Nowhere: November 2005

Our (modest) accomodations would be those two rooms sharing the balcony, over the veranda. whoo-hoo!

Guy's house

Our second shot was right on! Guy Johnston has been kind enough to put us up in the east wing of his large victorian. This house sits on 10 acres with stream, sheep paddoks, shearing shed, polytunnel greenhouses, and large landscaped gardens. Roses surround the house intermittent with lavender and lupine, all of which are now coming into bloom. Guy is a fencer and therefore gone most of the day, so our jobs entail weeding/whacking, turning over outside veggie gardens, planting in the polytunnel, general landscaping, and chasing sheep. In the evenings we cook a meal and all sit around playing pool and records (an avid DJ when he has the time). During the week we were left in charge (Guy left for Austraila), we plowed through Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintence, as well as local newspapers keeping us updated on the local politics. We have been very impressed with the forward thinking and conservationist ideals of New Zealanders...it gives some encouragement that somewhere, people are really on top of doing the right thing for our earth. We plan to pick up a hearty education in ecosustainability and permaculture, skills that we feel are important in living a healthy, responsible life. Wwoofing is such and amazing opportunity to explore these ideas, this country and it's peoples for very little money. For about 4 hrs of work a day, we are fed, housed, educated, and integrated with locals. In the past 3 weeks, our expenses total about $60 for both of us...for everything. We're putting the link to Willing Workers On Organic Farms here so that if you have any inclination to grow, vacation, learn, etc...it will be here. Congrats to James Weinberger for stepping off 6th St (San Francisco) and into our world! ha ha! See you in a couple weeks man! For the rest of you, much love and warm spring wishes.