My fourth farm stay was too short (4 days) and pleasant. I left wishing that I could stay longer and hope to return, if I do return to the North Island after experiencing the beauty and thrills of the South Island. Before I arrived in New Zealand, I was told I should skip the North Island altogether but I have found it to be a special place with many treasures and I am having a hard time making my way to the South Island. I keep extending my stay, and I still feel rushed.
Anyway, Te Puke (doesn't sound like it looks; more like TAY POOKAY) is the Kiwi Fruit Capitol of the World. It is a farming community with rows of kiwi trees for kilometers in every direction. There are also hills and gorgeous beaches. I stayed with the Brawn Family (dad David, mom Juliette, 9-yr-old son Jack and 12-yr-old daughter Kathryn). They have a beautiful organic farm with young kiwi trees, an orchard, vege garden, pigs, housecow, sheep, and chooks. I stayed in my own little caravan and my jobs included heavy garden weeding and pruning the kiwi trees. Juliette homeschools her children and when I arrived they were busily preparing for the A&P Show (Agriculture and Pastoral) which is a major event for Te Puke residents each year--it is their opportunity to show off their animals, produce, and most importantly participate in the craft, food and preserves competition. Jack and Kathryn each made about 10 different art projects and when the show came around on saturday they had each won about $40. And I was able to experince a truly kiwi event.
I felt the most at home and part of the family here. I loved the kids. Kathryn and I took bike rides and Jack and I played with his legos. We watched movies in the evening and ate hokey pokey ice cream. Juliette took me out to eat a couple of times and we climbed a local mountain: Mt. Maunganui. We also visited Grampa who is a REAL LIVE PIRATE. He takes people out on his boat to play with Dolphins. I had many meaningful conversations with Juliette and David about the value of homeschooling and sustainable living. I was sad to leave, but again happy to have met them.
