Help with our family making a log post and beam solar passive straw bale house in Haines Junction, Yukon, Canada
Last activity
: 10 Mar 2025
Min stay requested: 1 month or more
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 192413297672
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Feedback (3)
Left by host for Workawayer (Alex)
Alex was with us for 2-3 weeks in 2022. He helped us peeling, sanding and oiling logs beside other work with power tools for building our family home. I appreciated his commitment and reliability he puts into the given chores. He is a friendly, social guy, we had good talks along the way. I liked that he shared openly his feedback when things
… read more could be improved for our benefit. It showed me that he really cared about what he was doing and his willingness to support our project. He made even a little video about it that has been available on YouTube. Unfortunately Workaway doesn’t allow video content to be posted on their website.
We wish them the very best on his journey.
Left by Workawayer (Alex) for host
This was my first workaway station ever. Way up in the Yukon, where everything is different. But it is unique and fascinating. Heiko and Mathilde were super nice and took me into their family at the same time. I spent the sultry summer days building the house with Heiko and was able to learn a lot. In the evenings, he simply went into the forest
… read more and came back with plants that served as salad for homemade bread. Fantastic! It had a huge impact on my future path.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Markus)
Markus
Was with us for over a month, joining to move our project ahead while the Winter urged us to finish certain steps. His commitment to the tasks given and his ability to adapt to all kinds of work were outstanding. Needless to say that he was of amazing help at this important step. Beside this he is a great companion for all kinds of funny
… read more tales, language imitation and more in depth talks as well. A person one would certainly be pleased to know while travelling the journey of life some yards or miles together.
Left by Workawayer (Markus) for host
I stood with Heiko and his family for a little more than 1 month.
so far it was the first workaway experience that really felt like a real unique experience and adventure on all layers.
the accomondation was a cabin just for myself. i had to light the oven to keep the place warm, be very careful with the use of water not to waste...
the work was
… read more sth i really enjoyed - being outside and working with my hands.
also working with Heiko is quite fun (hiking around and Just talking) and i was able to learn a lot - not Just about building, also about spiritual things and the Yukon!
the food that has been provided was tasty and healthy and whenever i needed sth i was provided with it as well...
Mathilde was also pretty pretty nice, caring and supportive.
We had long conversations on the dinner table and i also loved to play and/or read with the kids!
besides work i was able to explore the incredible nature of the yukon and this outstanding beautiful national park.
go on hikes, ice swimming, cycling, taking pictures... and a lot more.
after all i had a really really great adventure and i enjoyed this stay so much.
i hope i will be back soon!!! :)
Left by Workawayer (Leandre) for host
I stayed 2 weeks with Heiko, as Mathilde and the kids were gone for holidays. I had a great experience. Heiko is full of knowledge of every kind. Easy to talk with and very friendly. He's also a hard worker, probably fitter that you are. Expecting you to work as much as you can without forcing anything and always letting you the space to work as
… read more you feel. It's construction work so be prepared. I enjoyed a lot working with wood and see our quick progresses. I liked our breaks and time together as well. The food is provided and coming from the garden as much as possible and Heiko is a good cook. The cabin were I stayed was comfy and surrounded by nature. Haines Junction is a small town but you have the Kluane park as playground.
Thank you Heiko for those weeks.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Photos
Workawayer Lucas prepared log beams. He stayed March and April
Our son Lou likes to take the lead on the big machines
Produce log beams with the Alaskan Saw Mill
Building the anchor beam to hold the strawbale carrying structure together.
Straw bale structure goes up fast after Lucas prefabbed all the units
Our daily site visitors inspecting the progress
Workawayer Alex joins us for June.
Step by step. Good to have the Kubota on site to help with the heavy lifting and moving.
The log post and beam structure, visible inside the house, gets to be set in place. So exciting!!!
Workawayer Leandre does some last adjustments before putting the first set of log post and beam up in place.
The log structure raised inside the straw bale framing
The great moment. Get the straw bales from the farm field
The first loads go onto the roof. A double layer for best insulation results.
Workerwayer Markus helped with placing all the straw bales. Next vapour barrier, yes, plastic…:( and than an interior wall with straw flakes insulation.
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Left by host for Workawayer (Alex)
Alex was with us for 2-3 weeks in 2022. He helped us peeling, sanding and oiling logs beside other work with power tools for building our family home. I appreciated his commitment and reliability he puts into the given chores. He is a friendly, social guy, we had good talks along the way. I liked that he shared openly his feedback when things
… read more could be improved for our benefit. It showed me that he really cared about what he was doing and his willingness to support our project. He made even a little video about it that has been available on YouTube. Unfortunately Workaway doesn’t allow video content to be posted on their website.
We wish them the very best on his journey.
Left by Workawayer (Alex) for host
This was my first workaway station ever. Way up in the Yukon, where everything is different. But it is unique and fascinating. Heiko and Mathilde were super nice and took me into their family at the same time. I spent the sultry summer days building the house with Heiko and was able to learn a lot. In the evenings, he simply went into the forest
… read more and came back with plants that served as salad for homemade bread. Fantastic! It had a huge impact on my future path.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Markus)
Markus
Was with us for over a month, joining to move our project ahead while the Winter urged us to finish certain steps. His commitment to the tasks given and his ability to adapt to all kinds of work were outstanding. Needless to say that he was of amazing help at this important step. Beside this he is a great companion for all kinds of funny
… read more tales, language imitation and more in depth talks as well. A person one would certainly be pleased to know while travelling the journey of life some yards or miles together.
Left by Workawayer (Markus) for host
I stood with Heiko and his family for a little more than 1 month.
so far it was the first workaway experience that really felt like a real unique experience and adventure on all layers.
the accomondation was a cabin just for myself. i had to light the oven to keep the place warm, be very careful with the use of water not to waste...
the work was
… read more sth i really enjoyed - being outside and working with my hands.
also working with Heiko is quite fun (hiking around and Just talking) and i was able to learn a lot - not Just about building, also about spiritual things and the Yukon!
the food that has been provided was tasty and healthy and whenever i needed sth i was provided with it as well...
Mathilde was also pretty pretty nice, caring and supportive.
We had long conversations on the dinner table and i also loved to play and/or read with the kids!
besides work i was able to explore the incredible nature of the yukon and this outstanding beautiful national park.
go on hikes, ice swimming, cycling, taking pictures... and a lot more.
after all i had a really really great adventure and i enjoyed this stay so much.
i hope i will be back soon!!! :)
Left by Workawayer (Leandre) for host
I stayed 2 weeks with Heiko, as Mathilde and the kids were gone for holidays. I had a great experience. Heiko is full of knowledge of every kind. Easy to talk with and very friendly. He's also a hard worker, probably fitter that you are. Expecting you to work as much as you can without forcing anything and always letting you the space to work as
… read more you feel. It's construction work so be prepared. I enjoyed a lot working with wood and see our quick progresses. I liked our breaks and time together as well. The food is provided and coming from the garden as much as possible and Heiko is a good cook. The cabin were I stayed was comfy and surrounded by nature. Haines Junction is a small town but you have the Kluane park as playground.
Thank you Heiko for those weeks.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
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Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
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