A river runs through it

Shleepy Time

Wwoof - Thames in the Coromandel What did you do? I helped out on a farm in the Kauaranga Valley; actually it was at the farm of the former co-leader of the Green Party here. I helped out in daily farm activities.

What type of tasks are you talking about? Well I'm glad you asked: I helped herd the sheep so we could tag the lambs as male or female (it was just lambing season), had to catch the lambs so we could tag them, not easy sometimes. Did you know that they have tails when they are born? Most sheep have their tails removed b/c since they are close to their back ends, when they go number 2, it gets the tail dirty and flies will lay their eggs on it (which then leads to maggots, I'm sure you get the picture). So I helped gather the lambs together and the hosts put rubber rings on their tails that slowly make the tail fall off (about a week to 10 days). Don't worry though after a day they don't feel it anymore. This is the least painful alternative to actually slicing them off.

Also helped with the burning of gorse/wooly night shade and rotten wood on the part of the property not certified organic (some of it is, some of it isn't).

Also rode and drove the 'mule' (see below)

Did you do anything else? Some good tramping (hiking) at the back of the farm

And? Spent a day in the Coromandel Forest Park on the Pinnacles Hike! Start point to Pinnacles Hut to Pinnacles themselves, back down and to the Hydro Camp to the Billy Goat Trail back down past Billy Goat Falls, across the river and to the parking lot. Met a couple from Washington D.C. at the hut and went up to the Pinnacles with them. It was quite windy and it even snowed a little!!!!! Great views, good tracks, good times.

What else did you do? A lot of weeding of thistles (introduced from California); Also helped set up for the Saturday Market in the city, feed the cows, shovel manure to help make compost, and stir a biodynamic/organic mix for spraying the grass

Hay there

Chickweed, great for salads

Overall how was it? It was truly a great experience to actually get to work alongside someone fighting for the environment in Parliament yet also see that they are doing everything they preach at home. I learned a lot about an organic lifestyle on the farm and was glad I could help out with many a different task.
Twins!

In b/w headbutts

Siesta

Where are you now? I'm in Hawkes Bay or part of the Wine Country in NZ. Headed toward the Capital, Wellington after that.

Where are you going? More wwoofing in the North Island before I head to the South Island to wwoof; hopefully the snows still good by the time I reach it. Will try and go Bungy Jumping again and also will have to get on at least one of the National Parks for a few good days of tramping as well.

Until next time Planeteers,

Cheers,

Ty

P.S.

When they recommend that you boil the water first before drinking it, you should probably listen

Scones

So that's how they do it, anyone have an extra $20k?

So there's a lot to update everyone on, it's been a while, these last 2 posts and the ones from here on out are recaps of whats been going on in the last 2 months so keep posted daily b/c new posts may be up!

Listen:
Buena Vista Social Club


What were you doing after Keri Keri?


Wwoof - Kaitaia in the Northland at the Clean Green Machine. What did you do? Helped out around an ongoing project to start a new home. Trimmed some trees down to let light into the living room/bed room, helped apply linseed oil to timber for the new house that will also be using flexible concrete.

CHOOKS!

What else did you do? I attended many an Environmental Community Organization and really saw the grassroots efforts by local people trying to solve problems.

I also Got to hike around Lake Ngatu and I got to travel to Cape Reinga at the tip of NZ (a very spiritual place for the Maori people, see videos). Included in that trip was a drive down 90 mile beach, though not exactly 90 miles it is quite a long and beautiful beach.

Lake Ngatu in the Northland

Intro

Make it Rain

Attack of the Possum

View of Doubtless Bay and...

Cape Reinga Trip

What Bay?

The Light House

Cape Reinga, the meeting of the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea

Sea that right there in the Ocean?

Top Up

Some NZ history for you

Gasp

Made from an ancient Kauri Log!

Paihia - in the Bay of Islands in Northland What did you do? Walked the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, the place where the Maori and the English signed the Treaty of Waitangi more than 150 years ago.

Site of the Treaty Signing

Maori Meeting House on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds

Inside the Meeting House

Stay tuned for more updates! Hope everyone is well,

Cheers,

Ty

P.S.

The power is yours

To the rival blog: Tyler TV, enjoy

World Famous in NZ

The Brave Don't Run

Midnight Youth

Greetings Planeteers!


It has been a while but now is the time for an update.


What has that loony guy been doing you ask?

He's been Wwoofing in NZ, that's what.

Recap:

Wwoof - Keri Keri, in the Northland at Planet Green Nursery
What did you do? I helped out at the Nursery with plant propagation, potting plants, weeding, and mulching an area I helped to clear; also had vegetarian meals each and every day, quite good recipes I hope to take back with me.

The beginning

Give it a little time

Slowly but surely

Weeding is fun

add the mulch

Score board weeds 0: TL 1, new native plants have a head start!

What else did you do? I read...a lot, haven't read that much before but it felt great. I also got to plant my very own tree at the nursery, all the wwoofers get to do it before they leave; hopefully in a few years it will have established and shaded out the weeds/grasses! Oh yeah and I got to hang out around two beautiful waterfalls next to the property. Also before I forget, there were a pair of kiwi that called at night next to the waterfalls but I was unable to pin point them to get a picture; happy just to be able to hear them in the wild! Yeah Conservation Efforts!

Waterfall #1

Waterfall # 2

Tree is planted!


Stay Tuned in the next few days for other wwoof updates!

Cheers,
Ty

P.S.

Earth Fire Wind Water Heart