A Staff Member's Experience (And a Bittersweet Farewell)

We often talk of guests' experience of Wānaka Lavender Farm, whether it's highlighting the popular and well-loved aspects or sharing new perspectives, but we don't often speak about the team's experiences behind the scenes. This Farm Story is going to be a little different in that regard, but also because... after five great years working at the farm, my time here has come to an end.

As I'm writing my last ever Farm Story, let me introduce myself to you all (kind of backwards, I know). Hi, I'm Miriam, the person behind these monthly blog posts and the social media of Wānaka Lavender Farm. From being the first Guest Experience Supervisor to a part-time Administrator and everything in between; I've had an enjoyable journey here and I'd love to tell you about it before I sign off for good.

It's now a running joke between management and new staff being interviewed that you shouldn't worry if you don't get the job the first time you apply here — Miriam applied for a position three times! It's true. But I got there. I was clearly passionate about working at the farm and who wouldn't be? I also have a great deal of love for the colour purple which means I fit in perfectly.

Passing through as a visitor gives you an insight to the overall atmosphere of this unique place and that doesn't change much when working here: taking a stroll through the lavender fields on your break, checking in with your favourite resident animal, indulging in a herbal tea in front of the fire, or sitting with a book under the wisteria vines in the tearoom garden. These were all small parts of my day that made a huge difference to my mood and outlook on life.

The Guest Experience Supervisor role that I held for my first three years here was fun, interesting, and there was never truly a dull day! Throughout summer, the peak season, I was running laps around the shop, tearoom, tea garden, kitchen, storage room, and toilets. Literally from the moment I arrived in the morning to the minute I drove out the gate at the end of the day. The best part about that kind of work is that time flies! But I also got to connect with curious visitors from all over the world with all sorts of tales to tell. I might on occasion meet couples and families from the same hometown as me in little ol' Wales. Or maybe, a celebrity would pop in to see what the fuss was about. It's funny, you just never know who will walk through the doors of Wānaka Lavender Farm and what kind of impact they'll have on you.

It wasn't just conversations with customers that made up my day. The team I looked after was growing and ever-changing. Not because the individuals didn't want to stay, but because they were on an adventure of their own; living in Wānaka only long enough to make enough money for their next destination, whether that was within NZ or somewhere across the globe. From working at the front of house here, I've made friends that have become a part of my life outside of work.

As the first Guest Experience Supervisor, I spent a lot of time with owners Stef, Tim, and Jessica refining processes and helping to build or update some of the back-end systems. Since I also have a love of writing, I somehow convinced them to let me start a blog and take on the social media pages on the side. And then you have the beautifully random stuff you get to do that makes you truly appreciate the location, like feeding all the animals their hay every Sunday through the winters when the farm hands aren't in, or bottle-feeding the lambs every spring, collecting flowers for the tearoom, or even just helping the Production Supervisor make some lavender products. So, although I had some serious duties to take care of as my main job (organising, cleaning, managing, stock, blah blah blah), there were a lot of entertaining and wholesome moments that you just wouldn't experience anywhere else.

• 

• 

• 

After a few years at the front of house, on top of my previous seven years, I had some sort of a mid-life crisis (if it can be called that at 29 years old?). As an introvert, I was pretty maxed out on customer service. There was just one problem, though... I didn't want to leave the farm.

It turns out, the owners didn't want me to go either. So I became an administrator, taking care of day-to-day office tasks while still curating my Farm Stories and posting on social media. Sometimes I'd be dealing with inventory or fixing a bug on the booking system, other times I'd be revamping product descriptions on the website. The past two years of doing this has been a blast.

As well as the switching roles, I've celebrated the farm at an awards night and its very own ten year anniversary. I've been on incredible staff outings. And just marvelled at the love and work that goes into making this farm the special place that it is.

Going forward, I know my Wednesdays won't be the same not sitting in the tearoom with my laptop, a cup of tea, and the Zeestratens for company. No doubt, I'll be returning to Wānaka Lavender Farm as a visitor, since it's wedged itself into my heart and I could never let go of it now.

To all who end up reading this: thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. And if you've been an avid reader of the Farm Stories over the past five years, thanks again! It's been a pleasure.