Wwooooooooofing

Day 3 of Wwoofing. And what did I learn today? Well, how to stack firewood, how to mow grass, how to plant seedlings, how to control a brush fire, how to cut 6 lbs (yes.....6 lbs) of onions, how to rake lawn trimmings...the list goes on and on. I have begun to realize that being a wwoofer is a combination between being a gardener/housekeeper/child rearer/farm hand/entertainer/conversationalist. I think I have done more physical, manual labor here at the Mackintosh's than I ever have in my life. Literally stacking firewood for 2 hours, wheelbarrowing grass trimmings into the chicken coop, digging up the fucking thistle that overruns the gardens...shit I am going to be ripped by the time I leave here.

Now I am sure you're reading this saying, "well shit, that doesn't sound like very much fun", and to be honest, the work isn't. I mean, it's work. But to be honest, working outside for a goal (food to eat, a place to stay) is somewhat rewarding. I think a little physical labor every now and again could do everybody a little bit of good. And jeez, I have to admit I am learning "heaps" about gardening and sustainabilty and shit.

I have to admit that Bianca's gardening process is really fucking cool. They collect rainwater from their roof, so all water used in the house is just generated by rain. It is used very sparingly because New Zealand's Northland has had a few bad dry spells recently. So in their sink, they have a big pot that they rince their dishes in before using the dishwasher. That water (with all of the food particles/nutrients)is used to water the plants outside. They also have a compost, where anything organic (egg shells, veg skins, leftover food) gets thrown in. When that is full, it gets tossed into the chicken coup. The chickens eat the leftover food, shit it out, and...BLAMMO! Fertilizer for the garden. Every 2 weeks the coup is moved to another area, so that part of the garden can get fertilized and prepped for planting. Bianca grows all of her own seedlings too, most of which are native plants to New Zealand that they are trying to restore. Even grass trimmings are used as compost. Nothing is wasted, everything is recycled, and the food that comes out of her garden is fucking delicious. I have stolen her tomato relish recipe and will surely bring it back to the US for all to try. And the freioja WINE! Have consumed a few glasses tonight at our barbeque in combination with some good conversation, and man what a good night.