We're currently in Duvauchelle, just outside of the historic French village of Akaroa. We're WOOFing with John and Julie, who run a flower export business. They grow leucospermum in three varieties: Tango, Harry Chittick, and Highgold. These are very popular New Year's flowers in Japan, and so they bring a bunch of WOOFers together before Christmas to cut, sort, and send them. It is an ideal situation for us. We've gotten to meet five other travelers, the work is both satisfying and educational, and since we're working seven days a week they will give us a few days off at Christmas to spend relaxing here. Best of all, we'll have a family to spend Christmas with! Akaroa and Akaroa Bay are incredibly beautiful, and John has even promised to take us out on his boat during our time off. We are likely to see some Hector's Dolphins, which are very rare and the world's smallest kind of dolphin.
Uschi, who is a German in her seventies and who has been coming here for Christmas for five-years. She's a world traveller! Ten years ago, she did a four week camping trip through all of Australia. She is also very German. Just take every German stereotype and it's her. She's pretty amazing.
Carrie and Tommy, a married couple from Hong Kong. They both worked at the airport there for fourteen hour days for many years, and didn't want to do it anymore. Carrie's English is better so I know her more: she is a mom-type, who is always taking care of everyone. She is also an amazing baker and makes fresh bread daily! She also made the most delicious scones I've ever tasted in my life. She would have liked to open a bakery in Hong Kong, but the money wasn't there.
Martin, also German. He is 30 and a psychology teacher. He taught for a few years, but wanted to travel instead. He's been doing a bike trip for the past nine months through most of South East Asia, and then did Australia before coming here. He hasn't been biking for the past 6 week because he met a woman, but now she's sadly back to her home in France. He's thinking of starting his own farm!
Noemie, who is a French woman just outside of high school! She graduated this past year and had to wait to turn 18 to come to New Zealand. Her English is amazing even though she doesn't think it is. She is hoping to go to college in Montreal next year.
Then there's John and Julie, the hosts. I don't know Julie well yet, because she's been traveling for work (she's a vet.) John used to be a vet too and actually spent 3 years working in Vermont! He got into the flower business about 15 years ago. He is a sixties revolutionary, and awesome.
And, of course, the Americans- Kara and I! Everyone has been teasing me for how exuberant I can be, and I caught myself asking people what they did for a living and complaining about money the other night. I guess I am fulfilling the American stereotypical role!
Last, there is Fluffy, the amazing and menacing three-legged cat. You've never heard a meow like the one he makes... it's like a baby crying.
The goal is to cut flowers that are the most beautiful/without faults. We are also trying to get stems that are at least 50 cm long- those ones are worth the most- though anywhere between 50 and 30cm is fine. If it's under 30cm, it's useless and shouldn't be cut. The flowers grow in tall thickets, so we each take a tarp and wade in to cut them. Once are tarp is full, we take them to a bigger tarp and lay them out. Once we have enough flowers, we start stripping them, which means we remove all the leaves except for a few inches at the top. Then they're laid out on wire pallets and put onto John's tractor. Once we have six or so pallets, we all troop back to the house where there is a preparation room. We'll usually have tea or coffee and chat while the flowers are being fumigated to kill any bugs. Then we go down to the room and prepare to inspect each flower. We look for dead bugs, insect eggs, dead leaves, and any imperfections (like a weird stem or flowers that aren't opened all the way). We also cut them to size. Flowers should be either 30cm, 40cm, or 50 cm so we cut them to the closest possible size. 50s are worth the most, so that's what we aim for. We put them in water and leave them aside for us to ship them next week!
We've had a rash of rainy days recently, which has meant that we haven't been able to get out into the fields. Instead, we've been making boxes. It's only about two hours work each morning, which has mean we've had time to relax (and get into Christchurch), but I think we'll make up for it with some longer days once the weather improves.
John is also a wine-maker! He doesn't sell it, but he should. It's better than almost any wine I've ever had. There's a Pinot Noir and a Pinot Gris, and they're made using grapes he grows in the gardens.
On Christmas, everyone will make a dish from home. I am planning to make grapeleaves, since the main ingredient is just outside! (And they have fresh mince in the freezer from their friend's cattle. All of the meat in New Zealand is grass fed free range, and most people have the hook-up from friends. Literally as I was writing this paragraph John's friend surprise-knocked on the door to deliver a cow...!)
The day before last, Kara, Oshi and I went into Akaroa too look around. There are beautiful flowers in every yard. It's very picturesque and it's right on the water.