Sustainable community living & learning with Yoga in Salt Spring Island, BC

Details

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  Description

  Our community homestead was founded in 2014 and is located on the sunny south slopes of Salt Spring Island. Our Community ranges and changes in age, from babies to elders. Some have resided for years and others some simply pass through – regardless we have created a space where most guests feel safe, loved and at home.
  
  We utilize permaculture, organic farming techniques and intentional community building practices to empower deep changes within our personal relationships with nature and food, community and family, and ourselves. We grow food and care for the land to share with our community. Along with our constantly changing mix of international and local travellers, we raise our children outdoors and connect with the earth, ourselves and each other.
  
  It is connection to nature and our food system that inspired the creation of our place in 2014. We believe our life meditation is to bring presence to sharing a nature and food connection. This is one of the ways we will inspire change on this planet.
  
  We use organic market garden practices on about 1.5 acres where we grow vegetables that sustain about 70% of our food diet. We currently purchase, some spices, oil and grains, but everything else comes from within. We grow many of our crops from seed to seed. We do not sell our produce commercially and workawayers are never involved in any commercial aspect of the farm.
  
  We planted a 150+ tree orchard in 2014 and utilizing the permaculture principles to create a two acre food forest. We have planted over 50 different varieties of fruit and nut trees.
  
  We are blessed with to have a large ponds which provides fertile water to irrigate our gardens.
  
  We currently home to laying hens, alpacas and a couple cuddly cats.
  
  
  Salt Spring Island is a model community with it's many small farms and mostly home-based businesses service the island completely. Since we've arrived it has exceeded our expectations with regards to community, and feeling welcomed into a new home. This is a great project for people who want to experience the early stages of a permaculture operation with some great existing farm structures to make life comfortable. We are looking for help in the garden and permaculture farm set up.
  
  Accommodation is varied and includes private bedrooms, bunk rooms, and camping. Each Day begins with a group check and short meditation practice and a shared breakfast which is followed later by a communal lunch. We also have yoga classes. We wrap up early in the afternoon so there is plenty of time to enjoy the sun and island. All community members participate in a weekly sharing circle.
  
  We are primarily vegan and food will include a good selection of staples, and produce as available.
  
  We encourage a sober environment, although people are welcome to consume alcohol off the farm.
  
  We look forward to meeting you.
  
  Greg and Lou

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Travellers who visit our community will experience another way of living with other people and nature, one were they can be an authentic version of themselves, and the opportunity to connect with nature. They will learn how people can live together in a model towards self- sufficiency and the homestead life.

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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

  This is a great project for people who want to experience communal living and learn homestead skills. We grow food, cook and preserve it, clean up, build and fix, and much more.
  
  - General Farm/construction help. - We have lots built but many more exciting projects on the go. This individual will help with setting up the farm and farm chores as well as assist in some of the projects and building.
  
  And
  
  - A House/Home hand that will assist with general cleaning, laundry, child care and other light tasks including some garden work.
  
  Days commence with a meditation and group check-in and breakfast 7:30am-8:30am and then a lunch from 12:30 and one hour of work after till 2:30. Options exist for longer hours if work provides.
  
  We also host a weekly sharing circle that is essential to building trust and our community on Monday nights,
  
  We are primarily vegan and food will include a good selection of stables, and produce as available. Shared kitchen duties will apply.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Bunk Room
  Sheltered tenting also available (for Summer mainly)

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  What else ...

  Our farm, is a community permaculture farm on Salt Spring Island, B.C.
  
  Description:
  
  We are located on sunny south facing slopes on the southern end of Salt Spring island, 5 km from Fulford Harbour. Enchanting 100 foot+ Fir trees and Arbutus protect the homestead. We are striving to be a model of sustainable, ecologically-attuned living in balance with Nature’s abundance.
  
  We practice organic farming methods, free from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, to raise nutritious whole foods and medicinal herbs. Our vision is to use permaculture design with non-GMO seeds, pure well water, and living compost to build the vitality of the soil and yield living foods that enhance health.
  
  A peaceful, easily accessible, location between Vancouver and Victoria, Salt Spring island is in the rain shadow of Vancouver which brings abundance moisture, but significantly less rain than the northwest coast or Vancouver. With Salt Spring’s Northern Mediterranean climate, local farm crops not only include Mediterranean vegetables, but also strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, asparagus, melons, greens, and roots. Orchard trees produce peaches, plums, apples, pears, quince, persimmons, figs, chestnuts and cherries.
  
  Salt Spring Island is a model community as the mostly home-based businesses service the island completely. Shocking similarities exist behind Hawaii and most specifically the north shore of Maui where the Founders reside in the off season, as do many others who choose to experience the two magical places. A "portal" from Hawaii to Salt Spring Island shares energy seamlessly between the two places.
  
  Our vision is to create a sustainable permaculture homestead where our community is free to enjoy and love this wonderful land. Our path is uncertain, but we consciously choose to eat food that nourishes our bodies and mind, surround ourselves with beings that share the light and love that we are sharing.

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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

  We have great internet in all spaces

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  Space for parking camper vans

  This host can provide space for campervans.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  5 hours per day 5 days per week.

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