Large yard welcomes help near Victoria BC, Canada

Details

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  Description

  **Not currently able to accept Workaways. Best of luck on your travels!**
  
  We were Workaway hosts in 2014–2016 and had a fabulous time hosting around 50 people from all over the world--we're still in touch with many of them to this day! The past few years saw the original farmer (Nikki) fall in love and move to Alberta, so we closed the farm and stopped accepting Workaway until 2020, when we started hosting again and managed to have 10 or so people stay with us before COVID.
  
  Now that things are starting to open up again a little bit, we're excited to be able to host again starting this summer. We are on 1.6 acres about 35 minutes by bus from downtown Victoria, and walking distance to a lake, ocean, and more. Since Nikki fell in love and moved, nature has done its best to reclaim the land, and we're looking for help tackling the blackberries and other weeds once and for all. There are also some small outbuildings which need to be taken apart, and a few small construction projects as well.
  
  Our household is made up of a graphic designer (Dani (36)--writing this description) and her husband Toryn (41), a machinist, though sometimes we have other family members staying here when they come back to Canada for a visit and there may also be other Workaways here though we won't ask you to share a room with someone you don't know!
  
  Generally, we are looking for two people travelling together who willing to share a space (not necessarily a bed). If you are semi self contained in terms of sleeping (ie travelling in a van you want to stay in), then we would be able to host 2 additional people--in the past we've enjoyed having different group connect + some long term friendships have been formed.
  
  Dani has done Workaway in Iceland and Latvia and loved it, so we have some idea of this program from the participant side and are really excited to be hosts.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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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

  Between us/others in our family we've lived in several countries (the US, UK, Australia, Japan, all over the Caribbean on a boat) and travelled to somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50. We love chatting about life in Canada and learning about life in other countries and have always enjoyed that aspect of Workaway! We are happy to share information about life and culture in Canada, help you explore the area, and give you ideas and support in doing so!

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  Help

  We are looking for general yard cleanup and deconstruction. This is a great place to have fun with a sledge hammer! We need help clearing blackberry bushes, gardening, etc--basically turning our property back into a yard from the farm cum jungle it's become since Nikki left! We expect it to be hard work but also satisfying--a lot can be accomplished in a short amount of time.
  
  The general schedule is volunteering Monday-Friday for 4-5 hours per day, where Monday to Thursday you would be working largely on your own or with other Workaways, so if you are travelling alone and prefer not to work alone, that's totally understandable but doesn't work here, unfortunately. On Friday, Toryn usually does some sort of bigger project and then on one weekend day we go for an adventure (for example a hike, boat trip, day trip to another island, etc) and the other weekend day is a day off for you to do what you want.
  
  You can work whenever fits your schedule Monday-Thursday and do what you wish the other hours, I can usually drive you places and sometimes join you for shorter outings depending on my work schedule, but if you are independent to take the bus or go for walks that's great too.
  
  We are close to Victoria, BC (on a bus route) and also close to walking trails and a lovely big park (Elk and Beaver Lake Park) as well as two fairly large shopping plazas and major transportation (airport and ferries). We are about 1/2 an hour away from downtown Victoria, which is an extremely cute city with lots to do and see. We are about 4 hours from skiing (or 6 from Whistler) and two from Vancouver or 3-5 from Seattle, so short trips or next stops are quite convenient.
  
  We enjoy walking and hiking locally and are happy to take you with us. A car might be available for use provided you have a valid license and some driving experience. We are also building a boat but later this summer may be able to go out for short trips depending on how that construction project is going. Regardless we have a dinghy and some paddle boards and time/weather allowing may be able to go on those.
  
  We have two dogs in the house, though they don't shed (much).
  
  We expect 4-5 hours per day of work per person five days a week. We provide one home cooked meal per day and access to a kitchen and fridge so you can also prepare snacks and other meals each day--ingredients provided unless you want something specific. While we can cater to a vegetarian diet, we are not vegetarians and may have meat on the side or at breakfast/lunch, so if being around meat is uncomfortable for you, we might not be a great fit. Vegan and gluten-free travellers may find it harder to find meals to suit.
  
  NB: Some of the photos on our site are from back during the farm days. We don't have the animals shown anymore, but wanted to give an idea of the type of farm we used to have.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Beginner
  Japanese: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  We have a spare bedroom with a queen size room for one or a couple (ideally) to share. There are other spaces to sleep though they aren't typical bedrooms (a former art studio, for example). If the bedroom is full during the time you want to come we'll always let you know exactly what the options are before you commit to anything! If you're two friends who want to share a room but not a bed we can put an extra single mattress in the guest room.
  
  This is a no smoking, no drug use household. Though we do occasionally enjoy a glass of wine or beer with dinner, we are not party animals!

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  What else ...

  There is lots to see and do on Vancouver Island. We will do our best to let you know what local sights you might enjoy.

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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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  Can host digital nomads

  I've been location independent since 2007, so I totally get the need for good wifi, lots of coffee, and some time and space to work. I'd love a co working companion! I also like to leave the house to work, in coffee shops or--these days--outdoor patios, and would be happy to bring someone along with me on those expeditions.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have plenty of room and can run an extension cord to you.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  4-5 hours per day, five days per week - specific days off vary

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