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Description
Welcome to our homestead!
We (family of four, with an 8-year-old and a 14-year-old) are currently taking a little bit of a step back from endeavoring to grow, raise and preserve as much of our own food as possible to put in more infrastructure, improve health (mom) and homeschool with more focus. However, we are still doing some of that!
We have a lot going on with building, gardening, home schooling, two active kids, making a living and keeping a household.
Part of our farm family are 2 large outdoor dogs, three cats and 30 or so chickens. In the past we've had ducks, geese, turkeys, pigs and sheep, but they are on vacation!
We live on 5 acres about 6 km outside of Duncan, on Southern Vancouver Island in the beautiful Cowichan Valley... There are so many places to swim in the ocean, lakes and rivers, bike and hiking trails, spots to picnic and enjoy.
Besides spending time developing our land and buildings, Ezra provides residential tree service and excavating. He grew up on a ranch "off the grid" and has many skills to share.
Hanna is a veterinarian but staying at home on the farm with our son and daughter. Skills she can share are cooking, baking, food-preserving We love meeting new people, learning about new ways of looking at the world and new ways of doing things.
We look forward to hearing from you. We don't bite!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Interests
Events & social
Sustainability
Pets
Self development
Farming
Plant care
Music
DIY & crafts
Books
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Writing
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Animals
Nature
Fitness
Beach
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, where we live, is a popular tourist destination. There are many rivers, parks, trails, beaches, lakes and the ocean... hiking, biking, boating, fishing, camping opportunities are plentiful. Our most frequented swimming hole on the Cowichan River is only 5 minutes away and there are trails that can be accessed without a car ride right across the road from our home.
Ezra is always building something, usually with wood, and happy to share his skills and stories of growing up off the grid...
Hanna is happy to share many more traditional cooking, baking and food-preserving skills, also a little about growing and processing medicinal plants, making salves or tinctures... Knitting, crocheting... Many of our previous helpers have made their first touques here... or at least pot holders :)
- Join us for a while!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are especially looking for support in the household, as homeschooling takes a lot of time and energy. This involves tidying, cleaning, food preparation and laundry, keeping the fire going in the colder months, also tasks such as taking out the compost, tending to the chickens and dogs, as well as possibly some gardening/plant care, depending on the time of year.
You have to be able to work physically and on your own, be good with children, comfortable with dogs and take initiative. We expect you to care about our home, our family and farm while you are here and to put effort and care into your activities.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Accommodation is in our guest bedroom with a queen-sized bed or, beginning in the fall, in a separate small building close to the main house.
We eat wholesome, home-prepared meals, with many ingredients sourced from our own and nearby farms. It is easy for us to accommodate gluten-free diets, although strict and very sensitive Celiacs are difficult, as we do bake sourdough bread with gluten-containing grains, so the kitchen does come in contact with gluten. Rarely a day goes by that we do not eat meat, so if you are vegetarian, please be aware that we will try to find alternatives for you, but cannot turn our way of eating upside down.
What else ...
We live on a public bus route and have bicycles you can use. There are bike and hiking trails, lakes, rivers and the ocean for swimming...
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
There is lots of space for almost anything and we can hook up water and power.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Our dogs and cats are outside... So are the chickens! (12 years)
Our dogs and cats are outside... So are the chickens!
Photos
