20 | Lifelong friendships they treasure Kelly Deeks RURAL PEOPLE » Ludlow Farms and Homestay A side-line accommodation business on Neil and Gwen White’s Central Hawke’s Bay farm at Otane started in 2003 as something for Gwen to do during summer while Neil was busy harvesting, and has turned into a labour of love that has brought the couple endless entertainment, delightful guests, and lifelong friendships they treasure. When son Daniel planned to move home, Neil and Gwen decided to renovate a derelict cottage for him on their working 650ha cropping, sheep and beef fattening farm near Waipawa, Ludlow Farms. The cottage comprised part of an old stable which was moved by the previous owners and joined with a two-room shearers’ quarters to make a three bedroom cottage. “When we first started the alterations, the cottage was pretty derelict,” Gwen says. “The walls were full of birds’ nests, the ceiling was falling down, we had to scrape sheep shit off of the floors, and you could see where the two buildings were joined together. The shearers’ quarters had a beautiful matai floor and the stable had a no floor, so a pine floor was added, the windows and doors were rimu. We stripped everything back, oiled windows and polished the floors.” Daniel didn’t end up staying very long and by November, the cottage was in use by family attending Neil and Gwen’s son Simon’s 21st birthday. “Everyone left on the Sunday morning then on Sunday afternoon, we had a call from an Argentinian couple on the Napier Taupo Road. They were our first guests. They were on their honeymoon and had spent one night in Auckland. They came and stayed at Ludlow Farmstay for two nights, then went back to Auckland and flew out the same night.” This couple had found Ludlow Farmstay in the Hawkes Bay Visitors Guide Book. The Whites have been members of the Bed & Breakfast Association for 21 years and today, Ludlow Farmstay can also be found on multiple booking sites including Airbnb but it’s the New Zealand based sites Gwen prefers to support, like holidayhouses.co.nz, truenz.co.nz, and nzonline travel. From tours of motorcyclists and French supermarket owners to overseas farming families and honeymooning couples, Ludlow Farmstay has seen them all, and Neil and Gwen have graciously hosted them. Gwen provides fresh flowers, Homemade bread, fresh baking, and if she’s cooking dinner for the guests, it will always be roast lamb. Neil does farm tours which can go from anywhere from one to three hours. “Sometimes even four hours. I’ll look out to see where he’s got to and he’ll be sitting at the cottage having a craft beer with our guests!” This farmstay on a true working cropping farm has a lot more to offer than those with 5ha and a few animals. Many of Ludlow Farmstay’s guests will confirm before booking that this is a real working farm, often coming from farms themselves and looking to experience someone elses’s system and property. Neil and Gwen know what that’s like. On a recent trip to Tasmania they did a farm stay, saying it’s a great way to find out more about farming and what’s happening for other farmers. Ludlow Farmstay is currently having a makeover with a new roof and some new weatherboards, getting ready for another busy season starting in September. Proudly supplying shearing services to Ludlow Farms and Homestay For prompt and reliable service Phone Brendan: 021 423 886 or Email: b.j.mahony@xtra.co.nz LudlowFarms &Homestay Are proud to support [a] 49-51 Takapau Road, Waipukurau [w] www.millshonda.co.nz [p] 06 858 9109 k f Ma ing li e on the farm easier ANOTHER HE-VA DISC ROLLER SUPPORTING LUDLOW FARMS TO ACHIEVE CULTIVATION EXCELLENCE • Multi-functional stubble cultivator, impressive mixing near the surface and at depth. • DSD technology ensures correct angle of discs as they enter the soil. • Hydraulic weight transfer system results in uniform tillage. • Extensive choice of rollers. • Available in both trailed and 3pt • Linkage options; working widths from 2.5-8m. JAMES MCCLOY 027 782 7606 SEAUN LOVELL 027 611 1892 JOHN BRADY - SOUTHLAND 027 251 9801 239 ALFORD FOREST RD, ASHBURTON The Whites have been members of the Bed & Breakfast Association for 21 years.
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