NPL’s 24hrs Off The Grid
Our NPL family is up to big things, living full lives committed to transforming the current paradigm of agriculture. The weekend together was wholesome and nourishing, leaving us all with a sense of rejuvenation and contentment, energised to continue the work we’ve started.
The NPL team recently went off the grid for their inaugural annual team get-together.
~29km inland from Mt Somers, Canterbury, we spent just over 24 hours at Lake Camp and Lake Emma, aligning with NPL’s style of being connected with nature and with people.
We couldn’t have asked for better weather; warm, sun shining, a slight breeze; a vivid contrast of bright-blue, cloudless sky, sleepy, brown landscape, and deep-blue, glistening lakes
Driving in, the flat, intensively managed Canterbury Plains were starkly contrasted with dry tussock rising into tall smooth-topped hills and the jagged snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps in the distance.
We couldn’t have asked for better weather; warm, sun shining, a slight breeze; a vivid contrast of bright-blue, cloudless sky, sleepy, brown landscape, and deep-blue, glistening lakes; an evening sunset of blues, pinks and purples, causing us all to take a breath of presence.
An evening sunset of blues, pinks and purples, causing us all to take a breath of presence.
A real sense of family was created, having Jono’s, Jake’s, and Greer’s partners with us; Ruby, Emma, and Dougie, as well as Jono’s kids; Harper and Beau, and the dogs; Keith, Brynn, and Chief.
The weekend consisted of kayaking, swimming, and taking Jake’s latest toy for a spin – a jet boat! We ate like Kings and Queens; a delicious roast (thought to be mutton, and now described as ‘mystery meat’ as we still don’t know what it was…), a cooked breakfast with apple crumble to finish (yes, dessert can be breakfast), and Greer’s chocolate brownie that blew everyone’s taste buds – it even had Jono quiet for a moment or two in his appreciation of it! (expressions of disbelief are censored for this blog…).
A real sense of family was created, having Jono’s, Jake’s, and Greer’s partners with us; Ruby, Emma, and Dougie, as well as Jono’s kids; Harper and Beau, and the dogs; Keith, Brynn, and Chief.
Harper and Beau going for a spin in Jake’s latest toy – a jet boat! - during NPL’s 24hours off the grid.
Laughter rippled throughout the weekend, and a sense of gratitude was created as we shared what we’re all grateful for on the Sunday morning; themes of health, opportunity, and creating our lives how we want them to be, aligned with what we’re committed to.
And to finish off the weekend, Greer being a group fitness instructor got the team moving by motivating them through a half hour workout. “Greer, I love you, but I hate you” summed up the mood. Beau tapped out after the first couple of music tracks, saying it made him “way too tired” which was ironic because he’d been a bundle of energy since the trip had started! Harper on the other hand was the top participant. Love prevailed with the team completing the workout, rewarding ourselves with a refreshing swim in Lake Camp.
Eating like Kings and Queens during our 24 hours off the grid; a cooked breakfast with apple crumble to finish (yes, dessert can be breakfast).
Our NPL family is up to big things, living full lives committed to transforming the current paradigm of agriculture. The weekend together was wholesome, and nourishing, leaving us all with a sense of rejuvenation and contentment, energised to continue the work we’ve started.