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WWOOF host Waikato, New Zealand
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Introduction
Describe your property and the projects you need help with. The character limit helps it to fit on mobile devices and the printed book.   /2000
Mountain Ash Farm is a cattle farm, situated on the banks of the Mangatangi river. While some of the farm is lovely and flat, it soon lifts its aspect to reach up to the native bush where we hope to begin trapping possums and mustelids. The river winds its way through the farm with all areas fenced off for protection from cattle and while this helps protect the river banks from the damage cattle create, it does create a whole new story. Privet!!!

 Since closing the cafe, I have had time to see things! I have noticed that the privet (an imported species) is taking over our area. It is on every road side, it is on the Thames hills and it has taken up residence on our waterways.

The authorities are not noticing (no one is noticing), let alone doing anything.

This plant is extremely efficient.

 Its seeds are berries which birds love, love, love, even our native birds like Tui. Berries are eaten then pass through the bird and land everywhere the bird perches usually along fence lines and under other trees. 

If broken off (or cut), the stump re-grows creating a really dense  canopy which shades out all other undergrowth and kills our native plants. This is happening on our farm. It is in the early stages but we need to act now.

I have started Privet removal (me and my trusty Stihl saws and 'cut and paste') every stump must be treated with paste to prevent re-growth, cut trees are piled up into burn piles...revenge will be sweet and smokey!

I have noticed a lot of tree ferns (Punga) and lemon wood seedlings making an appearance in the undergrowth, once Privet has been removed, so this is giving me hope for natural regeneration. However, I believe Mother Nature needs help, and so do I!!

I don't work hard nor long, but I can see I need help. 

If you want to make a difference and are interested in NZ native bush & saving it ....Come on down!!




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General Information
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On our home farm which is a beef farm we have 350 acres in grass and  we have 300 acres of pristine native bush with walking tracks that lead to groves of large Kauri. We have a river ( usually quite shallow) running through with lots of eels in residence. At the moment we are feeding 250 calves...quite cute and interesting if you want to come out and help.
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Number of people that can be accommodated
How many people can you accommodate at one time?
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2 plus a child
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Preferred minimum stay
Some hosts like to have a minimum stay so the volunteer has time to settle in a learn the routines and rhythms of your property
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5 days
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Preferred length of stay
Some hosts find it helpful to specify how long the stay should generally be. Of course you can extend this once you and your guest find that things are working out well.
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1-2 weeks, depending how it goes.
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Accommodation
Describe the accommodation volunteers will stay in.
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You may either stay in the house with us...it's quite large, alternatively we have a couple of cabins you can stay in.
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Organic Principles
Describe the organic and sustainable aspects of your property.
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While the farm itself is not fully organic, we try to be as sustainable as possible (after all we need to make a living), we use lime and chicken manure as much as possible on farm encouraging warms to do what worms do best! .
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Able to accommodate children
Children - Maybe
Diet
Describe the types of diets that you have in your home.
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Would prefer people who are not too fussy
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Vegetarian? - Yes
Property size
How many hectares is your property?
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266 hectares/650 acres
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Hours
How many hours a day do volunteers usually do?
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4-5 we don't mind if you want to work a full day and have the next day off
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Special instructions
Add any special instructions that volunteers need to know.
/250
your own car would be an advantage
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Skills
Detail any skills you would like Volunteers to have?
We would like to have people who can help us to develop our property. We want to create a walking track with plantings, seating areas and ponds with fish, frogs and native birds so that our customers can enjoy a more interesting visit than just sitting in
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Carpentry/Building
Propagation
Pruning
Fencing
Mechanical
Conservation
Gardening
DIY/Maintenance
Engineering
Water Care
Animal Care
Landscaping
Equestrian
Dairy
Agriculture
Bee Keeping
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