WWOOF-ing

Despite being born in an agriculture and farming state, I know my level of knowledge in both those fields is rather pathetic. Imagine the shock my mother had when I said I was working on an organic farm for the week in New Zealand....

Bob and Jennie Crum own an organic blueberry farm just outside of Renwick, NZ in the South Island. Kelli and I looked into WWOOF-ing (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) for A) the experience B) to learn more about organic farming and C) to be in New Zealand longer....

Throughout the week, we have:

- Shelled walnuts for 4 hours, making them more marketable at the local farmer's market

- Moved "biosea" - a natural ingredient used to enrich soil fertility so the use of chemicals is not needed

- Shoveled sawdust onto blueberry plants- blueberry plants will prosper in acidic soil

- Raked up grass, also placed back onto the blueberry plants- nothing goes to waste

- Weeded out the blueberry plants- no competition for these guys!

Other experiences:

- Cooking, a foreign concept to me, the Crums provided us with a nice "blueberry cottage" with all the ingredients to make any meal, my first creation: Lentil burgers (I forgot an ingredient, but they were edible anyway..)

- Baking: We wanted to show our hosts what we learned, so we made blueberry brownies from scratch.... they were almost as good as mom's....

-Vineyards: We are in the wine capital of New Zealand, Marlborough.... also known as 'heaven' to wine-o's. 

- Biking, is a common past time in these parts

- Political science: Bob is a political buff and soaks up information like a sponge. And since he's from America, he has a lot to discuss with us about American politics!

I guess the point of this is to teach not that one should support the organic industry for any other reason than they preserve soil for use for generations, rather than ruining soil with the use of chemicals. We all have an obligation to take care of our earth, and keep it healthy.....