Come and help us on our lifestyle block and garden in North Canterbury, New Zealand

Detalles

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  Descripción

  General profile
  
  Hi, we are a couple who enjoy meeting people from other walks of life. We live on a lifestyle block about 38 kms north of Christchurch and would welcome longer term help with some chores/projects around the garden and lifestyle block. We enjoy hearing about people's cultures and their life experiences. We have several cats, all rescued, and all who understand English, an elderly rascal of a dog, and 4 alpacas.
  
  We do need people who are Covid vaccinated. Because of health issues for us we cannot take anyone who hasn't been triple vaccinated for Covid - sorry.
  
  We are non-smokers and this is definitely a non-smoking, non-vaping home and environment.
  
  We are surrounded by livestock which are for human consumption. We also are meat eaters with the occasional vegetarian meal .
  
  We are fairly laid back and enjoy a leisurely lifestyle with the occasional/regular burst of activity.
  
  Please read carefully and take note of the separate, more long term, permanent, furnished accommodation offered in the "Type of Accommodation " section in return for 15 hours work a week. We don't want rent - we want a helper or a couple who WILL work WHEN required.
  
  We can use someone with just a general knowledge of gardening/weeding and some other maintenance around our lifestyle block, weed eating, hedge trimming, digging the garden, helping plant the vegetable garden in the spring, spraying weeds on the driveway and courtyard and various other seasonal chores. Also to help out with putting in a pipeline so we can run taps from our water tank to water the hundreds of trees we have planted and various other projects as they come up. General tidying up of our storage areas. We have had really helpful people who are kind and willing to help when we require it. We really do appreciate people who have a good work ethic so that when we ask you to help it gets done.
  
  Then we can ALL have time to take off on a picnic or similar or our workawayer(s) can take off on their own, if they have their own transport and that's what they prefer.
  
  (Please note after a couple of bad experiences we would like to say if you don't take instruction well and just want a free bed and food, you won't do well here.)
  
  Because our car is for our own use only, a Workawayer would definitely need their own transport, especially when/if house/pet sitting. Please note - you would be welcome to come with us wherever we went and to join in our lifestyle. If a workawayer doesn't have their own transport we would not be continually running you into the city or the township. So you DO need transport if you want to go away from our property frequently. This is not negotiable. We have found that some workawayers expected us to run them everywhere. We're very sorry but we don't have the time or fuel to do this.
  
  There is definitely help needed on the lifestyle block, but if we have worked a couple or three days and there is a beautiful day and a picnic to be had, then that is great. Off we go. Or just chill down at the pond or wherever. We do NOT enforce a strict 15 or 25 hour work regime. Just when we need things done.
  
  We have turned most of our place back into a park like sanctuary. We have wild ducks who bring their babies to live on our ponds in the Spring and they stay until their offspring learn to fly. It is so nice to just watch them go about their parental duties. We have lots of other birdlife and finally have got our first Bellbird and fantails flit around when it is their season, with swallows nesting in our other barn. We have two Bellbirds who we hope to keep here.
  
  As we are totally a meat eating household and we are also surrounded by animals which are being grown for eating, our Workawayer experience may be unpleasant and unsuitable for a vegan/vegetarian. Most of our meals are of meat, eggs, cheese and milk to drink etc. We have our own vegetable garden although it is in need of a dig to prepare it for spring planting. We have had vegans and vegetarians who have worked in with our ways and they have enjoyed themselves but we are definitely NOT of this persuasion, sorry.
  
  We are looking for anyone, single or a couple, from 2-3 weeks, to longer term if we get along well together. Both my husband, Sam, and I like a home that is filled with laughter, kindness, honesty, willing help, and reciprocal respect. We do want someone who is really looking to help around our lifestyle block and definitely NOT just a casual stop before you get full time work nor are we just an overnight bed stop.
  
  We are usually in bed around 10.30 p.m. and up at 7.30 a.m. We also enjoy watching tv in the evenings if there isn't anything else to do. Not really suitable for early to bed - early to rise people. We find they don't enjoy themselves as much and it can create tension in the house.
  
  As we were home hosts for language students for 17 years we are used to people who don't have English as a first language and I would be willing to help with this as long as they have an intermediate level of English. Sam is very quiet and shy so he keeps well clear of this activity. Haha.
  
  Also sorry for the firmly stated words in capitals. We've been getting a number of people who are obviously not reading our profile carefully. It's worrying that quite a few have just ignored what we have written. It's unpleasant to have to say no to these people.
  
  Well I don't know what else I can say except "Hope to hear from you soon!!" We are on Whatsapp if that helps you. Please read the rest of our profile as it does contain more info in those sections.

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  Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Jardinería

  Construcción y bricolaje

  Cuidado de animales

  Ayuda en una granja

  Ayuda doméstica

  Mantenimiento general

  Ayuda informática
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  Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  I think I have said it all in the above chapters. But language help/correction can be offered in conjunction with helping, if required, so learning language while you help out, as long as you are at about intermediate or above level. If you are just learning English (beginner or similar) then it wouldn't be suitable. Also joining in with some older folks who have a wealth of knowledge between them and having a good laugh. No pessimists allowed!
  
  Learning about which are weeds and which are plants, gaining experience in other things on our lifestyle block or just about life, if you are that way inclined. People with initiative are very welcome. Plus many other things, which we are usually helping with anyway. We would like someone who is interested in being with us and having an interesting reciprocal conversation, during the day. But who, perhaps, also enjoys watching television as this is our way of relaxing in the evenings. The last 2 workawayers (18 and 19 year old German lads) came back to us for extra weeks after leaving and they still text us regularly.

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  Ayuda

  It is just general help that we need, building new gardens and weeding as it needs it. Putting in pipe and electricity to some of the block and the paddocks. And many other things too many to list so there could be a variety of different projects available, none of them requiring a degree, just a willingness to work when required. Being amenable.
  
  I have put down 25 hrs/5 days a week, but this is very flexible with joint agreement. At this time neither Sam nor I can envisage a 25 hour week so perhaps we can sort that out between our prospective workaway person and us. Perhaps sometimes we may need longer and then other times we would do shorter hours. It is a matter of respect or give and take perhaps, but not taking advantage from either side.

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  Idiomas hablados

  Inglés: Fluido

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  Alojamiento

  There is a master bedroom in the house which has an en suite, with king size bed. Due to water restrictions showers are to be one a day and definitely limited to 10 minutes only. This is definite and because of one or two past workawayers there is a list displayed in the bathroom of "Do's and Don'ts". The greater majority of people are courteous and respectful but there have been a couple of people who think your home is a hotel and you are their servant. We want you to enjoy yourself and have a happy time here and for us to be happy with your stay.
  
  If you only work 15 or less hours a week then you supply your own food.
  
  If you are working 16 to 25 hrs and giving to us as we would be giving to you, then all three meals or supplies for Breakfast and Lunch would be supplied. Nothing too elaborate as I am a good but plain cook. We don't adhere to rigid meal times so please note this. This means we won't be serving dinner at exactly 5.00 p.m! Reciprocal courtesy and kindness is a big requirement when you are living in our home. And if you are in our separate accommodation it is the same.
  
  Breakfast supplies would be rolled oats or cereals with some toast and jam or similar. Any additions to be supplied by Workawayer. Lunch would be sandwiches, with peanut butter, jam, or similar or if you want to cook up pasta for yourself. ALL meals would be with us unless you want to be on a picnic down by the pond or something similar. There are quite a few hideaways to go to on our property.
  
  Evening meal can be the full main meal with meat etc. or occasionally easy, casual things like an omelet or cheese on toast etc. Usually served around 6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
  
  We sometimes stop at a pub for an evening meal if we are coming home late after showing you all the sights. We do expect you to pay for your own meals at the pubs/hotels. But anything we cook in our home is included in your accommodation.
  
  Our workaway people in the past have been of the opinion that all fresh fruit, alcohol which includes beer, soft drinks, etc. are their own expenses so we have accepted this as a guideline. Please don't ask for these as a refusal often offends.
  
  Although, if it is summertime there is an orchard with peaches, plums, apples, pears and some other fruit just behind the barn and you can eat all the fruit you like from this. Or you an help me put them down in the freezer. Except the Apricots!!!! They are MINE! Haha.
  
  And, after the evening meal, whoever does the cooking doesn't do the washing up.
  
  We like to be kind and understanding to ALL our workawayers but occasionally you have one who knocks your confidence in the human race by throwing your kindnesses back in your face. Please don't apply if this is your way of doing things as you will be asked to leave. Our house is a peaceful sanctuary and we don't like hostility here.
  
  Lastly, there is the possibility of separate, permanent, fully furnished accommodation for a long term person who is looking for this type of position. We are also looking for someone who wants to have a permanent base for a much longer period of time (3 - 4 years). This accommodation would be available to them free in return for 15 hours work (each person) and they would supply all their food etc. It has a Lounge plus Kitchen and separate bathroom, with a bedroom/sleepout directly outside the door. All carpeted and with all appliances supplied. All areas are warm and insulated. If you are interested in this it would mean payment of the power used, references, current Police check, a good personality, patience and kindness, with good fitness and health plus good work ethics. Also a different set of work requirements. If you are interested in this, please note this in your reply. At this time we still need temporary workers as well. As I have written, it would be 15 hours a week work, each, when required. There would also be a refundable bond for this accommodation in accordance with bond criteria.

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  Algo más...

  We live a short distance from several lovely walks/hikes in the mountains, not far from a river, which does dry up in the summer, There are mountain bike tracks nearby, own mountain bikes required. You would also need your own transport to get to the township which is about 8 kms away, although occasionally, depending on the length of your stay we may take you on a sightseeing trip to the mountains or to Kaikoura and the East coast. The views here, at our house, are really beautiful - we look over farmland straight out to the Southern Alps which are about 45 minutes to 1 hour away. The beach is about 30 kms away (East). Christchurch is about 38 kms away (South). There are many activities in this whole area, too many to list. Suggest you read travel brochures on what to do in the North Canterbury area, as well as Christchurch, Banks Peninsula and Selwyn area.

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  Un poco más de información

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    Acceso a Internet

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    Acceso a Internet limitado

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    Tenemos animales

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    Somos fumadores

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    Puede alojar familias

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  Puede acoger a nómadas digitales

  We do have unlimited internet although sometimes, because of living in the country, it is a little slow during the day. But then you would possibly be helping on the land during the day and the reception is okay at night.

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  Espacio para aparcar autocaravanas

  As we are on a lifestyle block we have room for motorhomes. If you have your own power plug then there is a power outlet for motorhomes/caravans.

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  ¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?

  Más de dos

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  Horas esperadas

  5 hours/day, 5 days/week maximum but not rigid about this.

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