Tasmania and Wwoofing

G'day!

Tasmania, named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, is an archipelago of more than 300 islands about 240 kilometres (150 miles) from the mainland. You can get there by ferry from Melbourne or Sydney (9-12 hours and about $70 per person, additional for vehicles) or by flight. Tasmania is known for its scenery, climate, and wildlife. The main tourist spots for southern Tasmania are Salamanca Market near the Hobart piers on Saturdays, Mount Wellington, and the old Port Arthur prisons on Tasman Island. Port Arthur sounds similar to Alcatraz. The worst prisoners and repeat offenders were housed there. Convicts trying to escape ran the risk of being eaten by sharks.

Tasmania is beautiful with shoreline, trees, and hills/mountains everywhere you look. The numerous coves and harbors with anchored boats against green countryside and hills under cloudy or blue skies look like scenes for postcards. Tasmania is also known as a fruitbowl with farms that commercially grow apples, nectarines, apricots, and grapes as well as berries - blue, straw, and cherries, primarily. The Apple Museum documents apple history in the Huonville Valley with a festival in March/April. Grapes are the last major crop to be picked. 


Tasmanian devils (they're the size of a cat) are growing less common but I saw a live one on the road/roadside last night. I've also seen wombats, brown possums, little wallabies, tiny bandicoots (small rat/guinea pig-like critters), and quolls (squirrel-like creatures). And many different birds including black cockatoos and rosellas. We don't see wild animals on the property because the two dogs scare them away. 

The weather on Tasmania is very different from anywhere else in Australia. Rain in plentiful with the east coast receiving about 4' annually while the west coast gets about 26" per year. This year, like everywhere else in Aussie, it has rained more than normal. Parts of northern Tasmania have had flooding. Rain has affected our blueberry picking. We can't pick when the berries are wet cuz they will mold. But usually it doesn't rain very long and the wind and/or the sun dries off the berries so that we can resume picking. Highs have been in the 70s with lows in the 50s since I've been here (10* - 25* C). Power here is mostly hydro-electric unlike the mainland where the main energy source is coal.

Wwoofing Life
I'm staying near the town of Charlotte Cove, about 50 km from Hobart. Recreation includes kayaking, snorkeling, bushwalking, ping pong and getting to know fellow wwoofers. There are several tracks around the property and I walked 4-5 km (mostly downhill) with a fellow wwoofer to Verona Sands, a gorgeous white sand beach close to a marine sanctuary. I am the current ping pong champion although a French wwoofer reigned briefly. Our host, Jules, plays drums for two bands; one of them practiced here. Most of their repetoire are American songs from the 1970-80s. I had a great time listening to those familiar oldies. Other outings include exploring Huonville, participation in an introduction of a self-help program called Landmark Forum, and listening to another band practice (less familiar 1960-70s songs).

A basic washing machine: agitator (L) and spinner (R)

The wwoofing accommodations here are utilitarian but nice. The main room has a large living room, a dinette for six and a kitchen. The kitchen has a countertop/bar for 3, small double sink and a small full size refrigerator. I guess Council regulations precluded cooking facilities so we have a plug-in double burner, electric frypan, microwave, toaster, sandwich maker, hot water kettle and a portable convection oven that looks space-age and nobody has figured how to work it yet. And a big gas barbeque outside. Our host provides a freezer full of meat and bread that we pull out of and shops from our list for other staples. Although I'm eating foods I don't normally eat (white bread and "luncheon meat"), I am getting enough to eat and most of it is tasty.  We also have a television set that gets one fuzzy channel.  One night the 2 French girls, Englishman, and 3 German boys watched an American DVD together.  Mylene also made popcorn on the stove for us.

Our host believes in recycling, reuse, and using what is available. Some of the wwoofing house walls are made of galvanized corrugated metal sheets, some are wood logs, some are pressboard or gyp board (sheet rock). That's inside and outside walls. A door leads to the uninsulated larger part of the building that includes the bedrooms and garage. Each of the 4 bedrooms are outfitted with bunkbeds, shelves, a table and a lamp/light. There are 2 upstairs and 2 downstairs. We don't spend much time in our rooms. The house is built on a downslope so the back of the building is double height and houses the tractor mower, motorcycles, kayaks, camping gear, etc., workshop, and a ping pong table.

The outhouse

Most of the ceiling/roof is galvanized corrugated metal sheets with a few clear corrugated sheets on the north side to let in light. The outhouse is separate with a regular toilet and small sink both serviced by dam (retention pond) water We haven't run out of hot water yet in the shower room which also contains a clothes "washing machine". You put your clothes in, put some soap in, turn on tap to fill with cold water. Set the machine to agitate for 3-15 minutes. Drain the water. Refill with fresh water to rinse, agitate, and drain again. (Repeat if necessary. Yes.) Put clothes in other half (not too much at once), set to spin up to 5 minutes, let it come to a complete stop, take clothes out, shake, and hang. It is an experience!! But better than handwashing! The walls of both these structures are made with reused galvanized sheeting so there are old screw holes for atmosphere or extra ventilation.

I haven't seen any critters or spiders in my bedroom although we do have resident spiders in the outhouse and shower room. But just in case, I keep most of my things tightly zipped into my backpacks. As for everywhere else, I either locate the spider and acknowledge their presence or I have adopted the philosophy of if I don't see them, I don't know they're there.

 One of the structures on the property is a Cosco shipping container. One third of it is used as storage, the other part as a guest room. Cost to purchase and transport the container to its site was $3500. And since it is a moveable unit, no Council approval was necessary. I can visualize a living unit of 3 containers with a covered courtyard. Who needs a cabin? And since I can use a cutting torch, I can make the door and window openings myself!

On Sunday, I'm off to another wwoofing job on Bruny Island, one of the larger of the 300 Tasmanian islands. It's another berry farm but with a variety of berries. If it turns out I have to pick strawberries and my back, legs, or knees can't handle it, I'm welcome to come back to the blueberries. I've enjoyed my stay here but want to keep moving on to see more, learn different things, and meet new people.

Cheers!
Cyn

Container bedroom with french doors/window