Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
2 Dec 2023
Feedback
18
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are open to a Workawayer to Join our family as a member. Work along with us and play along with us.
We are wanting someone outgoing and enthusiastic. Friendly and considerate. A desire to be involved in our daily activities, and offer a helping hand when needed. We want you to become part of our family, and be comfortable spending your time with us, our friends and family. We require flexibility, and an accommodating attitude towards sudden changes in tasks or schedules when needed.
My husband Jeff and I have three children, and a small mixed farm near Sylvan Lake Alberta. We breed draft cross horses, a small herd of beef cattle, a milk cow, family of pigs, and coop full of chickens. We put up our own hay and offer our services to area neighbors for custom baling and grain harvesting. We are very diversified and strive to make ourselves self sufficient.
We have a large family garden, three outside dogs, five barn cats, laying hens for a fresh supply of eggs, we raise our own beef and pork, and fresh milk. Our goal is to create sustainability on our small farm to raise our family. With rolling hills and a breathtaking mountain view we offer privacy, peace and quiet, and an opportunity to learn our way of life.
My husband operates a business as a mechanic, with a wealth of knowledge and abilities. I stay at home, schooling our three children and care for the farm home, garden and book keeping for the business.
Our children range in ages from 9 - 13 years, (two boys and a girl). They are full of personality and love to have fun! Our visitor will be interacting with the children a great deal, and we encourage any learning opportunity for all involved.
With Christian values and a quiet family life, and take great pride in all that we have. We are always working on improvments to our property operations for ease and safety, being the utmost importance.
We are located centrally between several small towns including Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, and Red Deer, but also major cities like Edmonton and Calgary.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
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 include our visitors in daily tasks, meals as well as events and celebrations. We share tasks and offer vast learning experiences on our farm, and with our children.
Our children homeschool and are very eager to learn different languages and share another persons culture as well. We offer ample opportunity to gain experience with children, and share in their views, as this is one of the main tasks.
Our horses range in age and stages of training. Most are used for riding and driving, with a relaxed atmosphere, but emphasis on safety. If interest is shown, we can accommodate riding opportunities as time and weather permit. We would like to show you our efforts towards sustainability including gardening, raising animals and producing our own feed. From pasture and riperian management, to general horse and cattle care, including calving and foaling. We would enjoy sharing our experiences, and learning cultures from abroad. We welcome enthusiasm, determination and curiosity and can offer a true cultural experience of the Canandian prairies. From rodeos and horse back riding, gardening and farming to local sights and sounds.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking for a workawayer to come and stay with us, become part of our family, and help with the care for our home & children, and assist with farm duties. When allowable we can accommodate preferences in a particular area. An interest and experience with multiple children is required. Farm duties may include building fence, painting, cleaning stalls, yard maintenance, washing etc... Given our comfort level it could progress to operating of machinery and horse training aids. We are looking for a hard working, fun personality, with determination. Duties would range in hours and times as our schedule changes frequently, but is generally flexible. Any wanted time off, travelling or site seeing can surely be accomodated, and accessed. We are in search of someone wanting a true Canandian farm and family experience, and not an employee/employer type of situation. If you are in search of cheap travel accommodations for minimal effort, this will not suit well. We are busy and active and want someone to be along with us for the authentic opportunity to live our lifestyle. Someone who can step up and offer a hand when the need should arise and not only when asked. Follow schedules and house rules, for consideration and safety.
Our three children are very active and involved in our activities, as would any workaway visitor be welcomed to join. Hockey games, day trips, rodeos, etc... we wish to invite you along. We offer to include our visitors, hoping they feel like part of the family. We would like to find someone that can come join us for an extended period of time if possible to help the kids feel comfortable. A NON-smoker, and someone accepting of the idea that we raise and eat our own eggs, milk, beef and pork on the farm. We have tried before and we are not willing to accommodate vegan/vegetarian choice of lifestyle. Also, our home is free of animals as my husband is allergic, should that be of concern. We like our visitors to feel welcome and comfortable, sharing in our lives completely should they choose. We want an outgoing personality, willing to engage, and involve themselves in our activities. We encourage any visitor to ask questions, and lend a hand when needed. Someone who can work well alone, without guidance and supervision, willing to look for tasks, and notice when something just needs doing. Willing to work as a team or group to get a larger task accomplished. An open mind and open to sharing cultures. We like the opportunity to learn about different cultures from our visitors, and encourage sharing.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We are offering a private room within our home for our workawayer, with semi-private quarters for relaxing. Our home is smoke and pet free, with accomodations separate (but located within our home) from that of our family. It is important to know that we live in the country so transportation and access to town is limited to our schedule. If wanted we can assist in finding a vehicle, as we do not have an extra to offer at this time. The nearest center is about 15 minutes away and 1-2 hours to the nearest larger cities. The majority of the food we eat is local or grown on our farm, with the intent to keep it as natural as possible. Our weather can be extreme with the seasons, and we do spend a fair amount of time outdoors, all year round.
What else ...
We want to ensure to find someone comfortable with our laid back country lifestyle. We are looking for someone with previous child care experience, as this will be a main focus of attention. We encourage our visitor to join us in activities on and off of the farm, and hope to include you as a member of our family. We want someone with the following qualities: strong english skills, fun, patient, respectful, determined, compassionate, honest, clean, kind, friendly and trustworthy. We are looking for a relationship more personal and involved.
A good work ethic is a must. Animal experience is not required but appreciated.
To ensure comfort and compatibility we consider the first week to be a trial period for the first week
We are located centrally between Edmonton and Calgary with easy access to the Rocky Mountains. Banff or Jasper National Parks or just ventures out West can offer hiking, skiiing, sight seeing, fishing, rafting etc... or closer to the centers you will find shopping at West Edmonton Mall, Calgary Zoo, Spruce Meadows, Tyrell Museum, etc...
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Space for RV is not limited and power/water hook up can be accommodated.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 5 hours /day 5 days / week
Feedback (9)
I spent two months with this wonderful family on their farm, far away from busy cities and… read more
She worked so hard to find proper balance with the kids of boundaries and fun, which has given them a lasting relationship! So cheerful and… read more
Even though her stay was short, I feel like she helped to accomplish so much. She gained an amazing bond with the children, with respect and fun. She had skills to share, including cooking and yard work, which made giving… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.5)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.3)
I spent two months with this wonderful family on their farm, far away from busy cities and… read more
She worked so hard to find proper balance with the kids of boundaries and fun, which has given them a lasting relationship! So cheerful and… read more
Even though her stay was short, I feel like she helped to accomplish so much. She gained an amazing bond with the children, with respect and fun. She had skills to share, including cooking and yard work, which made giving… read more
My aim of my stay here in Canada was to dive into the Canadian culture and being part of it. This was more than possible here at Jeff and Andrea’s place. I enjoyed my stay so much because I felt like I was part of the family.… read more
