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Sylvia and John Mason
We live off-grid on 49 hectares of beautiful native forest located 30 km west of the Bundaberg CBD. Our farm has well-established fruit orchards and vegetable gardens located on 2 hectares of cleared land under solar irrigation. We are now busy reconfiguring our farming methods to make better use of syntropic farming principles Our syntropic approach includes a host of ducks, chickens, and geese for their eggs and manure. Additionally, we have 5 loving dogs and a friendly cat. Our property adjoins the Burnett River, allowing us to swim regularly and include fresh-caught fish in our diet.
Sharing our farming adventure with others was an important part of our plan from the very beginning. Consequently, we have built a self-contained cottage for our visitors and have comfortable rooms available in our house and shed (please see images). We are both very practical, hands-on people. Sylvia enjoys maintaining our orchards and gardens, and John ensures that the dogs, cat, ducks, geese, chickens (and visiting wildlife) sleep comfortably and have plenty of food and water. John is also a skilled bush mechanic who maintains and operates our backhoe, dozer, bobcat, firetruck, farm utes, trailers, welders, pumps, and ride-on mowers.
 
VC and orchard
VC ablutions
Visitors cottage (VC) south aspect
Access road

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Why I became a WWOOF Host

My wife and I became WWOOFer hosts primarily to meet new people who will bring fresh ideas, principles, and practices to our farm. Additionally, we want to share the experience and skills we have acquired in creating our own little “Slice of Heaven” here in the Australian bush

As WWOOFer hosts, we look forward to any assistance WWOOFers can provide in the work needed to further develop our orchards, gardens, and fowls. As experienced adult educators (I have a PhD. and my wife has an honors degree), we have a strong focus on training. Ultimately, we aim to develop a learning program addressing syntropic farming techniques suited to our local area.

In summary, we joined WWOOFers to broaden our farming (and social) horizons. We hope to achieve improved expertise in syntropic farming and agroforestry.

Organic/Biological methods we use

Our non-commercial small-scale organic farming activities employ syntropic and agroforestry farming techniques. We have established orchards and food gardens under irrigated cultivation. We use solar pumps to pump irrigation water up to holding tanks, and these provide gravity-fed irrigation to our trees and plants. Our orchards feature a diverse range of fruits, including mangos, avocados, jackfruit, dragonfruit, aschacha, pecans, wax jambu, giant lau lau, pine nut trees, tamarind, papaya, manea americana, chempajack, and multiple varieties of bananas, citrus, and stone fruits. Our farming practices include ongoing experimentation to help fine-tune our syntropic methods to the local climatic context. A flock of 32 fowls supplies us with eggs and manure. Our ducks, chickens, and geese free-range during the day (but spend the night in a comfortable wired enclosure fitted with nesting boxes and automatic watering facilities).

Skills WWOOFers can learn here

Farm type

Small/Non-commercial farm

Farming methods

Syntropic Farming

Courses & Events

The Stay

More than 4
1-2 weeks Longer stays by negotiation Whatever suits
In Our Home Separate Building Caravan Tent
Smoking allowed No Smoking Inside Children allowed by arrangement Pets allowed by arrangement

The Stay

Eat together Share most meals Share cooking
Mixed meals some meat some vegetarian Vegetarian meals Gluten free meals BYO Special diet foods please
Work and Study Remotely here by arrangement
Melanesian Pidgin
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