Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
23 May 2026
Reply rate
60.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
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Details
Description
Spring 2026: We’re welcoming one independent helper for a 2–3 week stay who enjoys hands‑on work, clear routines, and life close to the land.
Days here follow a steady rhythm: work in the cooler mornings and evenings, with the middle of the day free for rest, solo time, or exploring. In return, you’ll enjoy healthy home‑cooked meals, farm‑grown teas and food, time with friendly animals, and good sleeps in a retrofitted 1970s bus overlooking the forest.
This is a hands‑on farmstay for someone who wants to experience daily homestead and family life. The work is varied and often physical. You don’t need prior experience—what matters most is a good attitude, curiosity, and follow‑through.
We live on 3 acres of mixed crop fields, woods, ponds, fruit trees, and gardens, where we tend the land following regenerative and permaculture practices. We have a friendly dog and cat.
This is our fourth property hosting helpers, and hosting is how we stay rooted while connecting with the wider world. This stay suits someone who enjoys physical work, appreciates structure, and contributes reliably.
Important: When you message us, please share a bit about why this stay appeals to you. We don’t respond to one‑line messages. It helps to hear about:
Your interest in spending safe, respectful time in a family household
Your willingness to participate in a mix of indoor and outdoor homestead work
Your ability to work steadily, communicate clearly, and learn new skills
The steps you take while traveling to reduce the risk of bringing illness into a home that interacts with Elders and vulnerable community members
Please note:
We have zero tolerance for cigarettes, vaping, or commercial tobacco of any kind.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House & pet sitting
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Politics / Social justice
Pets
Music
Writing
Drawing & painting
Cooking & food
Books
Nature
Fitness
Camping
Dancing
Beach
Hiking
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our family is of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, and staying with us offers a grounded opportunity to learn about this land, its histories, and what it means to be a respectful visitor here.
Through everyday conversation and shared work, you’ll learn about Canada’s colonial history, the ongoing work of reconciliation, and how these realities show up in daily life. We approach this learning in practical, human ways—rooted in relationship rather than theory.
You’ll also learn about permaculture, organic gardening, and land‑based living, alongside practices that support well‑being, resilience, and care for future generations.
We’re an alternative family, living somewhat outside mainstream culture and focused on creating a life‑sustaining household grounded in respect, shared responsibility, inclusivity, and collective care.
You don’t need to arrive with the same language or background—just openness, respect, and a willingness to listen and learn.
We’re a good fit for helpers who are self‑aware, resourceful, independent, mature, healthy, courteous, and adaptable. This is a participatory household and not a good match for people who prefer to spend most of their free time alone or online.
An ethic of presence, reciprocity, and shared responsibility matters here. When a stay is a good fit, we’re happy to provide job references in Canada and internationally.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Most help involves routine garden, farm, and homestead work, including:
Shoveling dirt, compost, and wood chips
Weeding fields and removing invasive plants
Trail and path maintenance
Plant care (pest checks, fertilizing, harvesting)
Fence maintenance and general yard care
Seasonal tasks like seed saving and food preserving
The kitchen is a shared, busy space, and everyone helps daily with dishes, tidying, or simple food prep.
About 20–30% of hours may involve household projects such as cleaning, organizing, painting, or occasional seasonal jobs (e.g., cleaning a vehicle or doing a freezer inventory).
Our kids (ages 10 and 13) are part of everyday life. They appreciate relaxed, respectful interaction and learning from people willing to share skills or interests naturally.
If you have a specific skill, some homestead hours may be exchanged for project‑based work. Skills especially welcome:
Bicycle maintenance
Outbuilding repairs or renovations
Fence building or repair
Healing or body‑based practices
Deep cleaning/de-cluttering
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Spanish: BeginnerThis 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
Your “room” is a rustic 1970s Mercedes bus with a single bed, seating area, closet area, wifi, and private deck. Access to common bathroom, kitchen and living room is in family house a few meters away. We offer healthy whole foods (minimal packaged or ready-made items), and ask you to purchase any special items we don’t normally supply.
We have some water challenges and provide instructions on saving water, including limiting showers to five minutes once a day.
What else ...
We can pick you up from most locations in Greater Victoria, including ferry terminals.
We’re located on the #83 bus route and can lend a bike. When time allows, we also enjoy simple outings like forest walks, town trips, and beach days.
Nearby are parks and trails, Butchart Gardens, ocean access with kayak and paddleboard rentals, and local coffee shops and thrift stores.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Let us know your personal work requirements and we can determine together if it’s a good fit (e.g hours, space needs etc.)
Can possibly accept pets
Pets must be clean, de-flead and de-wormed, and be safe with children and other pets.
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
My animals / pets
Lumi (3 years)
Short hair
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (26)
This family's home is very warm, open, creative and dynamic and they all are very knowledgeable people striving to live a good in harmony… 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:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
This family's home is very warm, open, creative and dynamic and they all are very knowledgeable people striving to live a good in harmony… read more
It was a joy and a blessing to Jodie came to us when she did. It’s hard to find trustworthy capable people to care for a farm, especially at harvest time. Jodie took everything in stride, she harvested raspberries, beans cucumbers and more and preserved them in various… read more
It was a bit special, in the sense that out of the three weeks I stayed there, I was on my own for two weeks, looking after their house, garden and animals.
So I was mostly in contact with Kirsten, who is a very caring, aware and inspiring person. I'm delighted to… read more
Monica is a respectful, easy going, friendly, steady person. She helped with gardening, household chores, and… read more
Kirsten is a fantastic communicator, so I was always clear on what task I was doing and my… read more
We helped the most of our time in the garden with weeding, planting tomatos, cucumbers and collecting medical herbs. But we worked also in the forest or build a fence for the lama. There were all such nice experiences and challenges we definitely liked!
Since… read more
Kirsten and Blake are very mindful people who value attentiveness, general awareness, and open communication. They are constantly creating an inspiring life for… read more
The kids Nahko and Asher are so cool and easy to be around. Asher taught me how to play chess haha! They’re smart and like to do a lot of things , so connecting with them is fun. Blake and Kirsten love to share thoughts and have… read more
She did every task with a good attitude, asking for… read more
Blake and Kirsten are very attentive and well organized, they give you information about the organization of the week, the planning day-by-day, precise… read more
Not sure where to start exactly, maybe with the youngest member of the house. SWEEPY! (don't know if I'm spelling her name correctly). Sweepy is the sweetest dog. She's full of energy and excitement, if you are having a bad day and come across her,… read more
WOW. when they say "immersive" they mean it, and its a great thing! I was looking for an immersive experience, with lots of learning, childcare experience, farming, and lots of outdoor time. That is exactly what I got, but with SO much more.
Staying with this family was such a balm to… read more
I have learnt a lot about how much effort it is to take care of the farm, and kids too! Bit about permaculture system and indegineous situation in Canada, reciprocity, communication. I enjoyed harvesting the gifts from garden, playing with the… read more
I t was a blast! I learned a lot and worked a lot. My stay literally had everything you could think of.
Tasty tasty food, mystery birds, Lego spaceships, brotherly battles and brotherly love,
scorching sunshine, hail, riverside adventures, bug attacks, cow births and so much… read more
Between the two of them they: mulched garlic, built new garden beds, cleaned the chicken coop, prepped early spring garden beds and seeds, deep cleaned various indoor and… read more
First, the place is amazing! A huge farm with eagles, salmon, deers (and we suspect bears...) just around!! There is a river and a forest around! Fields are quiet, relax and beautiful place from the first to the… read more
The farm is part of a beautiful environment, very peaceful. You can ear and see birds coming for food in the garden, you enjoy the sunset from the deck, everywhere is greens and yellows and reds - I was there in October. I forgot to mention the river and its… read more
It was my first workaway experience and I couldn't have chosen a better one. I felt like home and family from the beginning (well, obviously you need few days to adapt but, you know!). I did work a lot in the garden and learned a lot of things about permaculture and different… read more
