Heavy Rock Farm is offering internships

Greetings from Heavy Rock Farm.

We are a certified Organic Farm at Severnlea on the Granite Belt, New England Highway, Qld, 4380.

Since 2001, we have been WWOOF hosts and have met the most amazing people from all parts of the Globe.

We are now offering rolling internships with something different taught every day. 

Due to the changes made by the DIAC, we can only sign off on form 1263

until 1st December.

We offer great accommodation and food in exchange for work. 

No money is offered, but the cost of renting your own house, electricity,

food and learning about organic farming and having a laugh each & every 

day is worth a little bit at least!

Cheers,

Safe & happy travels 

wendy mcdonald (heavy rock farm) - Google+

wendy mcdonald (heavy rock farm) - Google+

It's winter time.

Well it's winter time and so far it hasn't been very cold. We would really like some rain now.
There are snow peas and garlic in the ground now and they are getting a little moisture from the morning dew. 
Our lovely old great dane passed away and I am finding it hard. I call him at least 3 times day. Love doesn't only mean between humans. It is as if we lost a child.
He sleeps now in his favourite place on the farm.
Bless him on his journey,

Do I speak martian?

Now that I have passed from my 4th decade and into my 5th, I find it very hard to make myself understood to a minority of the young backpackers who live on the farm  (wwoof or helpx). They live in 4 star accommodation in a completely separate, modern  house, and get 5 star food.
This allows privacy for us and them.
I find myself calling friends and retelling  the conversation just so that I can feel comfortable in my sanity! 
Some of our wwoofers that I teach how to complete the task at hand - it's like I'm speaking Martian.
The majority (90 ./.) are fantastic and quick learners. Let's face it, life on a farm is such a difference for most people. However, if you are open and love the outdoors, then you will have a great time.
For the minority it is like I am speaking martian!

heavy rock farm photos - Google Photos

heavy rock farm photos - Google Photos



some of our crazy & best wwoofers backpackers ever. so much fun when you laugh while you work.

cheers to all.

Summer at heavy rock farm

We have had an amazing group of young people staying with us as wwoofers and helpx.
The temperature has fluctuated wildly from 23 C to 48 C. This is wonderful except with no rain
the vegetables don't grow. Wild rain dancing has been done with no results.
Then our daughter arrived from Hawaii and guess what - it's raining! of course.
Zucchinis are so tasty this year with our blended heavy rock seeds.
Nothing beats our heavy rock garlic. This has been a labour of love over 18 years of seed saving,
growing the most wonderful cloves. As usual I have been preserving the garlic, with any different
flavours tried. Last years pickled garlic is still nice and crunchy.
We are now looking for a wwoofer for general farm work including picking, packing, weeding and
feeding animals.
The main stipulation is that you must like dogs, have a sense of humour and laugh at least once a day!
Our last 2 male wwoofers were absolutely wonderful. I now have a bathroom with a seat and grab rails
and Allan has new sideboards on his ute (Keanu)  The wiring sorted on his ute and our cub cadet ride on
is now a starter every time. How fantastic to share our home with these young men.
I cannot forget Tomako (Tommy) who is the best garlic sorter of all time!
Cheers, safe and happy travels to all.

Life goes on..................

We have had a sad time recently. Our big great dane boy - 7 - passed away from a virus that made his lungs fill with fluid, that pushed down on his heart. He passed after only being sick for a week.
Our family has always been 'dog' lovers, so we now are the proud owners of a new great dane pup. Name to follow.
Heavy Rock Farm has been very fortunate with our wwoof/helpers. Most of our helpers are doing their work & holiday visa 88 days. At the moment we are hosting: Tomoka from Yokohama, Japan. Keanu from Belgium and Dustin from Canada. Curly from Canada was here for a while, then went on to a paying farm. However, she is coming back to join us for Christmas.
Each and everyone of these young people are a joy to host. They all get along well and have a great sense of humour and work ethic. Christmas should be a wonderful time shared by us all. We don't give presents as we concentrate on having fantastic food.
One of the best things as a host is to cook food that the woofers have never eaten before. Luckily I really enjoy cooking! One of the most amazing reactions is when I make -pavlova with cream & fruit salad, pork with ginger & garlic, heavy rock rissoles amongst many more. The granite belt has many local stone fruit growers, so we can buy a box of fruit straight from the grower. Support your local farmer!
Our snow peas took a beating this  year and we made a loss due to the unseasonally hot spring. Now onto zucchini, garlic and squash. Our garlic has been seed saved by us for the past 2 decades and is known as Heavy Rock Garlic. It is a very tasty purple garlic which doesn't make your breath or skin 'smell' of garlic. Every season I pickle garlic so that we have garlic all year round. Also makes fantastic gifts at this time of year!
So we at Heavy Rock Farm wish you all a very merry christmas and a happy new  year.
Cheers, safe and happy travels for all,

Wendy & Allan