Stay with our Swiss German family and learn about rural life in Horsefly, Canada

Details

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  Description

  Hey Workawayers! We are Franz and Silvia of the Ranch, a rural 460 acre ranch in beautiful central British Columbia. A Swiss German family who immigrated to Canada over 30 years ago to follow our dreams. We settled in a small town called Horsefly and haven't looked back. Franz raised a farmer and a butcher by trade made owning a ranch an easy decision. We take pride in raising cattle in a natural environment for beef with direct to consumer sales. We have our own swiss style cut and wrap butcher shop on our land, crafting swiss style sausages, cutting and wrapping domestic animals as well as hunters game. Silvia, with a love for cooking, started hosting ranch weddings and catering it herself. We love to make a memorable day for the couple getting married.
  
  Our location is one hour east of Williams Lake, close to the Cariboo Mountains in the village of Horsefly. We have a large extended family in the area and there is always a lot of fun happening to join in on. Come ride quads, dirt bikes, swim in the beautiful lake 5 minutes away, dip in the river at our property, hike the local mountains, or explore the local waterfalls.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Farming

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Gardening

  

  Carpentry

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Team sports

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Beach

  

  Dancing

  

  Mountain

  

  Winter sports

  

  Water sports

  

  Hiking

  

  Adventure sports
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We are fluent in English, Swiss German/German as well as some French. Three of our four children also live in Horsefly with their families and speak Swiss German together often, but we can also help anyone with their English. With our large extended family here there is always something going on that one can join in on and have fun. We can learn about each others culture/language and teach you about rural life in Canada. We love meeting new people and learning about their family/lifestyle/culture.

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  Projects involving children

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

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  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

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  Help

  EUROPEAN TRAINED BUTCHER? We have an opportunity for you to help us out in our butcher shop during our busy season from September-December. Timeline can vary and be discussed. You will be working with our son and another butcher from the UK. This is a fun loving, easy going environment in the butcher shop right on the ranch. This is a paid position of $20-25/hour with room and board and a rural ranch experience. August can be discussed if you would like to experience some summer here, but hours are more limited (bbqing at weddings and some butcher shop work).
  
  PEOPLE PERSON/CAN COOK? Come help during summer weddings in end of July/all of August. We have one each weekend. Tasks can be prepping food and desserts with Silvia, setting/decorating the venue, clearing plates after the meals, and clean up post event. Addition helpers include our children and their families. From setting up, bbqing, and baretending. They love being a part of the events and we all have fun together. Hours worked towards weddings is a paid position minimum wage with room and board as well as a rural ranch experience.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  We are originally from Switzerland immigrating to Canada in the 1990s. We are fluent in English, Swiss German, German, and some French.
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  Accommodation

  Have your own room in the house or in a seasonal cabin. Washing machines available in the house.

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  What else ...

  Horsefly is a remote community in the center of British Columbia. It is a perfect place to explore for any outdoor enthusiast. Surrounded by rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and mountains. Hike the local mountains, swim/fish in the lakes and river. Our town has a local cafe, small convenience store, a gas station, and a small library, and a weekly small farmers market. We get most of our supplies from Williams Lake, which is about 50 minutes (70kms) from our home which also has the closest airport. Horsefly has no cell phone service or no public transit, but access to a vehicle can be discussed.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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