Postcode: 2795
Days of Work: 3
Dates: 17th January – 20th January 2013
People: Keith (Host), Travis and Therese (Full-time employees and WWOOFers)
This time, I headed out to a small farm in the middle central tablelands, NSW! Very pretty surroundings, but a little concerning considering the temperatures that were due to be hitting the area and the risk of bushfires. But then, you can’t be in NSW in January and NOT get them! It’s something to get used to and live with!
Basics in the Outback
Things were a little primitive, accommodation wise, and it took some getting used to. I had not been prepared mentally for what greeted me, mainly because I had not been told exactly what was going on. However, my first WWOOF experience away taught me some valuables lessons, least not what to ask before I make a commitment to stay somewhere!
Ready to Leave?
I was ready to turn right around and head back to the train station, however, I managed to talk myself into trying it for the night and seeing how it was in the morning. In retrospect, I think had I known what I was going to end up with, as opposed to what I was under the impression would be there, then it wouldn’t have been so bad.
Bed Dilemma
Anyway, job one was to sort out the bedding area, and it was still just a mattress and the mozzie net and frame still needed to go together! Bed put together and my own little creepy crawly defense in place! That made it all a little better. Then to get used to the compost toilet outside, and the shower that was a hose pipe in the middle of the field! Rustic! So, after a somewhat sleepless night, it was off to work and the exciting prospect of learning new tasks.
Weeding
Removing all the weeds from the veggie patches – great fun one afternoon as it decided to rain, and give us a break from the 40 degree heat! It was actually quite pleasant weeding in the rain! Although very muddy, and I have come to learn that I can get dirty/made a mess in the cleanest of situations, let alone when mud and rain are involved 😉
Fruit Tree Netting
Ended up doing this on the hottest day! Temperatures hitting over 40 and we were down in the apple orchard, climbing ladders, swinging from branches (not really, that would be health and safety!), and putting up large nets around the trees to stop the birds from eating all the precious fruit
Seedlings
Firstly, we had to make newspaper pots using a device to shape the paper. The reason for this was once the seedlings were planted, they could be put straight into the ground in the pots, thus not disturbing the growing roots. Since the pots of made of paper, they are also biodegradable, so put back into the soil. We planted seedlings into the pots ready to take to the greenhouse where they will grow for a few days or weeks before being planted into the veggie patches.
Vegetable Picking
Of course, with it being a vegetable farm, there was plenty of vegetables to be picked and made ready for the market/direct to customer selling. Most vegetable picking was of cucumbers, rock melon, rhubarb, spinach and another green-leafed vegetable that was not particularly popular with customers!
Planting
Planting the seedlings into the veggie patches replacing old ones that have died or already been harvested and because they are made in the newspaper pots, they can be planted in the pot because it’s all biodegradable! Organic farmers have the right idea – why make more problems/waste for yourself when you don’t have to?!
Animal Care
We had an alpacha with a bad eye, so had to corner him and administer eye ointment – for a baby he put up quite a fight! Then of course, we had the amazing escaping chickens! Baby chicks who still weren’t quite big enough to be left to roam free, kept making a break for freedom, so had a crash course in how to capture a chicken! Of course, that came in handy as they escaped more than once, despite us relocating their cage!
It was definitely an experience, and one that I am glad I stuck it out, rather than high-tailing it at the first chance I had. It’s not something I would do again, but I am glad I did it.