This evening we arrived at the Verdonk Family Farm. We were welcomed with an amazing view of the rolling hills and a very cozy house to stay in. We met our contacts Anne, Tom, Sam, Roxy, Malcom, Nana, Shielah, and Bob. Everyone was so friendly and nice, they made us feel at home. Our first dinner was made for us and consited of; juicy burgers; fat sausages; zesty salad; broiled potatoes; and homemade juice. After dinner we got our assigned job list for the week. our daily chores were, preparing breakfast, cleaning the floors, washing laundry, taking out the rubbish, cleaning the lou, and cleaning breakfast dishes.
Early next morning we had to meet up at 8:30 to split up into our farm life duties. We all were driven around by/on four wheels or tractors. we had to clean up pig stalls, tidy up chicken coupes, herd cows into there pastures, shovel mulch for cow beds, plant trees, dig holes with a pick axe, make garden beds, pick and slice fruit, build decks for a new house, and lastly prepare and clean all but some meals.
We didnt have as much time to do the neat things around the area as we would have liked. But, we did get to walk down active railroad tracks the the glow worm caves at night, get taken out on Sam’s sailboat for the afternoon to fish and swim in the turquoise water, and hike the coastline and chill on the rocks in the ocean.
Our second to last night we had a cook out at Shielah’s house where she cooked us all dinner and dessert. That night ended with Bob teaching us some of the Maori tradtions. Along with a song we have to sing when we arrive at their home.
Our last night at the farm consisted of us packing our bags and cleaning up the entire house cleaner than when we got there. We left early that morning at 5:15 to board a taxi and two buses arriving at New Plymouth, a small quiet town, 8 hours later.