Who would have thought that I would travel 14,000 km's to spread silage ("bay-lage") off the back of a truck to feed a couple hundred hungry ewes, a chore I would likely roll my eyes at if my brother tried to convince me back home would be fun. Truth is, WWOOFing in New Zealand has not been my initial contact with farming, I grew up part of it (whether I wanted to or not). But the man next to me, in his gumboots and Carharts, will never be the same. As we both dig the soil from our fingernails, we realize that on our 'vacation' we somehow managed to fall in love with growing food and the people who make a living doing it. Whether we were picking in the blueberry orchard, packing yogurt into bulk containers, or putting the cups on cows, we have been delighted to be part of the process before the plate. Here's the secret about farming: first you grow it, and then eat it. And if you can connect people with their food somewhere in the process, they will care about what they eat. Healthy food, healthy Planet.
Quite simply, there have been so many lessons learned while working alongside our brilliant hosts. However, it's important that I let you know that not all our farm experiences have been enlightening. Although beautiful, we landed at a farm on the east coast a week ago that had us so disappointed it left us questioning the point of WWOOFing. We had signed up for this organically certified (for 20 years), biodynamic grain farm ages ago, and were keen to be part of their process - all the way down to getting dusty in the on-site mill. Turns out, our hosts had something else in mind. If I wanted to scrub the lichens off a bridge I would volunteer for the Department of Transportation. We managed to hold on for 4.5 days, waiting for some knowledge to trickle down to us lowly wwoofers. Instead we baked apple crumble for breakfast and learned that "dinkle flour" is just another word for spelt. "Biodynamic" has something to do with the spiritual harmony of the farm's soil, but does not mean there is harmony among the farm's humans. So not all WWOOF's are created equal; new lesson learned.
We move on, north actually. Back to the comfort of the Blueberry Cottage and the type of hosts that stock the fridge. We're thinning the feijoas and preparing breakfast at the farmers market, baking bread and loving life.
The product of the apple harvest(great for dessert as well as breakfast).
A chilly fall morning on the farm.
Leaving the farm for a hike instead:a round the lake loop at Nelson Lakes National Park.
We are treated to a hut to ourselves for the evening,one of the sweetest things about life in the New Zealand backcountry.
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