Organic Malaysian kibun (orchard) mainly Durian, Chepedak and Rambitan
Malaysia
Hello Woofers my name is Paul and my wife name is Rosinah I am a Scot married to a Malaysian. We have both travelled extensively, back packing and working in many countries. My daughter's Amy and Emma where Woofers in Canada for many years, they were good with horses and enjoyed Wwoofing .
I have travelled overland from Australia, back to Glasgow Scotland. Also Canada and USA. And as Engineer I have worked in 15 + Countries,now living in SEA. I get on well with travellers.
Rosinah is a University Professor who likewise has travelled and annually looks after about thousands of students.
We have been look after our 3 acre, Malaysian Kebun (orchard) consisting of over 198+ trees mainly Durian, Chempedak and other Malaysian fruit/nut trees since 2012. The trees are large 50+ year olds, plus we have added new and replacement plants.
Harvesting varies as this is the tropics and different trees flower at different time of the year.
The importance to us is to keep the trees healthy and plant new replacements plus improve the land produce and our life style.
Our farm location is in southern Johor in the district of Pontian, in Kampong Maju Jaya area to the west side of Gunung Pulai (Mountain) National Nature Reserve between the two Main Entrances.
The Nature Reserve has many streams, waterfalls and walks up and around the mountain and foothills, it contains a lake and reservoir which supplies water to Johor Bahru and Singapore. It is the most southern large Natural Tropical Forest Reserve.
As the crow flies the reserve is approximately 800m from our Kibun (orchard farm)
We have fenced, and gated the land plus through time built 3 buildings to-date.
Initially our first house by the main gate was to enable us to stay and eventually live on site. This was crucial to allow us to build the other structures. This is a small fully equipped house, It will be our Homestay Malaysian (B&B). We are doing it up as a holiday let to provide extra income, Also if no bookings are happening we may allow additional Wwoffers to stay. See Picture of our Gatehouse, Workshop and main house in the photo section.
House No.2 The next building is our Workshop and Tool Store,
We previously accommodated builders, so the back part has been turned into a mini house.
This has a low ceiling loft, a 2 bed, bedroom above the store room which sleeps two comfortably. There is a small kitchen with kitchen sink, fridge and gas cooker and cabinets. The back access goes through the shower room, with sink and Toilet. We have provide a living room with a large shutter roller door to the environment.
This is where the Woofers will stay. We can accommodate 2 Wwoofers in the two single beds, sharing and cook breakfast or other meals for themselves if they want too.
In addition, there is a washing machine at the back of the Gate house that can wash personal items of clothing and hanging facilities there.
Our Kebun has internet which we can share with our guests.
We will provide Food, soap Cleaning powders, tools to maintain neat and tidy stay.
Food wise you will have you're own working kitchen and fridge. Which we will stock for them after taking them to the local supermarket on a weekly basis, some 16 min drive away.
Plus we will feed our visitors mainly the two daily main meal from our two large kitchens in the hexagon house or externally in the local Kampong restaurants.
The Village Kampong has couple of grocer shops which sell the basic general provisions and there are 3 Kampong restaurants mainly in the evenings 2 within walking distance that serve the locals.
We frequently dine there. WWoofers can taste the full range of local Malaysian Foods.
We are a two man team so we really do appreciate Wwoofers help.
No.3 Our Home is a self-design, hexagonal house where we live with our 8 cats.
The cats are free to roam the Kebun and keep the houses and grounds free of Chitchat. Local small house lizard that eats the invading insects.
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We are in the tropics thus the biodiversity index is large. The Amazon is around 68, the Malaysia forests 43, UK forests around 14. So we have numerous small creatures.
We have WiFi that’s available although like all electrics they are subjected to Tropical storms.
Our Buildings all function by using septic tank systems so we need to take care in what is disposed in the septic systems.
We also, do not have a public refuse removal this is an area we need to improve.
We do not smoke as such we do not like to be near smoker. If they do they do not smoke in the houses near us or drop butts anywhere in our kibun. They can dispose of them in the burn pit area.
We have 3 fish ponds in the kibun with Tilapia and Cat fish plus some Coy in the internal Hexagon house fish ponds.
There is a stream very small in dry season but a torrent in Tropical Storms/rains.
The stream crosses the Kibun land at the rear, one 1/3 of the land is over the stream. We aim to build a road bridge across the stream.
We have a built a foot bridge see photo to access our fruit trees. All need to be fertilized annually. Organic mainly with chicken shit. Our trees are old and tall. some over 30m.(100ft) so branches fall in high winds and there is always collecting of such to keep the place tidy.
Luckily they are mainly durian and the fruit when ripe falls to the ground. It is dangerous to walk under when the fruit is falling. We are a two person team and always welcome help when harvesting which regularly becomes a Durian or Chempedak feast and tasting session.
Being so close to the nature reserve we are hampered by the troupes of Monyet (Monkey) and resident Tupai (Squirrels) who also pick our fruit; damage our trees and plants when they are hungry. The roaming single males Monkeys do feed and shit and steal or move mainly anything small and loose.
We get regular farm woodland birds, we need to fit bells on the cats, also, various sized lizards. Very rarely the odd snake (three in 12 years).
We had wild boar but since fencing we have not seen them.
We do not harm the Monkeys or other wild animals. we do frighten them off using fireworks particularly when large troupes do visit.
We have had troupes as large as 70 monkeys passed through and stop for a couple of nights.
They are feeding on our fruit and new plants and our neighbours fruit as there are 2 abandoned small fruit plantation’s at the rear and our neighbours back sides.
The areas over the stream with large trees that the Monkey use for sleep overs.
Our resident Toupia (Squires) we live with as they mainly damage the durian by eating a hole in the fruit while up on the tree. If it falls it is a good indication the fruit is getting ripe.
Guests are instructed to not feed the Monyet. Recently we have had poor harvests.
Our Kibun is also a small personal nature reserve a with a variety of frogs, lizards, birds and various insects because of the large tree coverage. Next door has Oil Palm and on the other side it was a Fruit farm but again our neighbours mixing it with Oil Palm.
Health wise there are no cases of Dengue, Malaria, Covid etc. in the area. Malaysia is blessed by the Mysejahtera App that is daily updated with the number of cases of dangerous illnesses within a km from your map location. Created during Covid.
Note, overseas visitors should come prepared for heat and a larger variety of biodiversity creatures and insects.
Our houses are treated for termites which also keeps down ants and house bugs.
We regularly keep our kibun grass short as this keeps snakes and larger lizards away. It also provides a lovely grass garden which is lovely to look at and good for games and activities.
Note the local public Health Clinic is 16 mins away by car as is most 24-7 Private Health Clinics at Pekan Nanas. Nearest town named after (Pineapples). We have a bus service to Pekan Nanas 2 km from our farm.
Malaysia Health service is very good and is remarkably cheap.
We keep doctors numbers and would help any WWoofers needing medical assistance or help.
Our Aim is to preserve our beautiful large trees and planting replacements and adding other fruit varieties. Bananas, Mangos, Pineapples and Rambutans etc.
in addition, we aim to build facilities and areas for future farm animals we intend to purchase, We need to build hutches homes for chickens, ducks and goats. Plus fenced materials for vegetable garden and small fruit areas that we still have to create.
Aim to get stingless bees to help pollination. Also, to give bees and similar creatures alive to stop extinction. Also they will help in Belimbing (star fruit) tree pollination. We have three large trees that are needing pollination.
We aim to extend our road and build a bridge over the 5m wide stream with vehicle crossing allowing us to further develop the other part of our land which has many of the large trees.
Future projects as the trees are so large and not bearing fruit we aim to bui a number of tree houses. In addition, in future a possible a Zip line and Canopy Tree walks.
The WWoofers help would be directed to Agriculture Projects. No high risk construction are expected.
We need to create a herb and vegetable garden, animal shelters, which need to be fenced off from the monkeys and future farm animals. Lots of ground level fruit picking and tree maintenance.
Our Gate house which can house a family could double for Woofers if we do not have bookings. But they would have to keep it tidy and clean. Also, we need to see how we manage before any future expansion.
We also aiming to develop further amenities.
A swimming pool and more hotel like accommodation to attract tourists to our farm, garden B&B facilities to make us more self-sufficient as we retire.
Attached a few photos of Our farm and gardens our harvests and houses.
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Learning opportunities
Fruit or nut farming
Raising of other farm animals
Forestry
Beekeeping
Flower farming
Seed saving or production
Renewable energy production
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Aquaponics
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
Former WWOOFer
1.2
Hectares
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3
Acres
Paul
Member since 2025
Languages spoken:
English, Malay
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 1 day
Malaysia
Kulai bus stn/Pekan Nanas bus stop. Johor Bahru Airport 30 mins away
Reviews
Judith
Sweden
•
April 2026
I had an amazing time at Rosinah and Pauls. I got to sleep outside in a hammock, the work was quite free so I could come with my own ideas with what to do and improve etc. Rosinahs cooking is also amazing, felt really lucky to get to spend 3 weeks there. Eating good food every day, enjoying the garden, get to work etc. You could feel that they really care about us volunteers.
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Reply from Paul
Thanks Judith. Now Rosinah wants a copy. We managed that.
it was a pleasure having you. Your great company and a great help. You know your welcome any time. PS. How did your interview go? Did you get the job? let us know on What's app.
Armand
France
•
April 2026
Très bonne première expérience chez Paul et Rosinah, j’ai passé un agréable moment!
Reply from Paul
Tres Bon Armad. Enjoyed your company and your Strength and help on all tasks. Regards from Rosinah
Joshua
Germany
•
March 2026
I really enjoyed my time with them both :) Incredibly friendly people with a very nice home. The work was excellent. I would love to come back again! I felt very comfortable with them and learned a lot :)
Reply from Paul
it was wonderful to have you stay at our place. I got my tree map and much more. Having cycle from Hamburg to China and South East Asia to exit at Singapore. It was a privilege to meet you. You are welcome any time. Regards from Rosinah.
Lotta
Germany
•
March 2026
I had a wonderful time with Paul and Rosinah. They are incredibly friendly and warm people, and I highly recommend this place. They cooked me a delicious meal every lunchtime, and we went shopping together. Working in the garden is a lot of fun and definitely worthwhile. The surroundings are peaceful yet beautiful. Paul even lent me a bicycle to borrow. All in all, I had a fantastic time and highly recommend it.
Thanks for everything
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Reply from Paul
Thanks Lotta. Rosinah and I are flattered. We just wanted you to enjoy your stay. We missed you the moment you headed Singapore. Your have a good heart and under rate your own abilities. You did more than we asked.
It was fun having you.
Bart
Belgium
•
February 2026
When I arrived, I received a very warm welcome. The accommodation and food provided were good, and the place itself is large and pleasant.
I expected a little more farming activities, but of course there are many different types of work to do on the land. During my stay, the priority was mainly stopping erosion, which is also important work and involved quite physical tasks. Later, I helped with fertilizing the land and planting some plants, which I especially enjoyed.
Over time the atmosphere became more relaxed and i could also made suggestions about the work. The farmer was helpful, and I appreciated the support with transport to the bus station.
It was an interesting experience, and I would like to come back to see all the progress. Future volunteers may find it helpful to ask in advance about the type of work and tasks depending on the current priorities on the land.
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Reply from Paul
You where a breath of Spring. with a can do attitude. Pity the trees where not fruiting I particularly liked your suggestions to water my garden and other areas. Bart welcome any time. Rosinah says a big hi.
PengJin
China
•
January 2026
I’m so grateful for the short but incredibly wonderful time I spent here with Paul and Roshina, and first, I want to say I’m truly sorry that my stay was far too brief—I wish I could have stayed longer to help more with the daily work and give back more for all their kindness. It weighs on me that I couldn’t do more for them, and I hope they’ll forgive this small regret of mine. I also want to apologize sincerely for my hasty goodbye; it was never my intention to be impolite, and the only reason I left this way was that I cherished the deep friendship we built in just a few days so much that I was terrified of the sadness of a face-to-face farewell—afraid we’d both be overcome with emotion, and I couldn’t bear to see them sad. I hope this explanation brings a little understanding.
If you’re a volunteer looking for a genuine, warm and heartwarming work-stay experience, this is the perfect place! Paul is like a wise elder who shares precious life advice with you, and Roshina is the kindest, most welcoming person who makes you feel right at home from the second you arrive. They treat every volunteer like family, with endless care, delicious meals and so much warmth—this is what a true meaningful WWOOF experience is all about, and I wholeheartedly recommend everyone to come here and share this joy.
To Paul and Roshina: thank you again for everything, for your open hearts, your generous hospitality and all the beautiful moments.
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Reply from Paul
Thanks for the brilliant review. Very charming. Your an interesting young man. not many Chinese choose a wester way to travel.
Who did not show off your photography until you where leaving. I would be very pleased to have you again. your an unique young man. hope your future life brings you challenges and happyiness. love Rosinah and Paul.
PS grab taxes can wait until goodbys are made in full. less need for apologies.
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