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Published: April 1st 2011
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Life on the Eagleview Colored Sheep farm was great. It was a very mooooo-ving experience and not baaaaaaaa-d at all.
Debbie and Ian Hopton own the 30 acre farm...which mainly runs coloured sheep, Angora goats, and alpacas for fleece. Their other animals included a Shetland ponies, cows, chooks, a pet kangaroo, 2 Fox Terriers and a cockatoo.The property has stellar views, a large garden, fruit trees, various berries, and a vegetable garden.
Sarah (another Wwoofer) and I started work at 8 am. We fed the sheep, goats, cows, pet kangaroo, chooks, and cockatoo. It was great fun being in charge. We had to count the sheep, goats and cows...making sure everyone was accounted for. We had to making sure the sheep and goats did not have grass seed stuck in their eyes. One goat did get one, and it turns their eye blue and goopy. We got it out, and that goat felt much better...started eating again. One of the sheep got into some barbed wire and we had to manhandle it out of his wool. It is a good thing none of us got sliced by the barb. We also, collected the chicken eggs. I wasn't very good
at this because they like to peck at you when you reach under them. I was a weeny and let Sarah do this job.
After feeding, we cut down branches of the Lucerne tree. We dragged these branches into the goat paddocks, which they voraciously devoured. The female, male and baby goats all had different paddocks.
We usually took a tea and cookie break after this. Other chores we did were...pick up sticks (Eucalyptus branches) in the paddock...which seems easy...but it is actually quite physical...the paddocks were quite hilly...so we did a lot of up and down walking, carrying huge amounts of broken branches. We also picked fruit. And wheelbarrowed excess uneaten sheep hay to the chooks...which had a field day in it!
Some indoor jobs were cutting up fruit for jam. We did white nectarines, and kumquats. Debbie makes soooper delicious jams. We painted a huge trellis (time consuming...two coats on each side). We cleaned jars for Debbie's jams (which she sells at the farmer's markets). We picked grass seed from the cut wool.
Debbie would make us two 'toasties' each for lunch. Likea panini...and after working hard...they really hit the spot. We always took
a break at 3 pm to watch McCleod's Daughters...an aussie farm soap. Felt very luxurious to take that afternoon break.
Ian and Debbie took us out to a cool tavern for the Wednesday 'Schnitzel' night. Their friend's joined us and we all had a good time eating and drinking. Went to their friend's historic old (18??'s) house for Tim Tams (aussie cookies) and tea afterwards.
On Friday, Ian also took us fishing down on a gorgeous beach in Waitpinga, a beach he has been fishing on since he was a kid. We used worms, squid, and cockle clams for bait. It was great fun! We caught 13 mullet and 2 aussie salmon. He also gave us a driving tour of the Murray River, Goolwa, and Victor Harbor. Ate a fantastic meat pie for lunch.
Saturday night we went to their friend's house for dinner. They live on a farm, too. Ian brought his gun, and we went kangaroo hunting on their property afterwards. It was a very dramatic thing to see. I have purposely not posted any of those pictures for anyone that may be offended by this.
Sunday morning Sarah and I fed the animals.
We also baited the yabbie (like crayfish) pots and tossed then into the dam. Then, we took the Wwoofer car out for the day. We went to the market in Sterling (like a country town farmer's market). Debbie was there selling her jam and wool products. We also drove to the top of Mt Lofty for an excellent bird's eye view of Adelaide. Then, scooted through the Picadilly Valley...wineries and produce farms. Stopped at the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary for a look see...and finally got to see a Koala. Ahhh...so cute!! Tried to see a Platypus...but no go. Waaa...
Stopped in the old german town of Hahndorf next for wine tasting and thift stores. The wine tasting was fun...the pours were very generous and tasty. Ole thirsty was happy!! Bought a bottle of Shiraz for our kangaroo dinner later that night. Back on the farm we checked the yabbie pots...only got 4...so we thru them back. Ian cooked a yummy version of aussie/korean tucker (aussie bush food) Bim Bap.
Here is a proper description of Bibimbap (Korean pronunciation: ) is a popular Korean dish. The word literally means "mixed meal." Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white
rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper paste). A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating. It can be served either cold or hot.
Thanks Wikipedia!!
That night we looked at pictures from Debbie's Wwoofing experiences in Austria.
Monday morning, after giving hugs and sad goodbyes to Debbie, we drove into Adelaide with Ian. Sarah was taking a bus to her next Wwoofing farm, and I was headed to Glenelg for my last night in Australia.
Got together with my friend Marita and her friend Jakki for drinks and dinner that night. We ate at a yummy Thai restaurant. It was lovely way to spend my last night. They were both fun, funny and would love to connect with them again...somewhere in this world.
Up early Tuesday morning...I finished packing and met Jakki outside. She had offered to take me to the airport (and I had just met her the previous night...so sweet).
Off and into the sky...Adelaide to Sydney. Sydney to LAX (where my mom and sister met me for an hour). And then,
LAX to Seattle. Train into town, ferry across to Bainbridge Island where my faithful friend Lyn was waiting to pick me up to take me back home. Home and up the stairs to my place, I was anxiously awaiting to see my little Sushi. She was in fine shape and happy to see me. And me, her.
A great trip from stem to stern...
Thank you Australia all your down-to-earth-friendly-no-worries attitudes, the variety of interesting gorgeous scenery, the crazy fun different birds and animals, the awesome wine and beer, the warm beaches, your fun accents, and each and every fantastic memory. G'day mate!!
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Jo
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wow
So great to read about your trip and see the fab pix Christina. and welcome home! It has been rain and more rain....