Help with animals, garden and home in Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Details

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  Description

  Hello, I’m Levente, a psychology professor who is happiest outdoors, caring for animals and making or repairing things. I live on four forested acres in Langley, in the Fraser Valley east of Vancouver. The property is peaceful and green, with tall trees, garden areas, animal enclosures and a steady succession of practical projects.
  This is a real rural home rather than a polished tourist farm. Life here also includes rain, mud, feathers, animal sounds and work that sometimes requires patience or physical effort.
  Animals are central to the place. They include pigeons, chickens, pheasants and other birds, along with my friendly dog, Forrest. I am gradually developing the property as a small home-based animal refuge and practical homestead. My young son is here part of the time, and family or friends occasionally visit. Childcare is not part of the exchange.
  Depending on the season and your abilities, you might help with animal routines, improve coops and enclosures, maintain garden areas, organize feed and tools, do light carpentry or repairs, cook and preserve food, or take ownership of a self-contained project. Current plans include expanding poultry housing and developing a freeze-drying and food-preservation setup.
  The usual exchange is about four to five hours of help a day, five days a week, with flexibility in how the hours are arranged. We agree on priorities together, and I try to match projects to each person’s interests and abilities rather than assigning a rigid list of chores. New helpers are shown the animal routines before working independently. Because essential animal care continues every day, we agree in advance on how coverage and days off will work. I prefer longer stays.
  I grew up as a Hungarian in Transylvania, have made my home in Canada, and have also lived and worked in Fiji. I enjoy shared meals and conversations about culture, psychology, science, nature and practical life, while also respecting people’s need for quiet and independence.
  This is best suited to someone genuinely interested in animals and hands-on living—not simply inexpensive access to Vancouver. Kindness, honesty, observation, tidiness and reliability matter more than expert skills. You should be comfortable getting dirty, asking questions when unsure, and working independently once a task is clear.
  When contacting me, please mention what interests you about the property, your preferred dates and length of stay, any experience with animals or practical projects, and one kind of project you would enjoy taking responsibility for.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house
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  Interests

  

  Technology

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Events & social

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Culture

  

  Farming

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Gardening

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  History

  

  Books

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Architecture

  

  Astronomy

  

  Animals

  

  Hiking

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Camping

  

  Mountain

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Winter sports

  

  Nature
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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

  Accommodation, meals, Internet are covered. There also opportunity to pursue your own interests or projects on the property.

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  Help

  Most stays combine regular animal care with one larger seasonal project. Animal routines may include feeding, providing fresh water, cleaning enclosures and observing the birds for signs of illness or injury.
  Other projects may include garden maintenance, clearing invasive blackberries, improving coops or fences, building shelves and storage, organizing feed and tools, food preparation and preservation, furniture projects, and light household upkeep.'
  
  Some activities involve lifting, mud, hand tools or power tools. No one is expected to use equipment they cannot operate safely. Please be candid about your experience and physical limitations.
  The normal arrangement is approximately four to five hours a day, five days a week. Hours are generally flexible, but animal routines must happen at appropriate times. We agree on a weekly plan so that expectations and days off remain clear.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Hungarian: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Guests have a private room with a bed, desk, closet and Wi-Fi. The kitchen and common areas are shared.
  Food is provided as part of the exchange. Guests participate in some meal preparation and normal kitchen clean-up, and there will be both shared meals and opportunities to prepare food independently. We discuss allergies, dietary needs and meal expectations before confirming a stay.
  This is a lived-in family home on a rural property rather than hotel or hostel accommodation. Guests should be comfortable with animals, ordinary household activity and occasional visitors.

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  What else ...

  Langley and the surrounding Fraser Valley offer regional parks, trails, farms, small communities and access to day trips in Vancouver, the mountains and the coast.
  The property is 15 minutes from the nearest useful bus stop. Central Vancouver is approximately 1-hour by car and 2-hours by public transit. A vehicle is highly recommended. I can offer pickup from Langley Willowbrook time-to-time, when arranged in advance.
  Please consider transportation costs and your plans for days off before confirming a stay. I will make sure you understand the location and available options before arrival.

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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

  Wi-Fi is available throughout the house, and the private guest room has a desk. There are also several quiet places where guests can work outside helping hours. Anyone whose remote work depends on uninterrupted video calls, large uploads or unusually high bandwidth should confirm the connection with me before booking.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  There is space to park a camper.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Outdoor dogs only.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  Several

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