Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
12 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
9
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are creating a regenerative-permaculture homestead on 30 acres of farmland with animals, a fruit orchard, a garden, a native plant nursery and woodlots. Our property is located in a rural valley surrounded by bush, farmland, and bounded by a stream with swimming holes. It is beautiful and quiet with relaxing views of the hills.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We have travelled extensively and know what it is like to live and work overseas. I enjoyed the cultural interaction with the people in the countries I travelled to and would like to offer that same interaction. I work with, and alongside, workawayers and engage in interactions and conversation to hopefully increase their understanding (and my own) of our different cultures. I am particularly interested in permaculture, natural systems, the environment, history, and geopolitics, and these discussions have been interesting with other workawayers. My wish is for workawayers to have an interesting and stimulating visit and enjoy our time together. This has certainly been the case with the people we have hosted so far.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We currently need help in two main areas: Pruning in the orchard will continue through til October. Then there is fencing and bush trimming required to clear fence lines and re-establish the electric fence system. There is always a bit of farm work to do including shifting stock. The DIY projects continue slowly, but unless you have particular skills there, i will do most of that. We do have an expectation that workawayers will do 4-5 hours of actual helpful work a day. We are very fair and reasonable about this and our goal is that everyone has a happy and rewarding experience. But if you are really just looking for free accommodation and to do the absolute minimum, this is not the place for you.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Workawayers have their own separate bedroom, bathroom, and internet access. Food can be prepared together or volunteers could provide their own if they have special dietary needs or just if they prefer to. We eat meat but are totally OK if you choose not to. We have hosted vegan people and respect each person's choice to eat what they wish and request the same of our visitors. Meal-times are ideally be spent together in conversation but workawayers will have plenty of time to themselves if they want their own space. The house is quite basic at the moment due to the DIY projects but is perfectly livable.
What else ...
Our farm is situated 15 minutes drive to each of the the small local towns. We are up a quiet road with no public transport, so having your own transport is preferable. There are cycling trails, bush walks, and local craft stores close by. Our area is close to Thames - the gateway to the Coromandel Peninsula, which is famous for its beaches, bushwalks, and eco-tourism. The Hobbiton (Lord of the Rings) village is 30 minutes away and the start of the Pinnacles bush walk (5 hours return) up to a spectacular viewing point is 45 minutes drive away.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (4)
Actually, I can elaborate a little bit. Mike's massive property is full of gems, through lemon and lime orchard, exotic fruit garden, vegetable garden, cows and sheep paddock, lovely Poppy (dog), swimming spot in river to Mike himself. I spent most of the days (7) cutting privet
(which is invasive species of… read more
In our working time, we cleared many fence lines with Mike, and Poppy was always helping... :). We also built a gate between the orchards, which was very fun!
We had many interesting and emotional conversations about almost every topic you could imagine.… read more
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)
Actually, I can elaborate a little bit. Mike's massive property is full of gems, through lemon and lime orchard, exotic fruit garden, vegetable garden, cows and sheep paddock, lovely Poppy (dog), swimming spot in river to Mike himself. I spent most of the days (7) cutting privet
(which is invasive species of… read more
In our working time, we cleared many fence lines with Mike, and Poppy was always helping... :). We also built a gate between the orchards, which was very fun!
We had many interesting and emotional conversations about almost every topic you could imagine.… read more
There are a lot of different tasks to do on the farm so it never got boring and we were able to find a good mix of strenuous work and easier tasks to relax.
I particularly enjoyed… read more
