One thing that we wanted to do with our time in New Zealand was stay with a local family and work on a farm or garden. Leah especially was missing her beautiful garden back home, and having easy access to fresh vegetables. Leah contacted a family through a website that pairs people like us with a family, and it turned out to be almost a perfect match for us. We stayed with a couple who's family had lived in the small wine vineyard town of Martinborough for over 100 years in the same house. The house was surrounded by immaculate gardens around every corner in addition to some hens delivering us fresh eggs every day. Dave and Ineke were so welcoming and made us feel at home for five days after some heavy driving the week before. Dave also had a gluten allergy and owned the local supermarket so there were plenty of gluten free goods available.

Also they both really liked American folk and southern mountain music as Dave had been to the region in the early 70s. They even play ukulele together, and had started an open mic in town once a month called the BBC (Black Board Concert). We just happened to be there at the right time for me to be able to share a few songs with the locals, and had a great time with all the music played that night including their ukulele renditions of Wagon Wheel and Midnight Special.

Leah and I did some weed pulling around their son's house next door and laid massive bark chunks around most of the garden. Then myself and Ineke caught a little bug from their granddaughter and were immobilized. Leah and Dave continued on planting vegetable, trimming hedges, and braiding some garlic. We also took a drive out to the south east coast and had lunch by several hundred fur seals playing around on the rocks and the crashing waves. It was a relaxing and rewarding experience to be able to stay in one place for awhile with a local family, and we would definitely do it again.