Dargaville Holiday Post #6: The Kumara Box!

On Saturday we got up late...
And went to The Kumara Box:

When we got there, we met the couple who owned the place, Mr  & Mrs Suckling, although Mr Suckling has his photo on billboards everywhere with the name 'Ernie,' and is usually known by that name now!
Then we chose seats on the 'train' and went for a ride to see where the kumara is growing, etc..

This was homemade from 40-gallon drums!

Each drum had a place name on it

You ride between a couple of paddocks, where there's
various 'things' - this pig,
 

There are 2 pews inside and they actually hold services in here sometimes!

There are murals on either side in this tunnel, which were 'rescued'
from a shop that was closing(?), and the artist who painted
them years ago is going over the top of them as they
were really faded!

I think these below under ground...Don't you?!

Ernie is making this kiwi himself! from flax.

This tractor doesn't need anyone in it to drive it,
it can be programmed from a computer,
and then run by sattelite!

The harvester. In the middle is the conveyer belt,
which the kumaras come up on then people stand
around and sort them, some go on the shelf above
the belt, others into the buckets hanging off the sides.

 After the train ride we were shown through the sheds that the kumaras are stored in - not so great for Mum's clostaphobia! (if that's how you spell it..!) Then into the theatre(?) for a talk about various things to do with kumara. Unfortunately I can't remember much of what he said 'cause it was so long ago, but we were shocked at how many kumara growers are in a small area up there! We also watched and listened to Hayley Westenra singing some Moari song, she has an amazing voice!!! =D

After a long talk (everyone was having a well-behaved day and sitting very quietly, and Ernie was enjoying speaking to us so he just carried on!), we talk some photos:

And then... we got invited for drinks and a snack - homemade slice, etc.. and hot cross buns! So we stayed to chat and stuff for ages!! And no we'd never met them before! Oh I just remembered, a couple of ladies (one's the editor of the Health Ideas or something magazine!).

These are their customers

Big kumara!!

This is on the kumara in the above pic.

I know it's unlikely, but if you are ever up that way, this would be a great place to visit! check out there website: http://kumarabox.co.nz/

Well, kumara still isn't my favourite food, but we had an awesome day!
Bee
PS: Sorry this post is so long!