The Hippie Dream #2

Working with the professors was very diverse. Besides the recurring task of weeding, Tim got to cut the lawn with a brush cutter and spray trees with a wonderfully fragrant algae mixture (Tim's clothes smelled of it for days afterwards). We also helped maintain another community property. This included a roller coaster ride on the pickup truck bed, using a pickaxe to remove stubborn roots, and overloading the car with wood of all sizes. Caro also got to operate an excavator for the first time. She was as excited as a little child and didn't want to get out.

In addition to household chores, one of our favorite activities was cooking and baking. Together, we created a little more festive moment by baking vanilla crescent cookies and listening to Mr. Frank Sinatra. Despite the sunny rays, both the cookies and warm thoughts of home and loved ones turned out well. We also learned how to use a Thermomix. The two of them swear by this super machine from Germany, and even we, who were somewhat skeptical, found the homemade ice cream and the easy and fast handling quite good. We took away many vegetarian recipe ideas, including tofu chocolate pudding, which didn't make Tim complain about tofu for the first time. Caro was shown how to make yogurt from fresh milk and that you need hardly any ingredients but a lot of patience. There are so many things that you can easily make yourself. You know what's in it when you make the effort, where it comes from, and if it turns out well, it tastes much better. We have made a resolution to make even more things ourselves when we return to Germany. You often buy many food items ready-made from the shelf without realizing that these things can be made with a little practice in better quality and often much cheaper. Jams, spreads, bread, and liqueurs have already become a fixed part for us - let's see what else we can learn during our journey. We would be happy if you also feel inspired by this and try it out for yourself. We are happy to come by to try and exchange ideas :)

A special feature of this Wwoof host was the pond in the garden. We were already thrilled from the first day. Whether for lunch break or after work in the afternoon - the pond was always there for cooling off and relaxation for body and mind. In retrospect, having our own pond in the garden contributed immensely to our quality of life. In this little corner of the earth, we could relax, recharge, and simply be carefree. Despite the hard work we had done before, it feels like freedom here. Free from worries, free from sweat, free from clothing...

And here's a small glimpse of our day offs that we spent in Abel Tasman National Park.