Becoming a Farm Girl at KeriKeri Organics

---

Organic Farming and WWOOFING

Orgnic food is something very important to me. I see the need for the support of naturally grown food and naturally fed/housed meat and poultry. Farming with the use of genetically enhanced food products, toxic chemical sprays and pesticides, and harmful eradiation is becoming a massive worldwide problem (this is especically true for the United States) Deadly diseases such as heart disease and Cancer (which is becoming a huge epidemic) are rampant, and are linked to toxins, harmful synthetics and injected hormones and chemicals which are found in our food supply (including fruit, vegatables, meat, fish etc). By supporting the Organic food producers, not only are we protecting ourself from eating pure checmicals, but we are protecting the environment from harsh toxins, and we are ensuring that the food we humans eat, is safe enough for us continue to live a long and full life.

I found out about WOOFING while I was at a contra dance in Asheville, NC. I immediatly jumped on the website, and planned on wwoofing while in NZ. From everything I've done here, it has been one of my highlights. Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF) was establisehd in the UK in the 70's. A few years later, it made its way to New Zealand. The organisation, is world wide, (including sites in the US!!) and it provides a network of volunteers and host farmers the opportunity to connect and work together. The woofers (farm hand volunteers) give join as a member to WWOOFING to certain countries, and connect with farmers when they wish to volunteer. It is a great opportunity for those interested in organic farming and food production to get a hands on experience. While you work (about 4 hours a day, depending on the farm) you have your room and board provided for by the host farmer. You can stay for 2-3 days for as long as some people who stay for months. Some organic hosts are small vegtable farms, vineyards, dairy farms, poultry/beef farms, or larger commerical farms. there are many options to choose to work on.

Keri Keri Organics

All the food produced on the 75 acre farm is oranically produced, without chemicals, synthetics, hormones, and it is all naturally good for you, and the environment. WWOOFERs live in a small cottage at the base of a hill on the farm. It is great to have a self-contained cottage where woofers can hang out with eachother and cook meals communally after a hard day of work. Rachel and I were living and working with two other woofers Claudia and Satoshi. Claudia is 19 and from germany. She wanted to travel New Zealand and heard about woofing, and thought it was an easy way to travel the country while wokring. She is a sweet girl with lots of energy and a great smile. Rachel and I had such a blast with her! Satoshi is 27, from japan, and hopes to own his own organic farm one day. Satoshi is learning english, and he is doing really well! He taught us a few japanese words, and I showed him how I can count to ten in Japanese. he always was smiling and laughing, what a character!

Day One:Novemeber 6th 2005

I was waiting to wake up to the sound of a Rooster's cock-a-doodle-doo, but suprisingly it never came! Nonetheless, we were up and ready by early morning. After a quick breakfast we threw on our boots were out the door. Tasks of the morning included digging up scallions to be sold at the farmers market and watering the vegatables. I nearly drowned the guinnea pigs that were living in a plot of land next to the veggies, i didnt realise they were there!! (dont worry they went unharmed). After the morning tasks, we organised the irrigation in the potato and garlic fields and then laid the irrigation out. The whole task tok forever...working in the hot sun with massive lines of irrigation (that are all tangled up) is a difficult job. We finished it finally, and left the garlic fields smelling of italian dinner. In total we worked 9 1/2 hours. Exhausetd and hungry, we walked back to the cottage for dinner.

Novemeber 7th 2005: Day Two

Since we were so tired from working the 9.5 hours before, we decided to just work 4 hours today. More irrigation work, FUN!! (jsut kidding!) Rachel and I had a snail fight, and claudia helped us tackle the beatly irrigation mess. After work, we made a yummy lunch of home made guacamole and tomato and cheese sandwiches. Claudia, Rachel and I
went into town to the internet cafe. We stopped at a Chocolate factory! In a window you can seee the ladies working on the choclate conveyor belt, like in I love Lucy! Lucy seemed to have her day off when I was there...hmmm, maybe she was at the beach with Ethel?? We bought some chcolate truffles and went to the Kauri Wood Gift shop, where I did some souvenir shopping 😊 Then, we drove to rainbow falls for some fun. Sadly, it was raining when we saw the falls, so the lack of sunhine did not crate a rainbow. But we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless as we sat on the riverbank, talking and eating our chocolate truffles.

That night we made dinner together and ate by candlelight. After dinner, the real fun started!! Marty the farmer asked us to help move the chickens. I jumped ont hat opportunity! When else am I going to have a chance to move chickens? We got out to the hen house at around 9 pm. In order to move chickens from field to another, you must do it at night, when they are asleep. I though that was pretty funny! I was in charge of holding the crate lid open and making sure the chikcnes were secured inside the crate. Claudia, satoshi, marty, and rachel moved the chickens from the hen house to the crates. In order to not wake the chickens, you have to be really quiet, and pick up the chicken, and stick its head under your armpit so it wont squack and wake up the others. Suprisingly, the chickens would go right back to asleep when they were placed in the crates. it was like they were hypnotized! In total we moved 56 chickens and one rooster. I'll always remember that night, what a farm story!

November 8th 2005:Day Three

After two days of working with irrigation, I was glad to work in the compost pile. I never thought I would ever hear myself say that. We wheelbarrowd th compost into the veggie house and mulchd up the soil in preparation for seedling planting. Everything was going smoothly unil I had a run in with the electric fence...twice. dont worry I am ok!!! Just a little shocked! Jonas, a german guy with lots of knowledge about life, came to work and help out at the farm. He was a great mind to talk to!
For dinner we all went to the main house where marty's wife, Becky cooked us a big meal. We feasted and chatted, while the two little girls ran around the house. After dinner we helped out wiht the dishes, and I got the little girls to form an assembly line to help wash. After dinner the woofing crew returned to th cottage. Things got a little crazy when the crew put facial masks on and danced around the cottage to the radio! Even Satoshi put one on! and I have a photo to prove it😊 The night wrappd up with talks by th fireside, a great way to end the day!

Novemeber 9th 2005:Day Four

Marty let us take the day off since we worked so hard on 6th. We looked for the route to the nearest beach and off we went. With the rental car we took the ferry across the bay to the little town of Russel. The area of he Ba of Islands, is gorgeous. It is th region of New Zealand that Captain Cook and the Maoris had their first encounters. Here, we explored th beaches, stopping for an afernoon a Long Beach, and read up on the hill overlooking th islands. Russel was once the capial of NZ, many years ago. It is so quaint! Rachel and I grabbed some ice cream and enjoyed the sunset by the bay, before taking the ferry back to the farm.
Once we were back, we were greeted with new visitors, a cute french couple, Celine and Daniel. They were backpackers with a newly purchased camper van, traveling NZ. They had no money or gas so thye stopped at the farm, to se if they could work for a day in exchange for a hot shower and somewhere to park their van. We all ate dinner together in the cottage and exchanged emails, in case we're ever in France.

Novemeber 10, 2005:Day Five

I had some rental car trouble in the morning so I went to th mechanic to get it worked on. Our brakes were worn down, so the rental car company met me and exchanged my car with another one, this time with brakes that worked! After the car problems, I went to the farm and helped plant the lettuce seedlings. When we were done, we cleaned up, changed, and said goodbye. It was time to leave again, and hit the road!

Working at the farm was so rewarding. I worked the land, and lived off its nutrients. After 4 1/2 days I was pretty dirty, and without a shower. I had on available to me at the cottage, but it seems like once you're that dirty, a clean shower will just make you realize how dirty and gross you actually were! So i decided to "become one with the dirt"

If you are interested in the Worldwide Workers on Organic Farms organization Click Here

---

Photos

American Gothic
this is the best photo.

Untangling the Irrigation
we called this "the Beast"

More Irrigation
Claudia, Rachel, and I move the irrigation from the field.

Farm Group Photo
Claudia, Satoshi, Jonas, Me, Rosie, and Rachel.

The worst smell on the Planet!
This is the most god awful smell ever. take my word for it. because it is an organic famr, Keri Keri doesnt use any synthetic fertilizers. SO, this tank holds hundreds of dead fish and whatnot to degrade into a natural fertilizer. Its a great idea, but it reeks!

GE FREE Future
my thoughts exactly. Campaigning against Genetically enhanced food

Taking a break for a Worm Snack
hey, you gotta do what ya gotta do

Making Lunch
here, we are making a fabuous lunch with lettuce and avocodos grown on the farm!

Comments

[Ngaire]

Well DoneI
Hi ya shelly, Wow that sounded like fun man. That is excatly what people should be doing when they visit New Zealand. The photos are fantastic you and Rach are so funny! Love to you Bula, From Ngaire