Diego is our first employee from South America and in his case from Chile. Diego has now left Eureka Farm after being here three months. Diego came to us with quite a few practical talents including a love of the outdoors (mountaineering) and cooking. Many of our guest workers struggle with a lack of English but not Diego. OK there was the odd time when the words got confusing but for the most part he understood. This gave him and of course me the advantage that I could use him on the farm for more practical work such as repairing rotten posts and modifying the fences to keep out the wild life.

[scrollGallery id=32]

All of our workers have worked as a team this year resulting in a very harmonious farm life. Diego’s enthusiasm and easy going nature however was a much-needed tonic when things got busy.

We have become very involved with the Helpx organisation and have sourced some very nice people this year. Most are young and seeking second year visas and often come from a city background and sometimes found working on a farm daunting.

We have developed a roster and have had up to six kids here at a time. Generally we like not  too many of them to come from the same country as then they get a better chance of improving their English and getting to know people from other cultures.

In our roster we divide up the duties. One of the main duties is the preparation of dinner. After a long days work eating the evening meal seems to be treated with a great deal of enthusiasm followed by a good dessert. Some of our kids have never cooked before and thus often spend time researching what they are planning to cook when their time comes. Of course the better meals receive the most accolades but by an large all meals have been pretty good.

Lunch is a more simple affair. Leftovers from the evening or sandwiches. Breakfast has been muesli and fruit. Lots of fruit gets consumed and I am sure all of our pickers now love fruit even if they haven’t had much before coming here.

Feeding the chickens, putting out the garbage, washing up etc are other shared duties. I would have to say I have had no disgruntled employees and everyone seems to have the right amount of gusto and approach to their jobs. Lastly they have learnt a feature of farm life which is up at Sunrise and to be soon after dinner. No one seems to want to party and the only thing that might delay them is a last look at their Facebook page.