Volunteer Workers / Wwoofers
Te Moata relies on, and thrives, with the help of a wide variety of wonderful volunteers. Their input contributes to maintaining and improving the bush, buildings, gardens and administration. Scroll down the page to find out what others had to say about volunteer work at Te Moata.
Please attach and email the form to info@temoata.org
In the subject line write: Work Exchange Form
Excerpt from Maxine Hiller's article for the newsletter:
Recently I had the experience of serving on Sharda and Jeremy's retreat. Previously I had only sat the retreat so I was a little apprehensive about what the serving experience would be like! In the beginning it was all a bit hectic - you know that time at the beginning of a retreat where people are arriving, finding beds, chatting, laughing and I did wonder what I had let myself in for! Aah, but then there was silence and we all settled into our places.
There is something wonderful about working alongside others in a common cause. There was such a sense of camaraderie in the team and every morning at 10am we would pull down the kitchen shutter, sit round a beautiful wooden table and drink steaming cups of tea and share about the day that had been and the day that was yet to come. I always felt privileged to sit at this table.
They say that to give is the same as to receive and that is exactly how I felt - being on the service team was a great gift. I had many opportunities to notice how my ego was vying for position on the team - it kept wondering if it was doing enough, good enough, noticed enough - consequently I had many opportunities to reflect on the previous night's Dharma talk. I also had plenty of free time to participant in the retreat or to wander the hills of Te Moata thanks to Jessie's thoughtful rosters.
Now weeks later I sit here writing this and remember with much joy and thankfulness my time of service. I would say to anyone who has the opportunity to be on a service team at Te Moata "don't miss it!" - as Rumi would say the experience is 'an unsayable jewel'. Excerpt from Maxine Hiller's article for the newsletter:
Volunteers for service team on retreats
Te Moata relies on extra volunteer staff during retreats. Volunteers usually work half a day in the kitchen, cleaning, maintenance or gardens. They can often then participate in the retreat for the rest of the day, explore the beautiful bush tracks and labyrinth, or simply have time out to relax. During meditation retreats participants practice “noble silence”. At these times, the service team work with a minimum of quiet interaction. This is a great way for those who cannot afford retreat costs to still be able to participate. The personal rewards are beyond price.
Daily staff meetings help to draw everyone together into a supportive and co-operative team. We provide simple but comfortable accommodation with vegetarian meals. Te Moata is “off the grid” and relies on solar power and gas, so bring a torch as we do not have mains electricity. We are alchohol, drug and smoke free.
To volunteer for a retreat, please email Jessie and Dave at info@temoata.org
Volunteers with specific skills
This group is a large one and contributes a substantial amount of invaluable work, mostly in the background. If you think you have a skill or knowledge which would benefit Te Moata, please contact Dave and Jessie at info@temoata.org listing your skills/knowledge. They will either respond directly to you or forward your offer onto the Trustee who is focusing that specific area.
Examples of jobs which currently have special skill volunteers:
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•Overseeing accounts, MYOB and GST
Examples of jobs which have been carried out in the past using special skill volunteers:
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•Replacing rotten rafters in the Kauri Cabin
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•Replacing rotten bridges over the stream
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•Gardening
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•Building work
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•Keeping solar system functioning
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•Noxious weeds management
Examples of jobs envisaged for the future which will need volunteers with special skills:
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•Restoring the barn for use by groups
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•Painting.
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•Marketing (Someone to put together a marketing strategy/plan for Te Moata)
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•Writers (People interested in writing articles about Te Moata and sourcing magazines/newspapers to publish these
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•Fundraising (Assistance with raising funds to pay back loans and continuing the purchase of shares moving toward full ownership of Te Moata by the Te Moata Charitable Trust