Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
10 Sep 2025
Reply rate
95.7 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
25
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
We live on Galiano Island.
After many years traveling to Asia and Europe sailing the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean we have found our home on Galiano Island one of the Gulf Islands on Canadas West Coast between Vancouver Island and Vancouver.
Our Ocean home is on a 7acre forested property two acres are old growth that produce the most amazing abundance of mushrooms in season. We have a large organic garden with year-round crops.
Projects involve maintaining the forest by cleaning up fallen branches and burning them. splitting firewood and moving to sheds. Building projects would be finishing a potting shed/ greenhouse and painting. The garden is growing so creating new garden beds and helping maintain existing gardens. We are very interested in expanding our orchard. If you have boat experience especially sailing we could use your help with maintence and getting the boat out on the local waters.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Farming
Pets
Photography
Nature
Sailing / Boating
Water sports
Outdoor activities
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will be in one of the most beautiful locations in Canada on the Gulf islands located on the Pacific Ocean between Vancouver and Victoria just north of the USA Border. You will be surrounded by wildlife and nature. Everyday you will see eagles soaring past you to their nest not far away and otters playing on the shore below. Good chance you will see Sea lions, orcas and whales. Galiano is a forested island with many hiking trails and beaches to explore. Large enough for a pub, several restaurants, stores and social activities to interact with the locals. The islanders are a well traveled community so finding someone to speak your language will always be possible. My husband is from the Netherlands so speaks Dutch as well as some German and French.
Help
Gardening and yard clean up help.
Looking for experienced volunteer with painter skills as our green house potting shed is now finished and just needs to be painted. We potentially have a few more painting projects so can expand to fit your time available for Galiano.
Firewood splitting with our very large and safe wood splitter suitable for experience outdoor enthusiast. . Trees fall down and once they are cut up need to be piled into our shed for the winter.
Sailboat cleaning. Our 26 foot McGregor could use a clean up, this would be a perfect excuse to get our boat out. If you are good sailor this may be a project you would be interested in.
All these projects are close to the water so always time for a quick dip, kayak or paddle board in the ocean.
Looking for help 4-5 hours per day - 5 days per 7 day stay. Flexible so more time to explore the island
Welcome for 7 - 10 day stay.
The private cottage you will stay in is a two bedroom so can host 2 -3 workaway volunteers.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
German: IntermediateThis 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
You will stay in a private 2 bedroom cottage next to the main house. Comes with a private kitchen and bathroom perched on the ocean edge.
At the end of your day you will sleep in a very comfortable bed to the sound of the ocean waves lapping at the shore below and wake to an amazing ocean view. You have the option to cook most meals your self with food we will supply. Some meals will be with us and other meals may be at events hosted by the island. Excellent cell phone coverage. Internet service and TV provided. We can accommodate two Workaway volunteers with their own private room.
What else ...
During your free time explore the islands nature and culture. We have kayaks, paddle board and a bike for your use. We will ensure you get to island events that will happen during your time. If you choose to head off island Vancouver, Victoria, Tofino or Whistler are great weekend destinations.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Internet connection suitable for zoom meetings.
Space for parking camper vans
A full size motor home would be ok in our upper parking garden area,
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Skipper (8 years)
Wire Fox Terrier
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (12)
They were so welcoming and caring.
The cabin is small for multiple people but has idyllic views of the ocean. I loved cold dipping most days, and watching the sunset on the balcony.
Brenda was so kind catering to myself and another Workawayers dietary requests and often… read more
Jessica collaborated closely with another workaway… read more
Vera collaborated closely with another workaway volunteer,… read more
Brenda not only went shopping for us, she also made a fantastic hummus and Greek yoghurt.
She showed and explained us a lot about her garden and the things growing there. This was very interesting.
We had always nice talks… read more
During their free time they enjoyed hiking the local trails and kayaking close to the property. They also… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
They were so welcoming and caring.
The cabin is small for multiple people but has idyllic views of the ocean. I loved cold dipping most days, and watching the sunset on the balcony.
Brenda was so kind catering to myself and another Workawayers dietary requests and often… read more
Jessica collaborated closely with another workaway… read more
Vera collaborated closely with another workaway volunteer,… read more
Brenda not only went shopping for us, she also made a fantastic hummus and Greek yoghurt.
She showed and explained us a lot about her garden and the things growing there. This was very interesting.
We had always nice talks… read more
During their free time they enjoyed hiking the local trails and kayaking close to the property. They also… read more
Brenda responded to our enquiry at short notice in an uncomplicated and very quick manner. She picked us up at the ferry harbour together with Skipper (her dog 😉), showed us the most important places on the island and… read more
We needed last-minute help with yard clearing as more trees needed to come down for our Island project. When they answered our request, they were excellent at communicating their availability and arrived as planned, which was much… read more
Here something I wish, somebody had told me before: if Brenda ask you, what you… read more
We posted a last-minute request looking for a volunteer to remove invasive broom off our 7-acre steep property when it was in full bloom. Lisa and Micheal had some time so came to join us on Galiano Island for 10 days. After an initial introduction to the project… read more
I am so in love with the new workbench he built for my… read more
They came to us in January to help tame our new gardens. Due to the unexpected deep freeze they needed to contend with canceled ferries, frozen pipes and abnormally cold temperatures. They did all this with a good grace and… read more
