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Published: April 9th 2006
Us and the Crums
Bob and jenny Crum, best WWOOF hosts ever. We had a great time working with the Crums and we still keep in touch.Now this is the life...
We've been living at the Windsong Orchard in Renwick , and we've been having a ball!
Windsong Orchard is a small Organic Farm in the heart of the Marlborough Region of Southern NZ which is famous for its wine.
The farm is owned and run by our now dear friends Bob and Jennie Crum. Jennie is a Kiwi through and through, and Bob is an American Kiwi convert born and raised in LA. We've been having fun geting to know them and learning about growing plums, bluberries and grapes (and eating plenty of them too!)We've also discovered the feijoa, an amazing late summer early fall Fuit that should really take off in california cause it's absolutely YUM!
Every Morning we wake up and work with Bob on the farm for about four hours. We spent our first week picking and cleaning the most delicious grapes we've ever tasted. And later on we picked bluberries for the market. Let me tell you, too many grapes and/ or blueberries and you will get a tummy ache!
We have the afternoons off, and between reading books and riding bikes around the countryside we've
been keeping plenty busy. There are well over a dozen wineries within a few miles of the orchard. It's great! we ride from winery to winery tasting all different types of wines. We're really learning so much about eachother like: Benji likes Chardonnay, While Abby prefers a nice Sauvignon Blanc... but we can both agree on a lovely Guvertztrumiener, so it's all good. These are the kinds of compromises that are crucial to make your marriage last! HA!
Every Sunday we go with the Crums to the Renwick Farmers Market to sell the product. It's really fun to sell the grapes and walk around the market tasting all the yummy local produce and products.
Anywho, We've been with Bob and Jennie for two weeks now and tomorrow morning we'll be catching the Ferry and heading toward Auckland with hight hopes of selling our dear old Foxy Roxy. it'll be sad to see her go, but we sure can't take her with us to Australia.
So before We sign off, we just want you all to know how important it is that you know where your produce is coming from. Local is best...Think about how rediculous it is to buy produce that is picked months before you eat it and shipped all the way around the world. What a waste of recources!!! Check it out. Check out your local farmers markets, or ask your grocier to buy local in your grocery store. If it's not possible to buy local, Please at least consider the importance of fair trade. For example, the country of Dominica grows some of the most amazing Bananas in the world and are in the middle of a price war with the huge nasty latin american agro business. These people need our help to keep their hold on the a small part of the market. Just a thought to consider.
After we've poisoned every river, knocked down every tree, and lost the art of growing our own food, you can't eat your money...not much substance there...
We love and miss you all.
with love,
Abby and Benji
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Bin
non-member comment
Green is not my color.....but
I'm green with envy at everything that you are seeing and doing. OK, ok, so I'm not a camping kind of gal, and I would be lost without my blow dryer, but still, it's a once in a lifetime thing to do. It sounds like you are having an unbelievable experience. Of course, all I was thinking about was that it looks like Lord of the Rings, so I guess I'll try to concentrate a little more on the "where to buy my fruit" portion of the program. But if you do see any Hobbits, please let me know. If you find yourselves anywhere near my area upon your return, you are always welcome, and I would love to hear your stories and see photos! Travel safe.... Love - Bin