Feature = World Tourism Day = Tourism & Community Development = WWOOFing it Up in Kiwiland: 2 years volunteering on organic farms and travelling in New Zealand

Read this and other entries to the World Tourism Day Blog Competition here. 

Reflections = Tramping in Nelson, NZ

Knowledge is power; a cardinal truth in Community Development, both locally and globally. This truth has defined my last 2 years living and volunteering on organic farms around New Zealand, also known as, WWOOFing - WorldWide Opportunities on Organic Farms. ‘Wwoofers’ can access a database where they can find organic growers to ‘host’ them from a day to months, and even years. Furthermore, it's sustainable...

Sunrise in the valley,  Phytofarm Herbal Learning Garden, Little River, NZ

Heritage carrots, Phytofarm

Socially, it’s more than a simple exchange of labour for food and board; it’s a different way of travelling, of getting to know the ‘real kiwi life’, being more than just a passing tourist with a camera in a camper van. WWOOFing is experiencing the country as locals live it. It’s an exchange of knowledge, skills, friendship, family, enthusiasm and a passion for living, learning and sharing an organic lifestyle, being closer to the earth and in tune with the environment. I have been WWOOFing alone, but host families and their networks, make me feel connected to a larger purpose and community . I’ve met and made lifelong friendships with people from allover the globe.

Passion flowers, Phytofarm

Economically, it’s a win-win arrangement for both parties. Busy hosts have enthusiastic, willing (and usually young and energetic) workers to get the work done, and strapped for cash WWOOFers can travel indefinitely, knowing that they have their labour as a guarantee of food and a bed for the night. Hosts have social and professional networks in tourism that WWOOFers can access, often leading to ‘mates rates’ discounts on costly tourist rates and knowing of the best places to go for almost anything. And if the host doesn’t know; they know someone who does! Sometimes, it’s simply joining in on the weekly family fishing trip on the lake or tramp at the National Park.

Avalanche = like organic community development; it's unstoppable
Rob Roy Glacier, Mt. Aspiring National Park, NZ

Environmentally, Mother Earth must be nodding her head with approval. Passionate hosts have a need to share their livelihoods and expertise, and committed WWOOFers can learn about organics from the University of Life, instead of from books! WWOOFing promotes environmental stewardship on local and global scales. On my journey, I have found an extended family, made fond memories, and gained a practical education in the growing of organic produce using permaculture and biodynamic principles.

Rosehips; used to make oil
Phytofarm

It’s been an enriching experience and it’s exceeded all my expectations. I have a greater sense of well-being and better health from a mainly organic diet. I have reconnected with natural ancient ways of cooking, gardening, home and personal care, and home building. I have WWOOFed at an olive grove, beekeepers, food forest garden, herbal learning farm and adobe mud brick builders and learned to trust in the generosity of strangers; those friends I’ve still to meet. I’m really going to miss WWOOFing in New Zealand.

Fortunately, ‘WWOOFing’ is a worldwide movement and I’ve already heard on the organic grapevine the best places to WWOOF in the Pacific Islands. Next stop: organic coffee farm on Tonga, and maybe some swimming with the sperm whales ;)

Dawn mist rising; beginning our day's work, Renwick, NZ

The Honeymoon period is over!

Day 3

How quickly the honeymoon period ends. This idyllic existence has it's downsides. There is no such thing as perfection but being the die-hard romantic, please forgive me another time for believing the illusion. Yesterday after I spent 3 hours weeding, the heaven's opened and I was stuck indoors the rest of the time, which I wasn't complaining about because my back was knackered, but it's never fun when it rains on the parade! Or on your just hung out laundry! Being on the farm, the animals need care rain or shine. Getting wet is unavoidable and my city skin is not so waterproof, even if I am from Scotland.

My relationships with the non-human creatures deepens. You know family by the extent to which they can annoy you, and the animals have gone from being novel and cute to annoying (but still cute). After spending a good hour with Ricky the cat yesterday afternoon, today he has persistently come begging for a petting and a massage. If he could return the favour, I would gladly satisfy him but it doesn't work like that with animals without opposable thumbs! I resisted and ignored him. Ricky also killed a rabbit and dragged it indoors, and brought in another one half alive squealing for it's life. Maybe he meant well, but I'm allergic to rabbits! He wasn't to know. Besides, he's only doing what nature intended for him to do. The cirle of life and all that.

Humans aren't so easy to get close to, and I understand better why people choose the company of animals over their fellow humans. Animals are straighforward. You know that they need you because you give them what they want and they return that with affection and loyalty. It helps that no words are needed, because there's no lies, no manipulation, no ambiguities. Loving a non-human creature is easier, in many ways.

Baa baa today escaped multiple times from the orchard, and headed straight for the back door. Bleating and jumping up to get your attention because he wants to come into the house, making a racket, and then peeing allover the doorstep, allover the gumboots and shoes too. Then it's the chook's turn to turn on me! As I attempt to check for eggs under the nesting hen, she pecks at my finger and while it doesn't hurt, I get the fright of my life because I watched someone else pick up eggs without a problem the day before. I'm so scared that I hold up my arm to protect my face from another chicken. She doesn't look as agitated as the pecking hen by my presence but once pecked, twice shy! And then Dice is constantly around begging for scraps, even licking the cutlery in the dishwasher if you turn around too long. I feel like I know these animals better than the people in this house. Or maybe I'm just more fascinated by the novelty of living with non-human animals; they are what I'm more interested in talking about. A welcome relief from the complexities of human nature; the animals seem to have it all sussed out. What a day! I wish the weather would be drier and sunnier but it's not. Instead of wishing for what I can't have, I wish I would just accept things the way they are. Being a control freak, this is not a strength. These non-human creatures have a lot to teach me...

Here's a picture to make you smile. Baa baa trying time get through the catflap, even though he doesn't fit.

Z

When I consider bringing my Chinese dictionary to an English Speaking country

On a plane to Kiwiland...

I'm flying from Glasgow International Airport tomorrow at 1310 and won't have email access for at least 2 days until Sunday, and when I arrive at 525 in the morning, I think I'll spend the day chilling out...... in the meantime, here's the brief for the project I start the day after:

Epping Esplanade Community Garden Concept

Community Waitakere, Project Twin Streams Henderson Creek proposes to establish a community garden in the Epping Esplanade Park. Residents in this area reflect the diversity of ethnicities that is characteristic of Waitakere, with a significant minority of Chinese immigrant households where non English speaking grandparents are involved in childcare while parents work.


Our vision for the garden is not only to establish and manage a community food garden through processes which involve the full participation of members for the supply of fresh, organically grown food, but to create a learning environment which offers practical hands on learning to the wider community. We expect to be offering workshops on all aspects of organic food growing including food forests, composting, water harvesting, and cooking.


We will be inviting residents in the immediate neighbourhood of Buscombe Ave, Epping Rd, Jubaea Place, Hoya Place and Woodford Avenue to participate in this project as well as the two local schools Nga Kakano O Kaihanga Christian Kura and Sunderland School . A community group, Art of Living Meditation Group have the immediate stream bank as their adopted area which they have planted and maintained since 2007 and they are also keen to be involved.


In summary we aim to engage the community in planning and creating a project which aims to achieve the following:-


• to establish and manage a community food garden for the supply of fresh, organically grown food, to members initially with the potential to widen distribution.


• to enhance opportunities for social interaction among members.


• to provide a living classroom for community workshops


• to function as a demonstration model of sustainability and self reliance


• As well as increasing our skills in growing food we are aiming to nurture and grow a sense of belonging and connection between neighbours and residents of Henderson.