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27 Apr 2026
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Description
Hello!
About us: We are a small family of four (Jacques, Ren, baby Fern, and Lupin-dog) who live in an off-grid homestead in the Yalakom Valley, outside of Lillooet, BC. Jacques is a natural builder and Ren is an Indigenous Community Planner. We have 28 acres with a microhydro power system and creek water.
Project: For the next two years, our main project is building a straw bale house! It wil be a 2400ish square foot home and you will learn from a natural building expert!
Community: The Yalakom Valley inhabitants are a unique bunch, with many having roots in the old homestead behind the mountains where folks lived in an "escape-the-values-lacking-modern world" type of commune for a couple of decades (oh, the stories they have to tell...). There's the original crowd of folks now in their 70s, plus a good number of younger adults (30s and early 40s, some single, if you're looking for love ;-) ). We see each other relatively often for work-bees, birthday parties, solstices, and other community endeavours and there's a general great sense of collaboration and care. There are also some weekly activities to participate in: soccer, meditation, drumming and singing (and hopefully volleyball soon).
Our Property: Our property runs along the Yalakom River, has a beautiful diversity of various ecosystems, and is a huge work in progress; having moved here just over 2 years ago, we continue the work of establishing gardens, perennials, living quarters, cleaning up after previous owners, making it safe for fire season, and building out the general infrastructure.
Who We Are Looking For: We mostly look to bring in folks who are interested in off-grid living, childcare, gardening, carpentry, and general care of the land. We seek folks who are community-minded, hard working, fun, good sense of humour, environmentally-minded, values-driven and warm-hearted.
Lodging: You will stay in either a 17'x17' yurt (we are awaiting a new canvas so this isn't currently available but will be in the spring) or a vintage camper (wifi extends to both). There is a fully equipped large cabin that will be shared among workawayers and apprentices. If you are the only one here, you can have it to yourself.
Meals: The camper has enough of a kitchen to get by for breakfasts and lunches. We will have dinner together or you can cook your own - happy to discuss preferences :-)
Arrangement: 25 hours a week in exchange for meals and accommodation.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Politics / Social justice
LGBTQ
Sustainability
Pets
Farming
Plant care
Music
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Architecture
Performing arts
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Animals
Nature
Camping
Mountain
Dancing
Beach
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Folks coming to visit here will learn about natural building, living off-grid in a small community, gardening, permaculture, homesteading for millennials, etc.
There have been a number of Workawayers who have come to the Yalakom Valley who have returned or never left (Ren is one of the latter).
There are not many places anymore where people exist as a little community/village and all know each other, so the Yalakom has offered something rather unique to many over the years.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Carpentry, gardening, yard work, food processing, fire mitigation work, firewood, furniture restoration, weed-whacking, cleaning, organizing of sheds, shelf-building, tree propagating, weed-whacking, raking, sign-making, and lots of other specific projects depending on when you are here!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
Ren is keen to practice her Spanish with you!
Accommodation
Cabin, Yurt, camper, or tent!
Our yurt is a 17 diameter yurt on a platform with bed dresser and table, and loveseat.
Our camper is a small trailer which has a propane stove, sink, and two smaller beds (one of which folds into a table and seating).
Our cabin, once complete, is fully equipped with wood stove and propane range, fridge, composting toilet, and bath.
Workawayers will be fed 3 meals a day in exchange for 25 hours per week of work. Helping with food prep is a separate task outside of these hours.
What else ...
There is a lot of backcountry to explore around here, lakes, Gold Bridge and Bralorne, community events, space for creative projects, and lots more.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have satellite internet and Ren works from home on the computer- so it's totally feasible for you to work from here, part-time.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
As long as your pet gets along with our dog! We do have a fenced in yard they can run around in.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
