Come be a part of our family on our beautiful homestead on Vancouver Island, Canada

Details

• 

  Description

  You have stumbled upon your dream workaway situation! We are a big extended family sharing a large beautiful property in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island where we have created an "eco-homestead" (with the help of more than 50 helpers from different organizations - many of whom have become our life-long friends!). We have large gardens, a self-built natural building house with some planned renovations as well as other building projects and five children. We are very into food and music and friends so do a lot of entertaining. We are a very busy household with lots of activities and visitors so there is never a dull moment. If you are looking for an opportunity to experience an open-minded, artistic, ecologically-minded family then this is your place.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We love to share our food and stories with you. We are unusual in that we live in an "extended-family" kind of community and have unusual and different eco-buildings on our property. We like good conversation and you will get lots of opportunity to practice English.

• 

  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

• 

  Help

  We need help with weeding, amending, planting, mulching, watering and harvesting our gardens. Possibly some landscaping or other chores that need a good back (chopping wood?). We are also building a bathhouse outbuilding so if you have building skills great! There are four older boys aged 13-18 and a 3 year old. The older boys are pretty self-sufficient but sometimes need rides places. The 3 year old is very cute and very busy and we'd love some help watching him.
  
  We have large gardens that we eat from most of the summer. We love cooking and eat delicious, plentiful (non-vegetarian) meals. We do a lot of canning and preserving at the end of the summer. There is always help needed in the kitchen... dishes anyone?
  
  We enjoy music (listening and playing) and good conversation and value a sense of humour, initiative, and joyful nature. A strong back, crafty hands or experience with wood would definitely be an asset. We prefer a longer stay- three or four weeks but will consider any length.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  We speak English and French and are happy to share our languages.
• 

  Accommodation

  We have a small trailer that was recently renovated. We provide clean bedding and a heater when it's cold. There is a solar outdoor shower in the summer and a composting toilet. Breakfasts and sometimes lunch are generally help-yourself from our kitchen but we cook dinner and eat as a family. There is always plentiful healthy food.

• 

  What else ...

  We are 20 minutes outside of Duncan so having your own transportation can be helpful though not necessary as we drive to town regularly. We are a short walk to the famous Kinsol Trestle over the Koksilah River, and there are bikes you can borrow to explore. The Trans-Canada Trail runs through our property and there are many other smaller trails through forest and up the mountains. It is a reasonable bike ride to the lake or to town (Duncan). We also have kayaks and paddleboards if you want to borrow them.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  Our internet is not the best but folks here have been able to work from home on and off.

• 

  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

• 

  Can possibly accept pets

  This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

• 

  Hours expected

  Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Feedback (2)