Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
31 Mar 2024
Reply rate
77.1 %
Usually responds within 10 days
Feedback
60
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hey There! I own a small property in Matsqui Village. It is small residential community forming part of the City of Abbotsford in beautiful British Columbia. The home is located a one hour drive from Vancouver. Public transit options to and from Vancouver include BC Transit and City of Abbotsford bus routes, UBER or the Monday to Friday commuter train "Westcoast Express" leaving from Mission City at intervals in morning and returning at various intervals in evening.
I spend my time between family, work as a private investigator, volunteering with a Search & Rescue team and recreational pursuits including trail running, backcountry alpine ski touring, mountaineering, rock climbing and canyoning. I enjoy steadily improving my home and property. I seek to make my home a unique base for getting out on adventures for my family, friends and my guests. I actively train with local canyoning guides and the British Columbia and Alberta Cave Rescue group for canyoning/caving missions and other adventures.
I offer travel advice / local knowledge for your own trail exploration, mountaineering, climbing and canyoning trips in addition to providing cozy accommodations and opportunities to cook together and enjoy great food. I am always looking to connect with Workawayer guests who may be a good fit.
My projects list for Spring/ Summer 2024 includes gardening, food preservation, planning fall and winter gardens, landscaping, building a "Hobbit Hole" root cellar, completing a "used universe" eco building project consisting of finding new uses of previously used, recycled or reclaimed materials such as reclaimed lumber, scrap and used metal and shipping containers. This unique project has a Star Wars theme. It has been designed to resemble the force shield generating station on the Forest Moon "Endor" (ESB). We refer to it as the "Endor Canyon Base".
I need Workawayers who are self starters, have gardening and carpentry skills, crafters, movie set designers, electronic tinkers, creative folks with an eye for Sci-fi look with a rustic feel.
I enjoy helping travellers discover great outdoor experiences through my network of connections in the local climbing, hiking, skiing and canyoning communities. I appreciate the assistance offered by my Workawayer guests and enjoy the social aspects of connecting. I should let you know I have an Australian Cattle dog named Gungi. There is room here for no more than one to two Workawayers at a time.
While planning your trip abroad may you find the good in front of you at this moment and in the future.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
What is in it for you? It depends on who you are and your interests. There is tremendous potential here to grow things. if you like gardening this is your paradise. The raised gardens have potential to create a sustainable healthy food supply for not only you and I but others. If you like outdoor pursuits there is a library full of books on all things about adventures like rock climbing, hiking, scrambling, mountaineering and canyoning. I am happy to socialize and chat regularly and even train and/or travel together for some outside adventures. You may have access to use certain gear that will aid you in getting into various outdoor sports - i.e. climbing gear, mountain bikes, canoe, camping equipment. I work within the volunteer search and rescue and canyoning and caving communities to help bring about better training for rescues in canyons. You may get to tag along on some outings. This could be an enriching experience - it will also be fun!
Creative builders, crafters, set decorators will be satisfied with the opportunity to make something truly unique. The Star Wars themed Endor Canyon Base is a blend of retro 1970s electronics, science fiction, Jedi Gym and a Forest moon workshop equipped with power tools, mechanics tool chest and arts and crafts supplies.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
SPRING 2024 UPDATE
I am looking for Workawayer keen to help with projects including management of raised planting beds, fruit tree management, landscaping improvements, painting, building stone patios and pathways and helping to complete a used universe StarWars themed workshop "Endor Canyon Base". We are presently working on "set decor" installing vintage 1970's and 80's analog electronic devices and making that "Star Wars" look.
Specific volunteer projects you can take part in outdoors/indoors:
1. Help finish / details for Star Wars themed workshop. Use reclaimed recycled stuff to make a cool workplayplace
2. Sustainable year round gardening and continuous garden improvements
3. Contribute to shared culinary experiences- take turns together preparing meals
4. General property maintenance, painting, cleaning etc
5.Build a decorative brick facade around natural gas fireplace,
6. Drywall repairs and painting,
7. Repair of old worn and broken outdoor gear needing TLC,
8. Install access control wiring and set decor for interior of the Star Wars workshop
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: 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
My home is relatively small, and is aptly described as a combination of mountain cabin, hobbit hole and Jedi Training Academy. This property It is not a suburban boiler plate "ticky tacky home". Your accommodation options include:
Option #1 - a single bedroom in the main house that has a small closet, bunk beds (single upper bunk and single lower bunk), and one dresser.
Option #2 - a small 12 X 12 guest cabin with a wood deck and a comfy queen size bed, a book shelf and a wall of windows with a garden view. It is rustic and heated by one electric powered space heater. It has been used it in winter months for guests and it works for the hearty among you but it is not as warm and cozy as inside the main house.
Option #3 - a pretty skookum two storey treehouse suitable for spring, summer and fall. It is not heated - can be used in the winter if you don't mind sleeping in warm sleeping bags kept dry by the roof and walls but in sub zero temperatures.
The main house is shared by all regardless of which option is selected for your private space. The main house has a single bathroom with a claw foot cast iron bathtub. There is no shower in main house. The laundry room, living room, dining area and kitchen is are shared spaces. The kitchen is awesome! The natural wood counter tops and barn board cabinets makes add warmth and character to the space to make it feel like a rustic mountain cabin. A modern stainless steel natural gas range, fridge and dishwasher will inspire your inner professional chef.
Vegetables and fruits are cultivated and grown on the property. Other groceries are purchased locally and meals are prepared and shared together in the main cabin.
What else ...
Time off is yours. Mountain bikes are supplied so you can explore wherever. I can lend out a variety of gear so that you can go for a hike, camp, climb local crags or explore a local canyon. You will make new friends by hanging out with me, seeing some of the local coffee shops, craft brew pubs. it is a short trip to get to the Matsqui Village area of Abbotsford British Columbia by car, bus or two modes of rail transport ( Via Rail or West Coast Express). This makes it possible for you to catch a concert or other performance in Vancouver during your stay.
The easiest way to get here from Vancouver or leave here for Vancouver is to take the West Coast Express commuter train that departs Mission City daily in the early morning from Monday to Friday and leaves Vancouver daily in the afternoon Monday to Friday. Google the schedule. If you haven't heard of "pop-a-ride" many Workwayers have reported it is a good way to find transport around BC. The public bus transportation is painfully slow from Vancouver with many transfers (expect it to take 4 to 5 hours if choosing this method). Via Rail has a nearby train stop that I don't mind picking folks up at or dropping them off to.
I am sometimes able to drive guests places when it works out with my work schedule. Please do not count on this. I am happy to when it works out but work duties often take priority. I am happy to provide local tourism information and tips for adventures in the South Coast and Sea to Sky area. I may be able to make some introductions to other locals who share your interests. My daughter Bethany spent some time "Woofing" in Germany, Greece, and France and she loved it. Her stories of travels and friends made and experiences have made me interested in becoming a Workaway host. She is now also a Workaway host offering a place on her property in the Quebec countryside south of Montreal, QC. Check out "Maison Blum" if you want a rural country setting in a french speaking part of Canada!
As a teenager I travelled to the USA, England, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. I love international travel and feel privileged to learn from other travellers. I am looking forward to meeting some great people through this experience, getting some willing hands to help me get ahead with some of my projects on the go and perhaps make some lifelong friends along the way!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
I have a great internet service with wi-fi router. Speed is good. Work from your own room or outside on a stone patio on a sunny day. There is a printer and two scanners as well.
Space for parking camper vans
i have space for smaller camper vans but not large motorhomes.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Minimum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week maximum
Feedback (29)
Really recommend this to anyone who likes creative fun work and different adventures.
I stayed for three weeks sleeping in the treehouse. I was lucky enough to share this Workaway experience with three other Workawayers. During my stay we went canyoning, rock climbing, and we visited some amazing places around BC. We were given lots of interesting… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
Really recommend this to anyone who likes creative fun work and different adventures.
I stayed for three weeks sleeping in the treehouse. I was lucky enough to share this Workaway experience with three other Workawayers. During my stay we went canyoning, rock climbing, and we visited some amazing places around BC. We were given lots of interesting… read more
I was welcomed and trusted very much from the beginning.
My private space was a cute little garden cabin and I could use the house with kitchen etc. and the workshop with the tools as well.
The food Tim supplied was great, he… read more
Our accomodation was clean and comfortable, and we were very well catered for during our stay. Tim himself was very well organised, and started each week with an outline of his goals and a list of potential tasks to complete. Beyond this, we were… read more
My tasks mainly included work in the garden, but also some projects… read more
Usually I worked 5 days a week to complete my 25 hrs/week. I was free to schedule my time. The work was not hard and calibrate on my skills. I relly… read more
We immediately had a connection based on our shared passion for rock climbing, mountains, and adventures.
During this time we were… read more
Jack and I had a great time at Tim's place! We helped out on a few small projects, such as building a bike rack and helping pave a patio area, lot's of gardening too! It was great to have lots of small projects on the go, we learnt new skills and felt the accomplishment having… read more
During my workaway, I got to experience some of the great outdoors of BC including two canyoning outings which was… read more
Tim as well as the three other workawayers there made me feel at home right away.
The place (including the awesome… read more
Tim is a fantastic Host, he has many ideas how to develop house… read more
I had a lovely and cozy week with Tom and Nico! He is a very interesting, kind, and friendly guy that I could be relaxed and enjoy all the work and activities we have done together. His small scale vegetable beds and cold frame helped visualizing alternative urban permaculture style which it is now beautifully… read more
Tim is very friendly and chilled and has got soo much knowledge about climbing, mountaineering and canyoning which he loves to share it with you. He even gave us private lessons about knots, rappeling....
But my highlight was definitely that he took us wintercamping out in… read more
The tasks at his house were interesting and very rewarding. He was also very… read more
Tim is a fella with an energy that is coming from out of nowhere and is just a thoroughly fantastic fella!
The work around the place was easy manual labor, and was fun to get COMPLETELY muddy doing work (i am an adult that will jump in… read more
Not only was the work interesting and diverse, the neighbours welcoming, the house amazing but also Tim himself is an interesting person and it was fun to hung out with him.
The Workaway accommodation in his house is really comfortable and heated as me and 2 of my friends… read more
