Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
2 Dec 2025
Reply rate
80.0 %
Usually responds within 12 days
Feedback
11
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
Hey there! My name is Joy.
I live with my son Jason on his stunning 5-acre property, surrounded by nature on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. My daughter joins us often, and together we share the space with 4 loving dogs and 3 cats.
We’re all passionate about healthy eating, gluten-free living, and exploring keto. Evenings find us around the bonfire, mornings are for meditation (we’re working on consistency!), and we love hiking the nearby trails.
Jason is building an inspiring health and wellness retreat right here on his land—complete with saunas, cold plunges, hot tubs, dedicated meditation areas, and a yoga gym. It’s the heart of our shared vision for well-being, and every project moves us closer to opening this space to others.
There are two types of helpers who thrive here:
Outdoor Enthusiasts: People who love hands-on work—landscaping, fence building, concrete projects, and garden care—especially as we shape the retreat grounds. You enjoy being active, working with your hands, and seeing real progress.
Organized Indoor Helpers: Just as hardworking, but indoors—keeping shared spaces spotless, organized, and preparing nourishing group meals with care.
The ideal person blends both: comfortable cooking a healthy feast one moment and pouring concrete for the sauna deck the next. You take pride in your work, love being part of a team, and value a clean, intentional environment.
If you’re hardworking, enjoy outdoor projects, and keep things organized and clean indoors, you’ll fit right in.
We’re located 15 minutes from Skutz Falls (a beautiful river to hike along), 20 minutes from the Mount Tzouhalem trailhead with panoramic views over Cowichan Valley, 25 minutes from a pristine lake, and just 10 minutes from downtown Duncan.
I’ve hosted Workaways for 9 years—many return 2–3 times, and two stayed over 7 months. I’m ideally looking for 2–4 week stays, but open to longer if it’s a great fit for everyone.
Looking forward to connecting with you soon!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Pets
Self development
Movies & TV
Plant care
Cooking & food
Animals
Yoga / Wellness
Nature
Fitness
Camping
Beach
Sailing / Boating
Water sports
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I am happy show you around the Cowichan Valley, when time permits me.
We have dinners and gatherings often with friends!
Come see us on the West Coast, you will not regret it!
Help
Housekeeping and yard help:
Having 5 acres and a big home, we need a lot of help inside and outside.
Outside:
Planting and weeding the vegetable garden, weeding flower beds, mowing lawn, cleaning up debris from wind storms.
Inside:
Basic housekeeping daily, and deeper cleaning monthly.
Cooking dinners
Caring for our animals by providing love, pets and their evening meal.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis 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 have your own bedroom with a shared bathroom and kitchen. It is a large home, so you will have privacy when you need down time. We appreciate cleanliness and comfort, so we do our best to make your stay comfortable and inviting.
What else ...
Our location is a hiker’s paradise! We’re:
• 15 minutes from Skutz Falls, where you can hike along the beautiful Cowichan River.
• 20 minutes from Mount Tzouhalem, or Stoney Hill Trailhead, offering breathtaking views of the Cowichan Valley.
• 25 minutes from a serene lake perfect for relaxation.
• 10 minutes from downtown Duncan, where you can enjoy local shops and cafes.
Victoria, B.C. is only a 40 minute bus ride away.
Kayaking, swimming, bowling, indoor rock climbing, camping, live local music ...
There is a bus stop a few minutes from my house that could get you into town. If I am not using my vehicle you are welcome to borrow it for short day trips if needed.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Sky
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (8)
From the moment he arrived, his positive energy and can-do attitude lit up our days. Communication with Colin was always a breeze—he kept us in the loop, asked great questions, and was never afraid to take initiative.
He tackled every… read more
I enjoyed staying very much, the workdays are in a super comfortable pace.
For The off-days I got offered cool activities or help by planing my owns.
We did cool hikes and got involved in the family life.
i can recommend of course.
I'll return for sure!
I arrived there in a little bit desperate state because my car got rear-ended and I had to sort out a lot of stuff. They helped me tremendously and in the end I will even leave Vancouver Island with one of Jeana's friend. I did mostly some thorough weeding in the… read more
The tasks were clearly communicated and varied, ranging from gardening, grocery shopping and cleaning to… read more
She is very kind, polite and always willing to give a hand. We showed her the task list, and she went through it thoroughly and efficiently, and often doing more than was asked.
Thank you Marie, we are looking forward to your quick visit before you head back home!
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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
From the moment he arrived, his positive energy and can-do attitude lit up our days. Communication with Colin was always a breeze—he kept us in the loop, asked great questions, and was never afraid to take initiative.
He tackled every… read more
I enjoyed staying very much, the workdays are in a super comfortable pace.
For The off-days I got offered cool activities or help by planing my owns.
We did cool hikes and got involved in the family life.
i can recommend of course.
I'll return for sure!
I arrived there in a little bit desperate state because my car got rear-ended and I had to sort out a lot of stuff. They helped me tremendously and in the end I will even leave Vancouver Island with one of Jeana's friend. I did mostly some thorough weeding in the… read more
The tasks were clearly communicated and varied, ranging from gardening, grocery shopping and cleaning to… read more
She is very kind, polite and always willing to give a hand. We showed her the task list, and she went through it thoroughly and efficiently, and often doing more than was asked.
Thank you Marie, we are looking forward to your quick visit before you head back home!
We enjoyed many delicious meals together, trying new recipes, and enjoying great conversations and laughs on the patio after dinner. They both have great personalities, very respectful and are easy to live with.
Hardworking is… read more
That was amazing, Joy and Jeana are really open-minded, and the days are great.
Doing some yard-work, or working with the plants, always in a good mood with everyone, you can always talk about the job, hours, and how to figure that out.
the accomodations are REALLY nice, had my own… read more
