The Fat Cats Farm
Taryn, the boss is here to greet her latest victim, somehow she reminds me of Judith Durham, the popular Kiwi singer from way back when. A quick tour of the place reveals a bunch of guys building a conservatory, a bunch of ladies in the kitchen and others milling about. So, what we have here is a small holding of meadows and an orchard, and a campsite. A collection of tatty camper vans occupy the driveway outside and a couple of static caravans in the garden. The people working are mainly Europeans and a handful of Latinos - Mexicans and an Argentinian. Essentially these guys are on working holidays, getting paid in food and lodgings. They sell fruit from the orchards and meadows, grow herbs and vegetables in the garden and generally maintain the place. Oh, and milk the cow in time for breakfast. WOOFers is the term given to these folks. Others are on camping trips around New Zealand with about a dozen tents populating the back meadow and a few more camper vans scattered around.The house has been turned into a hostel, with a couple of private rooms available. They have a hot shower on the inside, but also a solar shower in the garden, along with a fire bath! I can help myself to any of the fruit and vegetables for free.
My abode for the next week then is a caravan at $35 NZD. Not a bad van, a double bed at least, and an electricity hook up. A major downside to this place is the lack of Internet - no wifi, just a cable to share between 20 campers and hostelers. An extra $9 for breakfast and dinner, so full board for the week should be around ￡180. People here are friendly at least, one or two dredlock types, but in the main normal regular people of varying ages, including Gordon, well into his 70's. Nationalities here tonight - German, Spanish, Italian, British, Japanese, Brazilian, Argentinean, Mexican, Canadian and Swiss. Dinner around the makeshift table, some kind of dal curry and rice, pretty good actually. Tea and coffee on the house, but really it's time to sleep, and sleep like a baby I hope as I have plenty to catch up on.
Taryn, the boss is here to greet her latest victim, somehow she reminds me of Judith Durham, the popular Kiwi singer from way back when. A quick tour of the place reveals a bunch of guys building a conservatory, a bunch of ladies in the kitchen and others milling about. So, what we have here is a small holding of meadows and an orchard, and a campsite. A collection of tatty camper vans occupy the driveway outside and a couple of static caravans in the garden. The people working are mainly Europeans and a handful of Latinos - Mexicans and an Argentinian. Essentially these guys are on working holidays, getting paid in food and lodgings. They sell fruit from the orchards and meadows, grow herbs and vegetables in the garden and generally maintain the place. Oh, and milk the cow in time for breakfast. WOOFers is the term given to these folks. Others are on camping trips around New Zealand with about a dozen tents populating the back meadow and a few more camper vans scattered around.The house has been turned into a hostel, with a couple of private rooms available. They have a hot shower on the inside, but also a solar shower in the garden, along with a fire bath! I can help myself to any of the fruit and vegetables for free.
My abode for the next week then is a caravan at $35 NZD. Not a bad van, a double bed at least, and an electricity hook up. A major downside to this place is the lack of Internet - no wifi, just a cable to share between 20 campers and hostelers. An extra $9 for breakfast and dinner, so full board for the week should be around ￡180. People here are friendly at least, one or two dredlock types, but in the main normal regular people of varying ages, including Gordon, well into his 70's. Nationalities here tonight - German, Spanish, Italian, British, Japanese, Brazilian, Argentinean, Mexican, Canadian and Swiss. Dinner around the makeshift table, some kind of dal curry and rice, pretty good actually. Tea and coffee on the house, but really it's time to sleep, and sleep like a baby I hope as I have plenty to catch up on.
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