Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
28 Apr 2024
Reply rate
63.6 %
Usually responds within 21 days
Feedback
22
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We have a country property on 20 acres and are 45 minutes from beautiful Vancouver, BC. We have 6 horses and 3 Highland cows, dog and cat. We have put in a large hazelnut grove, fruit trees, a garden and have tons of blackberry bushes, plus 3 bee hives for honey. We work in the city and from home, owning a design/build award winning construction company. Our children are grown. We have 6 grandchildren from age 1-15 that visit on occasion. Our activities include riding, polo, and working the farm. We have a guest suite in the basement with a kitchen and bath and laundry.
Hi! We are just a small hobby farm and not a business. We are providing room and board and lots of instruction teaching new skills.
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
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We definitely offer a quiet, country life but right on the edge of a big city with many attractions including mountains and ocean. We would teach some simple skills relating to small farming and using tractors.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We need help with caring for the grove and gardens. There is fence mending and barn cleaning, and moving hay. The horses need grooming and some help with feeding and mucking out. The cows need feeding and watering and moving. There is some general maintenance such as light bulbs, cutting bushes and using the tractor to harrow the riding ring. In season we need help with picking the berries and apples, and the vegetables - planting and growing. This year we have tomatoes, lettuce, kale, beets, onions, carrots, squash, cucumbers and rhubarb. We had raspberries, strawberries and some blueberries. These are small gardens for personal use but require lots of care and watering. I also do some jam making - strawberry -rhubarb and blackberry. The bee hives need attention to protect them and make sure they are thriving. Then we take the combs out, extract the honey and jar it. Sticky, but tasty. We have a full bee suit. In the house we need some cleaning and decluttering in places. We also have a workshop that needs cleaning and better organizing. Lots of rewarding work while Mattie, our Irish Wolfhound puppy, helps out and Captain Jack,our orange cat, looks on.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a guest suite in the basement - warm, clean and comfortable. There is a bathroom, kitchen and laundry in the suite. We can either set you up with your own food to cook and eat downstairs, or eat with you upstairs. We are super busy and often not home for dinner until the weekends. But if someone were cooking it would be wonderful to come home to instead of eating on the run.
What else ...
We are nice, calm, bright sort of people and like our 20 acres to be tranquil. There are tenants in a front house and a garage suite, who are contributing to the happy, friendly energy and we value them. We don't use or tolerate drugs on the property. Smoking can be done in a designated area where it's safe and doesn't bother anyone else. The bus service is not close, but we would gladly drive you to this or take you into town. We would be happy to take you around to orient you to the area and point out things. The best schedule would be work a few hours per day then go explore or we can work it out in another way if that works better. Having good footwear like gumboots for rainy weather, work boots or boots like Blundstones is essential, jeans, rough wear are all good for working outside.
We don't use or condone cannabis products.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (13)
I was greeted warmly by the entire family and felt like part of the family straight away.
The farm is beautiful and offers the opportunity to relax and enjoy nature even after a day of work.
The horses, cows and the best dog in the world named Mattie will always remain in my memory.
The… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I was greeted warmly by the entire family and felt like part of the family straight away.
The farm is beautiful and offers the opportunity to relax and enjoy nature even after a day of work.
The horses, cows and the best dog in the world named Mattie will always remain in my memory.
The… read more
Susan has a great sense of humor and she is very attentive to the needs that travelers have when we are outside our country (she… read more
The property is gorgeous and the animals are very cute.
That was my first workaway experience and I really loved it! I wish I could have stayed more time (I stayed only 2 weeks).
Susan made delicious dinners-we even had a wonderful barbeque! Susan and Doung know how to tell hilarious stories- we had a fun time together!
the animals were super… read more
I was living there for around 1 month during the winter, mostly building fences and doing some another small jobs. I enjoyed every day that I was working and living there. The accommodation was… read more
We really recommend you to volunteer… read more
The accommodation we were given was lovely and we had plenty of space for… read more
