Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Mar 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
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Details
Description
We are located in the beautiful west country just 10km east of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta-- an hour from the stunning Rocky Mountains. Our family consists of myself and my husband Mike as well as our two kids aged 16 and 13. We run Mountain View Ranches-- a mixed farm consisting of cattle and Heritage Breed poultry which we raise and show. We also have two dogs and two cats. My husband and I both work full time, so we are looking for daily help with chores feeding and watering chickens and ducks-- as well as some house hold duties. We raise exhibition quality poultry and much time in the spring is spent caring for chicks and juveniles. For the winter months their care consists of basically keeping them fed, watered and warm enough to be comfortable and to stay in shape for our winter shows.
In addition to working with the livestock I find that I am always looking for help with maintaining the yard, keeping the lawn mowed (or snow shoveled as the case may be) and things picked up.
Our family is busy and spends much time running with activities for the kids, and my husband and I also run a comedy theatre group here that takes up much of our time in the winter. We can offer comfortable private accommodation (private bedroom, queen bed) in our home and any helpers would be treated as family. We are looking for someone who is honest and trustworthy with a good sense of humour and a strong work ethic. I would not expect daily duties to take more than 2-3 hours maximum. We have hosted about 12 Work Awayers so far and have had great experiences for the most part.
We are centrally located between Edmonton and Calgary and also frequently travel to the city for museums, zoos, theatre and other attractions.
English is spoken in the home, and meal times are not set in stone. We have a fairly loosely set schedule and family our is pretty laid back and not religious although we don't mind if a guest is so inclined.
As far as Canadian cultural opportunities--they largely depend on the season. We have tried to show our guests around the area, we have seen the Royal Tyrell Museum (Paleontology-dinosaurs), we have shared Canada Day celebrations, rodeos, country fairs, sledding, bonfires, fireworks, horse drawn sleigh rides, Christmas light tours, and trips to the mountains to see the wild horses. We try to fit in activities that we hope our guests will enjoy and find interesting-- or that may be a new experience for them.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Teaching
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Animal husbandry and pastured/free range poultry is a large part of our lives and much experience in these areas would be gained. We also run a theatre company so anyone interested in live theatre would gain some experience in that area as well. I do stained glass from home when time permits and would be willing to share some of my knowledge in that area. We are fortunate to be centrally located between two major centres, Edmonton and Calgary and are also close to the beautiful west country and the stunning Rocky Mountains and all that they offer.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
It is the daily livestock care and meal preparation that I value the most. Experience with poultry and farm livestock, tractors and farm equipment would be an asset. Someone who enjoys cooking or has simple carpentry experience would be most welcome!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We can offer a private bedroom with a queen bed. We certainly don't mind a vegetarian guest and would do our best to accommodate their food choices-- however we are meat eaters ourselves.
What else ...
We are less than an hour from Red Deer for shopping or other urban activities and two hours from Calgary and Edmonton. We make occasional trips for museums, zoos, theatre and other family activities through out the summer and on weekends. There is opportunity for camping and/or trail riding in the mountains. There are a few lakes close by, historic sites and many local activities such as farmer's markets, rodeos, country fairs and great day hiking trips. We would be willing to drive to and from most of these events, however an international driver's license would be an asset.
Any guest staying with us would be treated as family and would be expected to help out with whatever chaotic situation we find ourselves in -- so flexibility and a positive outlook would be beneficial. We look forward to meeting someone from another country and learning from their experiences, language and culture as well. We have had around 12 Work Awayers in past years and have had great experiences with them.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
Maximum 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (9)
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
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PS: Ruby is awesome to :)
It didn't take me long to feel like an actual member of their family, so I also got invested in their life really quickly. They showed me all the cultural beauties in the area and took their "responsibility" towards workaway to contribute to an actual cultural exchange… read more
