My first impression as I got off the bus, into Adam’s car and driving up the muddied track to his house, was just how in the middle of nowhere it was.

I was met at the bus stop, or I should say, where the bus stopped at the side of the road, by Adam, my wwoofing (working in exchange for accommodation and food) host and Rebecca, one of the other wwoofers.

Taking the few minutes drive back to the house we were surrounded by nothing but beautiful green, in the shape of trees and fields. The building is made entirely from wood, being more of a lodge than a standard house and is surrounded inside and out with evidence of the permaculture lifestyle Adam is aiming at. For those who aren’t certain, permaculture is using the land and natural resources to create a sustainable and eco friendly system to live within.

Front garden, greenhouse and many trays of grains to be planted

Before the first evening was over I had helped feed the chickens, learnt about the kind of diet they are given and been shown several different greens growing wild that we could (and did) eat. I made the fire while others began preparing dinner, which was to be cooked on the top of the wood burner in order to save gas and electric. On enquiring about the accordion that was sat to the side I discovered Adam had picked it up from an auction for $30 and was trying to learn to play. Another great auction buy hanging from the bannister, was a handmade bamboo bicycle.

Living room and kitchen (bamboo bicycle hanging from the bannister)
Cooking on the ‘stove’

During my week there I had a number of tasks, all of them helping to provide an insight into the permaculture lifestyle. We collected grass from a wild part of the land to use as mulch (to conserve moisture); collected sheep poo to use as manure; I helped to put an irrigation system in place for different trees around the garden; planted vegetables and grains; and cleaned out a drainpipe used to collect drinking water as we were expecting rain. Every task had a useful longer term purpose behind it, which Adam was always more than ready to explain.

When we weren’t working on the land there was fun to be had within it. A trip down to the waterfall one day inspired an expedition downstream to the river the following day. By the end we were wet from at least the waist down but it had been a fun and beautiful journey. At the river was a zip line Adam had previously put in place and we all had a ride across the river.

There was definitely some adjusting to certain parts of the lifestyle. Using heat from the fire meant much longer cooking times were required, with us often eating at 10 or 11 at night. It was also a good idea to check on the dirty water supply before going to the toilet, as you needed enough in a bucket to flush afterwards! I did find the way water was considered a luxury, rather than taken for granted as it now is in many parts of the world, really made me consider when and how much I really needed to use it.

All in all it was great to get an insight and live within such a way of life, even if just for a short time. Oh, I would also now really like some pet chickens!

Chickens!