Come learn with us at our homestead and ecological farm in beautiful rural Ontario

  • Favourited 130 times
  • Last activity: 10 Jan 2023

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    NOTE: Presently we are looking for people to come for longer stays (1+ month) and help out with gardening and farm work - hoping for longer stays but open to shorter (2-3 weeks), singles and couples! :)

    Hello!

    We are Janita, Josh, Ursula, and Ida, a growing family in beautiful rural Ontario. We live in a small village on a residential property that is adjacent to Janita's parents farm. We will have many projects going on next spring and summer as we slowly build up our newly founded regenerative farm (Evermeadow) and homestead.

    The People:

    We are open minded and curious people with many interests. We are always striving to live more in harmony with natural ecological processes, and we are interested in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, permaculture, forestry, rotational grazing etc. In 2020 we started an ecologically oriented farm on 15 acres. In 2022 we will be managing close to 80 acres, and we are planning to expand our operations and raise more food each year. We are always thinking about how to build community and to live as much as possible in harmony with the land. Climate change and other ecological crises loom large in our minds, and we are doing the work of preparing to be resilient and adaptive in facing the challenging times ahead.

    Before becoming a full time farmer, Josh wass a PhD student in the field of Cultural Studies. His research interests include the philosophy of ecology, and Mahayana Buddhism. He has worked in many different jobs, including running a tree-service, and working as a gold-prospector in the Yukon Territory. Josh Loves Drum n Bass and Jungle music!

    Janita is a printmaker, studio manager, and artist who works with other printmakers in the area. She is also a singer, and she is involved in the local community group SONG, a choir and charity that helps low-income children get involved with music. She is also chiefly responsible for cooking our wonderful meals, and does the lions share of childcare work.

    Our kids are very active and energetic 3 and 7 year olds. Right now they are learning piano, reading and writing, the days of the week, how stars form, where food comes from, what dying means, how to be kind to our animal-brothers and sisters, gymnastics, and many other things. They loves making up pretend games and roleplaying, and they really love playing outside.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We are very interested to learn from you about your home culture (even if you are from Canada - every region is different, even if only subtlely). This includes language. We speak a little bit of French and a little bit more Spanish. It would be amazing to be able to practice Spanish in exchange for a little bit of tutoring in English as well. Certainly other languages are also of interest to us, we are curious about them all! We are also interested to learn about the different ways people experience the world.

    Things you might learn about staying with us: gardening, animal care, horticulture, basic maintenance of tools, fences, basic carpentry skills, tree work skills , chainsawing etc., cooking, child rearing.

    There is also the exposure to the kind of alternative pathway that we are building, influenced and shaped by broader North American culture but trying to shift away from consumerism and towards ecological and community renewal. We will be consuming very little digital media while you are here, focusing on working with the plants, animals, and the land, and each other.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    We offer have a flexible schedule, likely something like 5 hours of help a day for 5 days, with 2 fully free days a week.

    We have a large no till vegetable garden. We will need to do a lot of work to prep the garden with mulch and ground cover, as well as amending the soil, weeding, edging, planting, harvesting, and preserving the food.

    Sometimes we go into nearby hardwood forests to harvest trees to prepare for the next years' heating needs. We heat our home with a wood stove, and we always have plenty of work to do with cutting, splitting, stacking, and moving firewood. This is always fun, hard work, and we can definitely use some help this year. We need help splitting and stacking the firewood that we cut from the forest last year. We use axes and hydraulic woodsplitter.

    On the commercial side of our farm, we have paid staff. You would be in more of a supportive role around the homestead, but you will also have a chance to engage with the livestock (pigs, chickens, sheep etc.) and learn about our regenerative farming practices.

    We are actively working to reintroduce native tree species around the property and on the neighbouring farmland. One of our major goals is reforestation and expansion of woodlands in our area as well as generally working to improve biodiversity by managing and improving wildlife habitat. There may be work in tree planting, thinning trees, or other woodland related management work.

    There will be a number of building projects ongoing, including some plumbing and electrical. Carpentry skills are not necessary but could be very useful!

    Overall, we need people who are just generally up to help out around the farm and homestead all while having fun and being part of a purposeful group of people working together towards building ecologically restorative ways of life.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Beginner
    French: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    In the home:

    We have a beautiful guest bedroom in our home that our workawayers (up to 2) can stay in. There is a double bed, big closet, and a desk. We also have some nice hang out spaces outside with chairs, hammocks, and sun-shades.

    Depending on your cooking skills and interests you may be able to help with cooking.

    Our two little kids are extremely vivacious and energetic, and they will probably take a great interest in you and want to play. If you are good with children and enjoy spending time with them that is a big bonus, but you will not be expected to be a babysitter. That said, it will be much better if you enjoy little kids and are comfortable engaging with them.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Transit:

    If you come from abroad you will likely be coming into Toronto Pearson Airport. Depending on your arrival time we can pick you up there. If you are already in the city, you can take the GO Train to Oshawa and we can get you from there. There are also buses that go to Peterborough. We can discuss your particular transit needs.

    The Area:

    Our neighbour to the East is Fifth Wind Farm, which is the home of Janita's parents Henry and Joanna. Joanna and Henry run a very large organic vegetable garden, and Joanna is an energy psychotherapist who also has a natural skin-care products business. Henry is a carpenter and home-builder by trade who now works developing experimental natural building materials and techniques. Two of his model homes have been built on the farm and one of them is currently under construction. There are often other workawayers or other volunteers living at the farm, and this is a great opportunity for socializing after work and on weekends. There are often campfires and music late into the night on weekends.

    We are situated in the rolling hills of Northumberland County. Our village is 10 minutes north of the nearest town, Cobourg, which has all the amenities for shopping and restaurants, as well as a famous sandy beach on Lake Ontario. The town of Port Hope, 10 minutes away, is one of Ontario's most historically preserved towns, and is filled with great restaurants and antique shops. Just 5 minutes drive north of us is Rice Lake, which is a popular fishing spot. We are about 1.5 hours east of Toronto, and it is definitely possible to catch a bus or a train into the city without too much trouble. Also, 45 minutes to the north of us is Peterborough, a lively university town with interesting shops and music events etc.

    If you are interested in hiking and natural scenery there is the Northumberland Forest and the Ganaraska Forest a few minutes drive away, and there are many opportunities to walk through the country roads or bike around.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    20-25 hours a week.

Host ref number: 224298669642

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