharing cooking so we get a taste of food from your country and we share our local cuisine, but we are gluten free which needs to be accommodated for.
Matt and I have many skills, possibly too many to list but we are happy to teach new skills on your time when there is an opportunity to do so. Bianca does a lot of crafting with wool (spinning, dying, knitting, crochet, needle felting, wet felting) and loves teaching these skills. She also sews.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
People with an efficient and thorough work ethic and who show initiative will fit in well here. The work here is simple but requires some effort and fitness. Your industrious work ethic will be rewarded with much appreciation and good food.
Work that you can support with currently could range depending on your skills. You could help with building up the Vege gardens by preparing new beds, planting out, and weeding. There is also weeding around trees, mulching around trees, mowing the grass tracks around our rolling hills and using a line trimmer. Cutting firewood (for next year's store). Projects on the go include building up a composting area, Enclosing the outdoor shower area, and building and maintaining path areas. Earth Plastering the light earth walls. Preparing windows for painting and painting.
If keeping house is more your thing then there is always housework and meals to be prepared while Matt and I are doing the more labor-intensive work above. We eat predominantly organic whole foods cooked from scratch with little to no processed foods, so you'd need to know your way around a kitchen or be comfortable following recipes. We love a range of foods and are always keen to try new dishes you can prepare but be aware we are also gluten-free.
We can also use the help of tradespeople if you have any building, plumbing, or electrical trades experience
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Accomodation will either be in our caravan or if it is available, in the cottage on the land. It has a lovely setting with a vege garden of its own. It is off grid which means that sometimes power is at a minimum as it has solar panels which rely on some sun to power up. But there is usually plenty enough to run the small fridge and to power devices and lighting. There is a composting bucket toilet which we will educate you on how to use, and you will be responsible for emptying your own bucket.
We are happy to supply basic foods for you to make meals for yourself and we are also happy to have shared meals sometimes. Evenings are often busy in our home so you will need to be prepared to cook for yourself when required. If we are sharing meals they will need to be gluten free.
What else ...
In your time off you can explore the incredible offerings of the Hawkes Bay. In our local area we have two beautiful beaches and a waterfall and swimming hole just down the road. If you like our native bush there is a short 45 min walk just up the road.
Our family live very simply. We are clean living. If you wish to use drugs or alcohol regularly this is not the stay for you. Thank you.
Because we have kids we ask that your behaviour be worthy of modelling.
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?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chestnut
Chestnut is our beautiful big caramel coloured fluffy boy. He is very reserved around new people so if you get to see him you are lucky indeed! He don’t like sudden movements and load noises but if you are gentle he may grace you with his presence.
