Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
9 Apr 2024
Reply rate
96.2 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
18
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Our farm is about 75 km North East of Williams Lake (we pick up helpers at the bus station in Williams Lake). The property is currently being developed with the long term goal of becoming close to self sufficient within the valley, and we also would like to sell some surplus produce. We have a large veggie garden, fruit trees and berries, horses, ducks chickens, goats, alpacas, and a llama. The property is on a lake, in a beautiful semi-wilderness valley with 4 lakes, which supports an abundance of wildlife. Canoes, kayaks, and SUPs are available for helpers to explore the lakes. We are also close to the Cariboo Mountains.
The farm partners include an environmental consultant and a teacher/ grief counselor; and their son, a sustainable building consultant) and his partner, a forester. The son & his partner are not living on the farm at this time.
There are two cabins on the property, both are off grid, one is a traditional log cabin, the other cabin ("the Earth Cabin") is an earthship inspired cabin with solar power, uses passive solar design, and is made with rammed earth tires. It has an adobe floor and clay plastered walls. Internet is available, but there is no mobile phone service in Beaver Valley. Our log cabin is truly a cabin, with no electricity. We occasionally cook outside over the campfire so we can better enjoy the natural surroundings.
In addition to the cabins, our timber frame home has recently been completed and is incredibly well insulated and energy efficient.
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 enjoy getting to know our helpers and trying to match projects with what they would like to learn.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We have many building projects on the go including working on farm buildings for small livestock. There is also work to do in the orchard and garden as well as wild food collection. Other ongoing projects include fencing, firewood collection, composting, and further development of the orchard to be a more productive permaculture system. We try to match the interests of our helpers with projects they will enjoy.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Our helpers typically stay in tents (with a bed) as our cabins are both very small. All of our guests have enjoyed sleeping out in the tents. However, there may be times when one of the cabins is available, especially when it is colder. There are shower and laundry facilities available.
What else ...
The property is on a lake, in a beautiful valley which supports an abundance of wildlife. Our lake is in the middle of a chain of 8 lakes, all of which are accessible by canoe. In your time off you can explore the valley, by hiking, biking, canoeing or kayaking. Other things you can do include swimming, stand up paddle boarding, fishing and windsurfing.
We have had many helpers over the past few years. We enjoy meeting new people and sharing our vision in this beautiful setting. We are happy to share our experience and our knowledge of off-grid renewable energy systems, natural earth building, as well as gardening, orcharding, and wild foods. The meals we provide are both vegetarian and non vegetarian. The ideal helpers would be self-motivated and have a keen interest in organics / sustainable & rural living and open to learning.
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
5 hours a day
Feedback (16)
I felt so warm welcome, learned a lot and enjoyed every day a lot.
Work was straightforward and varied, sometimes super funny with farm creatures help. There is a time for biking, canoeing and hiking trips.
It was a… read more
Every day was filled with hands on education in many forms, from gardening, harvesting, minor carpentry tasks, working with the animals etc.
Our hosts were a wealth of knowledge about the surrounding environment, flora, fauna and all things nature. We… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
I felt so warm welcome, learned a lot and enjoyed every day a lot.
Work was straightforward and varied, sometimes super funny with farm creatures help. There is a time for biking, canoeing and hiking trips.
It was a… read more
Every day was filled with hands on education in many forms, from gardening, harvesting, minor carpentry tasks, working with the animals etc.
Our hosts were a wealth of knowledge about the surrounding environment, flora, fauna and all things nature. We… read more
The work was incredibly varied and involved: taking care of the animals, weeding and hilling potatoes, moving gravel adding… read more
I have never met before such a charm couple, Norm and Candace. They truly love their land, house, animals and the world surrounding. I cannot talk about them as a hosts but as a family.
What an amazing homemade meals and desserts, gather all together, listening hilarious histories and… read more
Candance is also a… read more
As our first workaway experience we didnt know what to imagine, but we found much more than we were expecting.
Amazing people, wonderful spot in the nature, great experiences we'll never forget. Everything down there looks and feels like a… read more
They live in a farm 45 minutes out of Williams Lake beside a chain of 4 lakes where I enjoyed my free time swwimming or paddeling with their kayaks, canoes and… read more
I stayed in the log-cabin, a really nice place where i made a fire every night...
Norman and Candace are very generous and funny, candace will… read more
Candace
