Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
13 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
42
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Help with our home and hobby Farm, build horse fencing, fix a barn and do some housekeeping near Ottawa, Canada
Hello Workawayers -
I work full time at a university in the city and we have a hobby farm an hours commute from work. Travel isn't in the cards for us right now, so we'd like the world to visit us. My last child at home is 16 years old, and an older daughter, her husband and my grandchildren are also on the farm. We live in a small house on an 8 acre hobby farm just outside a village east of Canada’s capital city - Ottawa. We enjoy the many festivals, shopping & entertainment the large city has to offer and cool off at Calypso Water Park.
On our farm there are:
• 1 Norwegian fjord horse who needs an intermediate or better rider (and I have neither time nor talent!)
• 4 miniature horses - 2 trained for driving
• indoor and barn cats
• 4 dogs
• a dozen chickens
The teens are determined, accepting and enjoyable, and are welcoming to visitors. We have hosted high school students through exchange programs for years and have enjoyed learning about little pieces of Germany, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, Norway, Belgium, Mexico, Japan and China through the workawayers and students who joined our family.
My family is more than happy to help you practice English!
You can catch a ride into Ottawa on my way to work in the morning and be a tourist until a ride home with me at the end of my day.
University students looking for a place for themselves and a horse are welcome to contact me.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are a normal, busy family who like sharing our home and our country with others.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
With work, farm and family there are never enough hours in the day so there are several short term and larger projects available in the barn and the yard.
Timings are very flexible. We will provide room and board. Food is simple and plentiful, summer shopping is frequently local markets but convenience foods do occur.
Sharing (or taking over) meal prep is appreciated.
The ever changing list:
house work (always)
Painting- just walls, not pictures
barn work
Brushing miniature horses and fjord horse (fluffy lawn ornaments)
Intermediate riders to exercise fjord horse
tidy flowerbeds (summer)
Shovel snow on paths (winter)
Mending
Laundry
Drain tiles at the barn
Moving the electrical and water in the barn
Securing the barn tin (at the top of a ladder)
...anything you can suggest?
My teens enjoy card games, board games and hanging out. The chance to meet people from other cultures is an important part of "life education".
Short term stays are welcome since we have several smaller projects.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have space for 1, possibly 2 people:
- there is a basement bedroom with a twin bed is away from the bustle of the house. The bedroom on the main floor with two single beds is often taken over by an exchange student September to June.
We're a little old fashioned about opposite sex (or same-sex couples) as roommates, so we can provide separate rooms for couples who aren't married.
- wifi is available, please don't do large downloads
Pick up in Ottawa at the airport, train or bus can be arranged depending upon my schedule of the day.
What else ...
We are a Roman Catholic family and practice our faith in our lives, including Mass attendance and daily prayer. You don't have to join us, but you need to respect our faith as we will respect you. If you'd like to attend your own faith, we'll assist in getting you where you need to be.
Two of us require a gluten free diet, so we can provide gluten free and do healthy meals.
We eat meat, we raise our own chickens for meat, we are not vegetarians.
No smoking anything, and absolutely no drugs, our neighbour is a (very nice) police officer. (Safe neighbourhood!)
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Our rural internet is a little difficult but you are welcome to bring your laptop and job with you. Most of what we’d ask of you can be worked around times you are already scheduled for online jobs.
Space for parking camper vans
Water and electricity are available at the front of the barn and a free city septic dump just a few kms away. I am comfortable hosting more than one person if you are bringing home with you.
Can possibly accept pets
Completely depending upon the pets. We have quite a few ourselves and health and safety of all people and animals is very important.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
3-5 / day (max 25 hrs)
Feedback (17)
I absolutely enjoyed staying there and would have loved to… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(4.9)
I absolutely enjoyed staying there and would have loved to… read more
I was nervous at first, but everyone in the family is soooo sweet, Lots of smart dogs, cute cats, and even some cool horses and adorable chickens! I had to clean the burn, brush the horses, cook food for a large group of people, and so many other things that were new to me! She's one of those people who… read more
Thank you very much for this great experience! I miss you all very much and hope to see you again soon!!
I look forward to meeting them again, sending all my… read more
