Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
18 Apr 2024
Reply rate
94.1 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
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Details
Description
Come and join our young family in our little corner of paradise. We are Phil, Katrina, Emily (14 months) and Harrison (3 and a half years), and another bubba on the way (Due March 2024)
Katrina and I have both spent time extensively travelling the globe and have enjoyed the experience of working away opportunities. We get it and we loved it.
On our humble 2 hectare block, we-are hoping to be able to ‘return the favour’, give our kids some exposure to different cultures, as well as give back to those travelling around and meet some interesting folk along the way. In exchange, we ask for a little help everyday around our reasonably extensive 2 ha lifestyle block. We have a very large flower garden, vegetable garden and small orchard, some sheep, chickens and a very friendly springer spaniel called Shiloh.
Please note both Katrina and I work full time so won’t always be about during the day. As we also have two little kids, we definitely keep busy out of work hours as well so this means that you may spend some time by yourself during the week, but we will always make an effort to engage and involve you in our family.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We aim to provide an opportunity to learn and enjoy our NZ way of life.
Both Katrina and I are involved in a lot of local clubs and sporting communities. For those interested we’d be more than happy to bring you along and introduce you.
It’s a short 5 min drive into town where there are supermarkets, restaurants, movie theatre and all the amenities. We have mountain bikes and triathlon bikes that you can use to bike round if you wish.
This a new project for us, but we are really looking forward to hosting you and welcoming you to our home.
Fire away with any questions, look forward to hearing from you.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
In exchange for accommodation (and some exceptionally good company) we’d ask that you help us out in the garden, plus kick into a couple of building projects that we have planned. Mostly fencing and putting some finishing touches on our container home, maybe even a lick of paint. Upon arrival, we usually set out a list of things we'd like you to help us with while you are staying. You can then work at your own leisure getting them done.
Ideally you would have some handy building/construction skills - as we often have a few little building projects that need completing. So anyone that can help us with that would be looked upon favourably :-)
Our garden is extensive, but supremely beautiful. You can stroll at your own leisure, and relax under the trees.
We try to be as natural and self sufficient as possible, and we’d be happy to learn any new farming/gardening techniques that support us in this!
We have chickens and a small flock of sheep and lambs that at times need shearing or drenching. We usually do this ourselves however you can join in if you would like.
Other jobs are helping with children. Katrina and I often need babysitters, so we might ask from time to time to help look after the kids. Might be just entertaining them whilst we cook dinner, or even getting them ready, and putting them down to bed. Which is sometimes, no easy feat!
Its a help yourself breakfast and lunch situation. The fridge and pantry are usually full, but let us know if you have any dietary requirements. For dinner we usually eat together every night. We do eat very early with young children (around 6pm) so this maybe too early for you and you may want to eat later. We call it 'feeding time at the zoo' as some nights can be a circus!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
Always interested in learning basic conversation in any language!
Accommodation
Container Luxury! You're private retreat when the chaos of our young family gets too much!
You’ll be living in a recently constructed large container home, fully insulated, full kitchen, two bedroom and two bathroom. It’s fully furnished with a projector for those rainy day movie days (Still need help to set this up permanently and there are a lot of cords, and i think you'll need a laptop or an adaptor to plug in your own device.
You’ll also have access to a heated pool during summer.
The containers overlook our small orchard and you can have all access to the fruits it offers (depending on the season) There’s also fresh free range eggs (and associated chickens) at your disposal. Grab an egg in the morning straight from the coop and make yourself an omelette.
What else ...
Our only expectation is that who ever comes to join us is that you are honest and engaging. Although it might be easy to retreat to the privacy of the container each night (and sometimes we might want our space) the default setting is that you hang out in the evening. Because we are at work early and home late - its sometimes the only chance we get to interact on the week days!
We generally prioritise those who can stay for a minimum of three weeks. We’d welcome you to be able to come and go as you please. There is plenty to experience within an hours drive from our place, rivers, mountains (skiing), amazing short hikes. Just do a quick google search!
It’s also important to note that both Katrina and I work full time, so it is expected that you can and will be prepared to work unsupervised during the week.
Finally, we like to do a video face time (usually through Whatsapp) with anyone who comes to stay. Giving both parties the opportunity to work out if we are a good fit.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We will have sufficient internet (WIFI) capability for people to work remotely if desired. At this stage WIFI is only available in the main house - we are working on getting it set up in the container home.
Space for parking camper vans
Plenty of Car and mobile home parking If required. No shed, but in a paddock.
Can possibly accept pets
By negotiation
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (8)
We enjoyed almost three weeks in Ashburton.
The accomodation in the self contained house is the best we ever had doing workaway, nice to have some private space but you're always more than welcomed to share time with the family.
We stayed there with our toddler, the vegetable… 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:
(4.9)
We enjoyed almost three weeks in Ashburton.
The accomodation in the self contained house is the best we ever had doing workaway, nice to have some private space but you're always more than welcomed to share time with the family.
We stayed there with our toddler, the vegetable… read more
The work wasn't too hard and we liked the… read more
No task was to difficult for them -… read more
Valentine, was a most excellent work-awayer and we thoroughly enjoyed having him live with us for over a month! He helped exceptionally hard, and took to any task we set him with enthusiasm and initiative. We designed, and built a deck, we did many other building projects, and even when we… read more
She had a genuine willingness to help us at our property, and around the house. Once we gave her a responsibility she saw it completed with some guidance needed along the way. We had her create a… read more
Picnics in the living room and eating fish and chips with the whole family… read more
Thank you for the opportunity to welcome us both, although Fiona still had work outside.
We both learned a lot. With the sheep, the garden, the children and in the house.
Thank you for letting us share in your everyday life.… read more
