Join a beautiful non-profit farm perched on Gunflint Lake, Canada

Details

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  Description

  Come spend the winter at the Farm, a 314-acre community land trust, non-profit farm and educational centre on Cortes Island, British Columbia.
  
  We host Workawayers because we enjoy sharing this place, our knowledge, rural island life and the everyday rhythm of caring for land, animals and community. We are looking for one person or a couple who would enjoy becoming part of that experience.
  
  The exchange is approximately **3 hours a day, 5 days a week, in return for accommodation**.
  
  We share the tasks. Depending on the season and your interests, you might join us with:
  
  * Caring for cows, sheep and goats
  * Feeding animals and checking fences
  * Garden, orchard and winter farm help
  * Firewood, snow clearing
  * Winterizing and preparing farm spaces for spring
  
  We'll show you how things are done and work alongside you, with opportunities to learn and take on tasks independently as you become comfortable. Farm life can be physical, muddy, wet and cold, but there is no shortage of good work, good company and things to learn.
  
  What you'll learn
  
  Depending on your interests, you can learn about organic farming, livestock, food systems, seed saving, gardens and orchards, land stewardship, rural living and winter farm care.
  
  You don't need extensive farm experience. Curiosity, willingness to learn and respect for the land, animals and community matter most.
  
  This is much more than a farm. We care for farmland, forest, wetlands, gardens, livestock, trails and community buildings, with agriculture, education and ecological stewardship at the heart of what we do.
  
  When schedules allow, we'll share meals and conversations. We also hope to learn from **you**: your culture, experiences, skills, ideas and ways of seeing the world. That's what makes the exchange worthwhile.
  
  Cortes is rural and remote, and winter can be wet, cold and snowy. You should enjoy being outdoors and be comfortable participating in practical farm life.
  
  If you're looking for a winter of learning, rural island life, animals, gardens, community and a pretty extraordinary place, we'd love to hear from you.
  
  **Winter placement:** November 1 – February 28
  **Exchange:** approximately 3 hours/day, 5 days/week for accommodation and food from the farm that you'll be cooking!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Farming

  

  Culture

  

  Charity work

  

  Gardening

  

  Animals
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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 pride ourselves on providing hands-on access to education and training, supplemented by an extensive library, art, dance and music studios, lake and trails. Your home, while you stay with us, is a beautiful place, located at the front of the farm. The farm is a hub on Cortes Island, being home to the Vancouver Island regional library, and access to the Easter Bluff and K'was Park trail networks.
  We also host a variety of workshops, with participants from all over the country!

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  Registered charity

  This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).

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  Help

  Livestock care help, seed saving and winter farm projects

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  independent dwelling, private shower, wifi, shared laundry

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  What else ...

  Cortes Island is rich in hiking trails, ocean walks, lakes to swim in. We are 2 ferries away from Campbell River (which is the closest city). The island is spread out and while you can walk or bike, sometimes a car is the best option for transportation.

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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

  You may be used to high speed in urban environments, here on the outer islands, we call it high speedish as it can be intermitent and interupted.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Vera, Zinnia and Francis - the Linnaea herd

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