It has been so long since I posted last!! Life on the island has been far more busy than I could have ever imagined. I suppose that happens though, when you work any and all jobs that are offered to you! I have been mainly working in Tryphena - in the south of the island - leading a team that is removing invasive plants. To sum it up, we go into the bush - areas that are typically privately owned, and walk back and forth through dense bush searching for target plants. The work is pretty challenging, especially for someone like myself who happens to have a pretty significant fear of spiders. I am also responsible for a "rat line" that runs along the border of Glenfern Sanctuary - an area on the island that is working to be pest free. I check rat traps and tracking cards, hoping to catch rats, mice and rabbits. Another dirty and sometimes gross job, but very interesting and rewarding. I also have been working in a cafe a couple days a week. On top of those three main jobs, I have been teaching myself how to bake, and been creating a garden in my front yard.
Here are some pictures from the past month or so on the island.
This is the first loaf of bread I have ever made!! It was quite tasty!
Karaka Bay at low tide
Dan was gardening and one of the chickens came to dig in his soil
Dan and his chicken friend
Beautiful sunset from my front porch
Sunset behind the flax flowers
Squash flower in my garden!
Thanksgiving feast - New Zealand style
Dan sitting next to my boss Brett and his wife Jo
Dan in the garden
Pumpkins, beetroot, onions, potatoes, spinach, broccoli and squash!
Dan and Scotty heading out to surf at the Whangapoua Estuary
The beautiful estuary
Scotty found a John Dorry stuck in a tide pool and entertained the kids while he filleted it
Scotty filleting the fish
A Kaka drinking the juice from the flax flowers
The view from a house we are watching - that's the Pacific ocean in the distance!
The house... simple but really nice!
What a view!!!
Dan soaking in the amazing view
Tracks in the estuary mud
