Description
I have a working farm stay opportunity available in a rural seaside community on Vancouver Island just outside of Victoria, BC. My place is a working dairy goat farm and animal sanctuary on a bus route and a few minutes bicycle ride from the core of Sooke. It is a 2 acre property surrounded by the natural beauty of British Columbia's rugged coastline, forest hiking trails filled with wild wonders and farm lands that make up our vibrant local food system.

There's pristine ocean beaches within walking distance where you can marvel at the antics of otters, seals and bald eagles as you relax while taking in a majestic sunset at the end of a rewarding workday. Perhaps you'd like to take a refreshing swim on a hot day in the lake just down the road or catch yourself a rainbow trout for breakfast?

We need people who are physically capable of doing heavy farm work such as haying, fencing or carpentry projects. Chores will vary depending on the needs of the farm and preference will be given to people with carpentry skills.

People chosen for this opportunity must be energetic, motivated self starters with cheerful dispositions. I refuse to get involved in personal disagreements between people so being a team player is vital. Likewise, it is important that people be capable of working effectively for long periods of time on their own.

Creative people with viable ideas are always welcome but those who need to constantly challenge the working dynamics of a successful system need not apply. I've been a farmer for 40 years and my reasoning is typically based in that experience.

Duties will include activities such as animal care, cleaning barns, building, fencing, developing a farm market, establishing gardens, putting up greenhouses, weeding, brushing out overgrown areas and overall farm maintenance. I have to emphasize this is a working farm and NOT a "farm zoo" so playing with animals all day is not an option.

Opportunities for people to learn about small scale farming abound on this tiny dairy goat farm by the seaside. Although the work will be physically demanding, the rewards of this unique experience could be beyond measure for the right people.

If this sounds like an experience you'd enjoy, feel free to contact me. Cheers.
Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre
Bénévolat
Aide avec des éco-projets
Enseignement
Jardinage
Bricolage et construction
S’occuper des animaux
Aide dans une ferme
Cuisine/repas pour la famille
Aide à la maison
Entretien général
Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre
...
...
Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
Aide
UPDATE: I recently bartered for the use of a canoe. Needless to say we've had some fantastic fishing trips and enjoyed some 2 pound trout for dinner!
Langues parlées
Anglais: Courant
Hébergement
We have room available for tenters and folks with RV's. Folks will be given access to the communal area in the upstairs of the farmhouse. That's where every morning a great big lovable mutt will greet you like you're the most awesome person in the world. There's a full bathroom, sitting area & kitchen to share; plus access to WIFI & use of the laundry facilities, with reason.

As for food, people chosen to participate in our farm stay will have to have the ability to purchase some of their own food. Fresh farm products such as milk, eggs and cheese are available from time to time but we cannot provide more because the farm is still developing its sustainability plan.
Autres infos...
The farm wants folks to feel safe and comfortable during their visits. For everyone's benefit,we do not tolerate drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, illegal activities, loud partying or disrespectful/inappropriate behaviour. So please keep it "clean" and enjoy your stay.
Informations complémentaires
- Accès Internet
- Accès Internet limité
- Nous avons des animaux
- Nous sommes fumeurs
- Familles bienvenues
Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?
Deux
Nombre d'heures attendues
5 hours per day 5 days a week

N° de référence hôte : 1472134974e2

Feedback (4)

23 sept. 2016

Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer (Ryan)

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(Négatif )

2 janv. 2015

Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer (Michelle & Josh)

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(Neutre )

28 déc. 2014

Laissé par le workawayer (Michelle & Josh) pour l'hôte

We stayed with Kat for a week in November and sadly did not experience the same warm, welcoming environment as described by other workawayers. We appreciated the small amount of time we got to spend with Kat, who clearly knows a great deal about many aspects of farming and caring for animals. However she was very much preoccupied during our stay… read more so much of our time was spent with her farmhand and had it not been for this we would have had very little guidance or instruction on any of our duties. Working with the animals was a fantastic experience that we will never forget, and we are grateful that we had the opportunity to participate in a turkey slaughtering class, a unique experience for us.

We did not consider the shared living area (a separate part of the house) to be liveable when we arrived and spent our first day tidying and cleaning it to a minimum standard, along with another workawayer. What is not explained is that you are expected to live with and care for 4 undomesticated cats and a large dog. The smell of the cats urine/overflowing litter boxes was unbearable when we arrived and required a weeks worth of continual cleaning to eradicate. We also thought the food situation was not well explained - basically you will be providing all of your own food (with the exception of goats milk and cheese which may not be to everyone's taste, plus a couple of other random food items here and there). This may be different during other times such as the spring and summer months.

Another important point which was not specified relates to minimum footwear requirements - the farm receives substantial rainfall which quickly turns the working area into a mud pit, especially this time of year. Rubber boots are a must in this environment and they are not provided. We feel that future workawayers should know this and come prepared.

Overall we gained some unique experiences and are thankful for that. We have fond memories of our time spent with the animals, of the things we learnt from Kat and her farmhand, and have made good friends with one of the other workawayers who was there during our stay. The area is beautiful and we were fortunate enough to enjoy some short hikes in between our duties. Kat has a heart of gold and her number one priority will always be the health and well-being of her animals. However the disappointing aspects which weren't explained beforehand (living conditions, food situation, requirement to actually share your living space and bedroom with and care for undomesticated animals, footwear requirements) dampened our experience here.

(Neutre )

18 déc. 2014

Laissé par le workawayer (Nicole & Pete) pour l'hôte

Me and Vera spent one week with Kat on her goat farm and the memories we have from that short time will be with us forever! The animals are an absolute riot...from mama goose who answers back to her name to piggy who enjoyed getting intimate with The Rock! The work was enjoyable and i loved interacting with so many animals in one day. To be able… read more

(Très bien )

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23 sept. 2016

Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer (Ryan)

Veuillez consulter notre politique relative aux feedbacks pour en savoir plus sur les raisons de la non publication de ce commentaire.

(Négatif )

2 janv. 2015

Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer (Michelle & Josh)

Veuillez consulter notre politique relative aux feedbacks pour en savoir plus sur les raisons de la non publication de ce commentaire.

(Neutre )

28 déc. 2014

Laissé par le workawayer (Michelle & Josh) pour l'hôte

(Neutre )

18 déc. 2014

Laissé par le workawayer (Nicole & Pete) pour l'hôte

(Très bien )

5 nov. 2014

Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer (Joe)

Wow! Joe is absolutely - beyond a shadow of a doubt - the most delightful visitor I've ever had stay at the farm. He's not exaggerating his skills and abilities either. Joe can fix anything from leaking plumbing to hanging lights in barns to digging drainage ditches to divert flooding. He's fantastic with animals also. Joe actually had one of… read more

(Excellent )

13 sept. 2014

Laissé par le workawayer (Shanon) pour l'hôte

I have been here with Kat for just over a week now, and it has been a fantastic experience. There is so much going on here and so much still left to do! However, it is a working farm, it is an animal sanctuary and it is Kat's home, so there are a few things potential workawayers need to know...

Kat is a kind and caring woman, running this… read more place alone; there are goats to milk, chickens to corale, rescue dogs to walk... it is a huge and overwhelming responsibility for just one person, and i am amazed that she is able to provide such a high level of care for all of her animals. As a result, she doesn't have the time to babysit her volunteers, and while she is a fantastic teacher, with knowledge on everything from eco building to the catching of fish, she herself is a resource that is already stretched and people need to be aware that her time is limited; work hard with kat and you will be rewarded with her vast knowledge making for a truly educational, as well as fun experience! she is even taking me trout fishing later today, and we have had many fun times in the kitchen chatting over coffee and baking bread and apple crumbles!

the work coming up here is very varied. At the moment, the main chores associated with running the farm dominate in the 8am-1pm working day; the daily cleaning out of goat stalls, watering of chickens...etc. Kat needs extra hands for the preparation of pasture for the oncoming winter, building of storage units and barns, clearing of forest to make huts and fire pits...she also wants to make this place an educational resource, with the future running of classes such as eco building, cooking, etc. more hands on the property would allow these dreams to come to fruition, and would mean the more mundane chores could be shared and rotated so that everyone got the chance to put a more creative input to the property. there are so many projects that are an exciting prospect here; i would love to share my time here with creative types that were happy to take on projects like making social spaces in the woods where we could spend the evenings eating smores around the fire pit under the stars :)

kat needs so many types of hands here; people that understand conservation, people that can eco build, farm managers, painters, animal rehabilitators, vegetable growers, fencers, dog walkers, ground clearers, people with experience in marketing even! come along and throw your heart into a project here; i can't wait to make some land based art on the side of the terrace we're looking to build - come and help me :)

as for the area; sooke is beautiful. when my chores are complete i now take one of the rescue dogs to the beach. i haven't seen any whales here yet but i hope to. there is a music cafe at the end of the road, and everything else in sooke (including cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, clothes stores...) can be reached via the $2.50 bus (or an hour and a half walk). victoria is an hour away by bus. there are fishing charters to go out on, whale watching tours...all sorts! it is also rural, so plenty of peace and quiet if that's what you're looking for. we were even advised to look out for northern lights last night!!

i was initially dissuaded by the food issue here so can understand if that causes some people concern; Kat has a constant supply of goats milk, cheese, eggs, beans, tomatoes from the farm, as well as trout from the river, chicken etc. there is food to eat, but 'extras' you will need to supply yourself. there are so many blackberries, apples, plums, etc around right now that i still haven't had to buy myself any food yet!

so, i hope this helps people...it would be lovely to share some time with more people! i had initially aimed to stay just a few weeks but i could very easily see myself staying longer as kat's energy, as well as the potential for really putting myself into some of the more creative tasks here, is an exciting prospect for me. the place looks rough and ready when you arrive, but that's because this creative work needs doing, and doing now! come and be a part of something; this is a farm where you definitely get the chance to leave your mark :)

(Excellent )

2 juin 2014

Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer (John)

John is a great young man and an absolute delight to share company with. I can't say enough good things about John, except that his visit was too short and I hope he visits again some day. He's one of the hardest workers to ever visit the farm! John helped clean the place up, plant gardens, groom pastures, clean stalls, build a log shelter,… read more

(Excellent )

31 mai 2014

Laissé par le workawayer (John) pour l'hôte

Had an amazing time here everyone i met was incredabley kind and helpfull. A good place to be if you enjoy fishing and the great outdoors, i felt really welcome here and kat always went out of her way to make sure i was comfortable, well fed and happy, would highly recomend to anyone whos not afraid to get there hands dirty. when im back on the… read more

(Très bien )

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Tiny Dairy Goat Farm on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

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Description

Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

Aide

Langues parlées

Hébergement

Autres infos...

Informations complémentaires

Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

Nombre d'heures attendues

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