Your hosts, the Gibson family,  are a blend of Kiwi and Aussie. After living in Australia for 17 years we've finally returned to New Zealand (it only took 17 years of talking about it!) in 2012. We started Gumtree Farmstay that same year and then opened up The Shepherd's Rest in 2019. 
Grant is originally from New Zealand and is the handy farm orientated component of our family - he's always had a yearning to return to the land, it's where he is most happiest. 
Jennie is an Australian, is definitely not handy or farm orientated, yet has always had a dream of living in a house on a hill surrounded by chickens and growing vegetables and trying to be self-sufficient.
While Grant is chief sheep shearer, fencer and cattle chaser, Jennie has had to learn to be chief calf and lamb rearer, a new experience for this one time city girl!
When he has time (which is not often these days!), Grant enjoys building (anything and everything including chicken sheds to house Jennie's ever increasing flock of chickens), bike riding and vegetable gardening.
Jennie also enjoys gardening, as well as baking and preserving, reading and talking to the animals.
We have 3 teenagers who currently are more fond of their technology than feeding pet lambs but we are hoping it's only a fad! As punishment and to enforce 'family bonding' we are in the process of tramping New Zealand's Great Walks. No wifi, it's great!!
Our other family members are Bonnie, Cloud, Sky and Meg the farm dogs and  house cats  Tansy and Prim. 
Both Grant and Jennie travelled and worked overseas when they were young, footloose and fancy-free,  and also spent a year travelling around Australia when our eldest was a wee fellow. 
We love our farming lifestyle and enjoy sharing it with others.
​ We hope to meet you one day soon!

The Gibson Family