Help transform an old farm yard and start sustainable agriculture projects in rural Saskatchewan, Canada

Details

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  Description

  We are a couple in our mid 30s and we live on a 22.5 acre farmyard/acreage that has existed since 1903. We moved here 3 1/2 years ago and have been working hard to clean it up, establish some livestock, and grown some food.
  
  We have been 'WorkAwayers' ourselves (in Iceland) and really valued the experience of being hosted in local homes. We are still in contact with our host family and are grateful for everything that we learned. We would like to provide the opportunity for people coming to rural Canada; the types who are looking for authentic cultural experiences, are not afraid to get dirty, and desirous of learning new skills or applying skills already had. Furthermore, we are travellers ourselves and both of us have spent 8-12 years wandering the world before 'settling down'. We have most recently lived in Jordan and highly appreciate Arabic culture and language. We love to learn about other places and experience new stories and food. If you like to cook, this is the place for you!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  House sitting
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  Interests

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Culture

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Books

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  History

  

  Music

  

  Plant care

  

  Animals

  

  Hiking

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Winter sports

  

  Nature

  

  Camping
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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 live in a very rural area of Canada and this in itself is a cultural experience to have! Life works very differently here compared to the big city and there are endless cultural experiences to have, depending on the time of year.
  
  If you come in the winter, you can experience the ways that we have adapted to the very cold, harsh winters, as well as the beauty of the sun shining on the snow, the absolute silence, and the community that comes with the long winter.
  
  In the warmer times of the year, you can see how farming works and watch the crops develop and then be harvested. There is also endless camping, hiking, swimming, and exploration to be done in the areas around. We would be happy to introduce you to the local cuisine and ways of doing life.

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  Help

  We are looking for people who are not afraid to get their hands dirty! Jobs will depend on the time of year, as most projects on our farm can only be done in certain seasons.
  
  We have a barn and several outbuildings that need to have the junk removed and hauled away.
  
  In the spring (May and early June), the garden needs to be prepped for planting (we do the no-till method), summer (July and August) will be weeding and tending the garden, and the fall (September and early October) will be harvesting and preserving. All of these steps could use extra hands! If you have any knowledge in any of these areas, we are always open to learn more.
  
  We would also like to put a fence up around our property, build pens for pigs, horses, and ducks/chickens/geese, and other projects.
  
  Most of the jobs that need to be done only require a willingness to work and no additional skills. However, skills/knowledge that would be highly valuable are:
  - Carpentry
  - Fencing
  - Food preservation
  - Sustainable agriculture know-how

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Arabic: Intermediate
  German: Beginner
  Spanish: Beginner
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  We both speak the Leventine dialect of Arabic and would love to have more opportunities to speak it and learn more. Kurtis has dabbled in French, Spanish, and German and would enjoy learning more. Some English ability is ideal, but we are very patient people and willing to be a safe place for you to learn more.
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  Accommodation

  We have an extra room in our basement that is fully furnished and has a private bathroom. There is also a sitting area that you are welcome to use.
  
  For food, you are welcome to join us for our meals. If you stay longer than a few days, then it would be great if you could take on a few meals a week to share with us (we also love trying food from other places!) Breakfast and lunch will be very much 'fend for yourself' and supper/dinner is usually one that we eat together. You can join our rhythm as you wish. We try to grow food and eat as locally as much as possible, as well as eat within the season.

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  What else ...

  You will need to be creative about what to do in your time off. There is no public transit in our area and we live 8km from the nearest small village and 15km from the nearest town. We may be able to lend you a vehicle for going into town/you can join us when we go; however, if you are looking for a high level of social engagement or a fast pace of life - this is not the place for you. We have also found that couples do better than singles in this setting, as it can be quite isolating. Introverts, those who want to slow down and experience some peace and quiet, meditative/mindful-types, etc. would find our place a special haven. This would also be an ideal setting if you have other projects that you are working on that need a quiet setting to do, such as writing, reflection, etc.
  
  You will also need to be fairly self-sufficient and able to be given a task and then figure out the system on your own. Although we may be working alongside you, there will be times where we will both be working during the day. We are also the quiet-types and appreciate people who like to read and who don't need us to entertain them. Although we ARE very friendly and want to get to know you - we still have our life going on and the responsibilities that come with that.
  
  There is amazing hiking, camping, outdoor exploring about 2 hours north of us, which may be of interest. We may be going on a trip while you are here, which you are welcome to join us on if you like. Saskatoon is the closest city and it is 90 minutes away.

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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

  We have a good wifi connection and can set you up with a desk and privacy in our basement. I also work online, so - depending on what you need - we may need to work around ensuring good internet connection for both of us by working at different times.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This would be an ideal set-up, especially as we live away from public transit! You could plug into our house and use our bathroom/shower and other parts of the house as you like.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Yes, although it depends on the type and their personalities. We plan on having chickens and other birds and some dogs are very motivated to kill them. We also have two of our own dogs who are friendly, but your dog would need to also be friendly with them. If you have an animal, you are responsible for keeping them in check and doing what needs to be done to ensure that they don't disrupt the animals. Also, we have a policy of no animals in the house, so they would need to be able to stay outside.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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