Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
12 Jan 2025
Reply rate
83.3 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
68
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Details
Description
We are on a small property midway between Invercargill and Riverton, Southland. We are beginning our second season developing a garden based on the principles outlined in JM Fortier's 'Market Gardener' book blending in methods used by Richard Perkins. We are interested in restoring healthy soil using only local, organic inputs where possible with a holistic approach. We have learnt a lot in the last year and are happy to share that knowledge with others.
We are a family of 7 with five homeschooled children aged from 7-17 years of age. We run a small home based business as well as running a few sheep and chickens on our homestead.
Our property adjoins Big Lagoon, a QEII covenanted wetland with a diverse ecology and approx. 40 minute return walk.Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco ProjectsGardeningAnimal CareFarmstay helpBabysitting and creative playCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseCultural exchange and learning opportunities
We aim to provide a natural NZ family experience. Living adjacent a restored wetland gives a unique experience around pest control, native planting and see some native birdlife. We currently have a trial market garden plot where we are experimenting with the tools and techniques outlined in the book 'The Market Gardener' by JM Fortier. We aim to have our guests experience and try first hand as many of these techniques as possible.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We have a range of options depending on the time of year. We have general garden maintenance, help with farm animals and a market garden size vegetable plot with varying crops throughout the year.
We also cut and split our own firewood and there could be some native planting/maintenance around the lagoon at times.Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.Accommodation
We have a separate sleepout with double bunk bed for up to 3 guests. Bathroom is inside the house but there are breakfast and tea and coffee facilities in the sleepout. Lunch and evening meals would be shared in the house.
What else ...
Riverton and Invercargill are a 20 minute drive. Oreti beach is an approx 5km drive.
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
Feedback (27)
From gardening and building projects to cooking to helping around the house, there were always plenty of projects to choose from, and plenty of flexibility with how we managed our time. Our kids had a great time collecting eggs,… read more
We wanted to learn more about homeschooling. It was a wonderful experience for us to be able to experience what it is like to actually do this. I was… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
From gardening and building projects to cooking to helping around the house, there were always plenty of projects to choose from, and plenty of flexibility with how we managed our time. Our kids had a great time collecting eggs,… read more
We wanted to learn more about homeschooling. It was a wonderful experience for us to be able to experience what it is like to actually do this. I was… read more
We were amazed by their garden principles and all the fresh vegetables we harvested for the… read more
In the main time I worked in the garden harvesting vegetables. The garden was huge and my favourite place for the two weeks!
Even when the house was a little bit chaotic, I felt very well.
From Kylie I learned a lot about gardening. And… read more
Lotte helped out in the garden, house and with our children and nothing was a problem for her. The kids loved the arts and crafts she did with them and all the games they played… read more
Kylie is an amazing cook and the food and… read more
They will make sure I’m comfortable with everything and make myself at… read more
Jo vie has a lovely bubbly personality and was a joy to have around.
We would recommend her to anyone who has a chance to host her and would happily welcome her back anytime.
I will really miss the family, the work in their garden, playing games, having movie nights and I will just miss the amazing time I had.
Thank you!
We would… read more
Jan… read more
Kylie and Nathan are very attentive hosts who will go above… read more
Camille was fantastic working with our… read more
Belle was lovely to have around. She helped in the garden, cleaned the fridge and sorted the pantry among other things. She was a great organiser.
We would welcome Belle back anytime and would recommend her to anyone who has… read more
Her work was always to a high standard. She was so cheerful and always had a smile… read more
We really enjoyed having him stay. We… read more
Bérénice was happy to help out in any way - anywhere between the kitchen and garden depending on what was happening and she was a… read more
We've had a challenging time with the weather this season with so… read more
We've had a challenging time with the weather this season with so much rain… read more
We've had a challenging time with the weather this season with so much rain… read more
She was a big help out in the garden clearing weeds, harvesting, planting seeds.
Claire is a very quiet young woman, very clean and tidy, she got on well with our children.
They were keen to be out in the garden even when the weather wasn't at its best! We really enjoyed having them here.
They are welcome back anytime.
Flora was very clean and tidy and willing to help with whatever we needed. It was mostly indoor things this time, helping with general cleaning around the home and playing games with the kids.
We would welcome them back anytime and wish them well in their travels.
Most of the work I did was indoors- helping with chores around the house, helping the kids with various tasks, cooking, etc. With no… read more
We really enjoyed having them stay. They were bright and bubbly and fitted in well here.
They are welcome back anytime.
They helped us inside with some cleaning and produced a professional result. Amelie and Sandra also helped out in our garden thinning carrots, weeding and… read more
Sometimes the kids can be a bit noisy but they are good kids, fun,always happy to help !
If you are not… read more
They helped us inside with some cleaning and produced a professional result. Amelie and Sandra also helped out in our garden thinning carrots, weeding and… read more
Miki cooked some delicious food, it was like eating at a restaurant in our own home! We… read more
It was our pleasure having her stay and we wish Elli all the best in her travels through… read more
Always happy to help with anything that was needed, from watering plants to mowing through piles of… read more
Always up for a game of… read more
The tasks were quite diverse, and were well explained to me. They are just starting their small scale farming buisnes, and it's nice to see the beginning of such a project! They have an embroidering and vinyl printing buisnes as well, and I gave them a hand with… read more
Sophie is great with children - patient and co-operative and the highlight for… read more