Fruit trees, cleaning and cute dogs in Olmué at Rita's

I couldn't stay forever in such a comfortable place in ElquiTerra, I felt I had to get back out there and look for another opportunity to work on a farm where I could learn gardening for cultivating food - the initial idea of my whole trip. So I took another look at Workaway and contacted a few places that seemed to have fruit and vegetable gardens. The one who responded was Rita, a Belgian host living in Olmué since 30 years, a few hours north of Santiago. The main help announced on her page was gardening and making natural products like jams, soaps and help with animals. It sounded really nice! We didn't exchange too many messages because it was going to be just 4 days and was quite last minute so I was a bit disappointed when I arrived and found out that the help Rita needed at that time was mostly in the house to help organize and clean a few things. It's all fine to do this usually but it's been frustrating not to be able to learn about gardening on this trip up to now!

It was still a pleasant stay, the property is full of fruit trees, the 3 dogs and cat were super sweet. Cookie-Blu is the 8-month old German Shepherd who always wants to play with the ball, always!! As I was cleaning up the fruit dryer equipment outside one day, she was following me everywhere throwing her ball at me to throw it back, and inside the house when I sat down on the chair, she kept throwing the ball full of mud and saliva on my lap, a bit gross but so cute! Rita also has a pool so that was very pleasant to have a swim in the late afternoons after really warm days.

I was the only Workaway on those days and she usually has lots of people visiting, friends, family, volunteers. On my last day we prepare all the beds and sheets for all the guests that were going to arrive the next day. We did make homemade deodorant one day. We cooked and ate healthy food including her homemade bread, jam and avocados from her trees. I think Rita will remember me cooking a lot of beetroot in many different ways at almost each meal, I got really motivated ;-) I have to admit I was glad it was only 4 days and I had another farm lined up that seemed more suitable to my needs, fingers crossed!

Cookie and her ball - always playing!!

The view from Rita's property - Olmué is very green and lush, completely different from the north! and a micro-climate where lots of local tourists come to vacation

View from my bed!

Orange trees

Hummingbird babies in their nest

Apricot tree - a few more weeks to be fully ripe

Avocado trees, delicious! Just getting ripe this time of year

The homemade products Rita makes: jams, grape juice, tomato sauce

Rita and the 3 dogs

Thank you for your hospitality Rita!

The whole day, Cookie never stops playing!