Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
6 Jun 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 6 days
Feedback
17
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Details
Description
We are now looking for long term community members and also short term volunteer help around our farm!
We are Monika and Fred - in our 60ies - and are running a small organic farm in the wilderness of the West Chilcotin mountains. Come experience off-grid living with us in a small isolated green valley on the borders of the large Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, about one and a half hours away from the next village.
Over the years we have developed 2 acres for vegetable production and have built a greenhouse into the mountain side. Two dogs, a cat, a small flock of chickens and two milk cows with their offspring are enjoying life with us. With help from volunteers we have built two log cabins, a sauna, a log barn, a cabin with a pool table and dart board, and a clay oven for baking bread the traditional way. We also have a few equipment sheds and a black-smith shop with a forge, anvil, bellows and basic blacksmithing tools.
Our way of life is mostly self-sustainable and with a small eco-footprint. We like to share our life in the wilderness with people who are interested in an experience of living in and with nature and produce one's own food and at the same time enjoy some of nowadays comforts.
We are looking to expand our community with likeminded people to diversify, share the work and live in cooperation. The opportunities for work experiences and wilderness adventure are endless.
We live on 90 acres of mixed forest and meadows which provide many opportunities for shared business ventures and long term participation. If you are interested in a long term stay please mention so in your message.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Nature
Dancing
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Politics / Social justice
Sustainability
Culture
Self development
Farming
Music
History
DIY & crafts
Gardening
Writing
Drawing & painting
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Volunteers can learn how to produce ones own food, like vegetables, fruits, potatos, dairy products, meat, eggs and so on. They can also learn awareness of using energy - as little and efficient as possible, because we live off the grid. Building with logs, from cutting down trees to joinery to roof construction can be learned as well.
We like to share our way of living including all sorts of activities like hiking on historic trails, attending the lokal rodeo or music festival and get togethers with our neighbours.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Spring, summer and fall projects include general farm work, haying, maintaining log fences and log cabins and other outbuildings (incl. cutting down trees and milling them on our Alaska saw mill), cutting fire wood, and exploring and maintaining trails.
We grow all of our vegetables, fruits and herbs ourselves. Therefore most of the farm work will involve manual weeding, planting, transplanting and harvesting of crops as well as processing and preserving food (like canning, drying, freezing, fermenting). We milk our cows and make cheese, quark and yoghurt and would be happy to teach these practices while looking for help caring for our animals.
We share this small valley with two more homesteads, located about 3km to the east . One of them is a small ranch with a cow/calf operation. Since we have a strong culture of working together where needed, we often help each other out. We cooperate where we can and there will be the possibility of experiencing ranch work, like driving cattle to the summer range, haying, repair and maintenance of ranch equipment, building range fences etc.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a modest log house with three small bedrooms and a studio. The bathroom has a shower and composting toilet. We have running hot and cold water. We are off the grid, the house is powered by solar panels. There is a sattelite internet connection. There are also cabins available to accommodate guests/volunteers on a more basic level.
What else ...
There is lots of opportunity for hiking and wildlife viewing. The nature surrounding our valley is expansive. We have many small beautifull lakes in the area as well as vibrant mixed forest and volcanic mountain ranges. There are many easy dayhikes up into the alpine leading to stunning views. Black bears and grizzlys for example can be seen quite often, especially in late spring/early summer, and also a great variety of birds.
In spite of our isolated location we enjoy quite some social life especially during summer and fall. There is usually get-togethers almost weekly. Sports like badminton, volleyball, pool billard, darts and various board games can also provide entertainment.
Sorry, no coffee shops, pubs or other city entertainment out here in the wilderness ;)
Concerning the pandemic: We have both been vaccinated and boostered.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a reliable satelite internet connection
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
This host has said they are willing to accept those travelling with a pet.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Feedback (15)
The work is also great and varied. I weeded, built stuff with Fred, cut wood, took care of the greenhouse with Monika, cut the hay and did so many other things. I… read more
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Communication:
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The work is also great and varied. I weeded, built stuff with Fred, cut wood, took care of the greenhouse with Monika, cut the hay and did so many other things. I… read more
It is just an amazing place where I felt so good during these 3 weeks : fishing and hiking !
I'd… read more
Thanks a lot.
Silke and Chris
monika and fred are very nice persons with lots of knowledge. both were fantastic host. we did a nice hike together and watched a fantastic lunar eclipse. furthermore we spoted a grizzley family together. the whole 3 weeks i had different jobs to do which i really enjoyed. in my free time i could go fishing, hiking or… read more
To everyone that is in search for a wilderness… read more
Fred and Monika are nice people and it was a pleasure to laugh and work with them. They were patient and helpful :-) I was very lucky to be… read more
Thank you Hugo!
This malet is extremly remote. To get there, you have to drive a trail during about one hour. After that, you will discover an improbable beautiful valley lost in the middle of nowhere.
We had lot of fun here,… read more
