Wwoofing at Mountain Apple Farm

It was easy to find Rob and Barbara's place in the hills close to Motueka town. Their 30 hectares is close to the end of a winding unsealed road so it's a really peaceful spot. Rob is originally from Manchester and Barbara is of German decent but grew up in Belgium. They have traveled, lived and worked in many countries and they even home schooled their kids for a year while they took them on a round the world trip. Their daughter lives nearby and she's been up with her boyfriend to help out and their son is in Australia.

They keep horses, cattle and chickens, they grow veggies for themselves and have orchards so they sell fruit juice to a local restaurant. They built their house 23 years ago and have been adding to it over the years. We are staying in a self-contained two story apartment which is attached to the main house. The most recent addition is a cob cottage which is being used as an art studio.

The work has been varied including landscaping the area around the newly built green house, making hummus and pesto, planting out leeks, lettuce and cabbage, harvesting beans and berries, chopping and chainsawing wood, thinning fruit trees and pruning. We start early and are finished by lunchtime. We have our mai meal at lunch all together and then make our own dinner with the food provided.

In the evenings we can chill out and read or go next door to watch a film. Last week we saw "Since Oscar Left" set in Georgia and Terry Gillingham's "Brithers Grimm" where Heath Ledger sounds a bit like Hugh Laurie from Black Adder. One evening we had a BBQ and all the people who live in the valley came along so it was good to meet the neighbors. One night we headed into town to play pool and met a group of ladies on a night out. They had a bag of little army figures and handed them out. So when they blew a whistle everyone had to take on the pose of their army man. Mel, you reckon that would catch on down the Theobald's?

On Thursday evening we went to the open mic night aka Thirsty Thursday at the Park cafe in Marahau at Abel Tasman National Park. Rob joined in the jam session that kicked off the evening and some talented guitarists followed. Rob is also in a band called the Honeyz which are pretty cool. The park cafe is a great place with an excellent vibe and we'll probably come back and stay a couple of nights later on.

On Friday we went to a small independent cinema called the Gecko to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The 'big screen' holds about 20 people in a range of couches and granny chairs. Perfect. It was interesting how they condensed the plot but still very well done. I was surprised how Swedish sounds a bit German at times. Gotta get the second book!!!!