Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Fiji: Recommendations for FARM stays/tours/volunteer? Crafts classes? Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji
prioritymail 02:50 UTC 23 Sep 2010 | I am still reading the LP Fiji book, but I don't think the answer to my question is in there. From what I've read so far, there is a lot of subsistence farming happening in Fiji, as well as commercial ag in the form of sugar cane production. I know there are certain villages that you can arrange to stay at for a fee, and that Sigatoka is kind of the "bread basket" of the country. So far, there was just one farm tour mentioned in the LP book for pearl farming. That's about all I know. I would greatly appreciate an opportunity to do any or all of the following: Tour local village subsistence farms and/or the larger scale sugar cane factory farms. Volunteer on authentic Fijian farm/s in exchange for learning about farming in Fiji and culture. Learn how to prepare authentic Fijian cuisine, everything from growing/catching/hunting the food to preparing it to cultural dos and donts for eating it. Learn how to make traditional (practical and useful) crafts from plant or other locally derived materials. I essentially seek to learn how Fijians feed themselves, make a living growing food, everything about food and the plants that provide it and their other uses. And also I am interested in learning traditional crafts - woodworking, weaving, pottery, etc - how to make practical, useful, and traditional Fijian things. Please, no eco lodges, yoga retreats, or expat vacation homes with a small backyard garden. I checked out the WWOOF Fiji page and there is only ONE farm listed and it doesn't really sound like what I'm looking for. If you have any advice, recommendations, contacts, or tips for achieving any of these goals here I would much appreciate them. Otherwise, I plan to just go there and start asking around. I only have two weeks in Fiji (in November) and do want to have a little time to do some of the more typical touristy stuff and enjoy the beaches and water sports so not much time, but everything here is my first priority. Edited by: prioritymail |
tch7 05:01 UTC 23 Sep 2010 | nztourist will be here shortly to provide a boilerplate recommendation for Danny's Homestay. | 1
prioritymail 05:28 UTC 23 Sep 2010 | lol okay thanks | 2
ozziegiraffe 11:31 UTC 23 Sep 2010 | I could help you if you wanted to go to Solomon Islands, but unfortunately don't have the same connection with Fiji. | 3
hardnosethehighway 15:11 UTC 24 Sep 2010 | Bobos Farm on Ovalau offers some of what you're after. | 4