Mountaineering, canyoning, permaculture, gardening, building and cooking experience in Abbotsford, Canada

Details

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  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.

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  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
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  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.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  SUMMER 2024 UPDATE
  
  Spring was a bit of a wash in terms of Workaway. I was unable to host folks March to end of June due to scheduling conflicts and family needing space. As a consequence we have fallen behind on several projects. There is lots to be done July to October.
  
  I am looking for Workawayers keen to help with projects including management of raised planting beds, fruit tree management, landscaping, painting, building projects 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. We are also needing assistance with gear organizing & downsizing. I think having some folks who can also offer my family some learning around photography, social media video blogging, pod casts, you tube channel and on line learning course development.
  
  Specific 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
  9. "Trash Compactor" Death Star escape room build out complete with moving wall and plastic ball pit with a trash monster.
  10. "Gonk" Power Droid" prop build.
  11. Intercom installation for blast door control panel
  12. Thermal security camera system with PTZ control wiring and hook up to monitor
  13. Turret laser cannon connection to power and SPFX.
  14. Covert the train "Control Systems" movie prop from Snowpiercer television series set into the "Endor Canyon Base Field Generator Control Systems" - connect wiring and power and install an Arduino / Raspberry Pi PLC logic controller to get existing LED lights working on the props.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Beginner

  This 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.
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  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 - CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE _ OCCUPIED BY TWO JEDI PADAWANS 6 and 10.
  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 - CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE _ OCCUPIED BY JABBA DA HUTT and ASHOKA TANO.
  
  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 - AVAILABLE - A pretty skookum Ewok built two storey treehouse. Careful - there are two cantankerous Ewok guards. This is suitable for spring, summer and fall. It is an unheated space that can be used in the winter if you don't mind sleeping in warm sleeping bags or perhaps having an Ewok keep you company. It is kept dry by well built roof and walls with four windows and a rustic door.
  
  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. We have an outdoor cold water only shower for those liking a rustic outdoor approach to cleaning up at end of day. The laundry room, living room, dining area and kitchen are shared spaces. The kitchen is awesome! Natural wood counter tops, barn board cabinets add warmth and character to the space. Climbing gear and indoor hang board with rigging practice station add to the atmosphere. To many it may feel like a rustic mountain cabin. A modern stainless steel natural gas range, fridge and dishwasher will inspire the inner professional chef in most guests.
  
  We try our best annually to cultivate and grow a variety of vegetables and fruits on the property. Some years are better than others and there are seasonal variations. Other groceries are purchased locally. Meals are prepared and shared together in the main cabin - this task is often assigned to willing Workawayer who enjoy sharing culinary skills.

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  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!

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  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.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  i have space for smaller camper vans but not large motorhomes.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  Minimum 5 hours a day, 5 days a week maximum

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