Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
29 Jan 2026
Reply rate
88.9 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
13
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
I live in a typical rowhouse in downtown St. John's, Newfoundland ...atypically, it is gray and not colourful (on the outside anyway... .lol :).. I run an education nonprofit called building-U that works remotely with high school students from different places in the world to provide different kinds of free and useful resources for themselves and their peers. My partner, Marc, lives here as well and is very involved in most all of the projects we have going on at any time. Together we have 2 dogs: one overly enthusiastic and extremely people oriented small white dog (J. J.) and one slightly less-effusive and larger brown dog, initially timid, but happy to warm up after a short time .
We are pretty easygoing and flexible with most things, though draw a harder line at shoes and smoking in the house. (Cozy slippers provided) I do like cooking and experimenting with things but more like rustic peasant cuisine; I use recipes sometimes... if not for directions, at least for inspiration, but am also a bit of a M.U.D. (Made-Up Dinner) experimenter :).I will definitely do my best to try to work with dietary restrictions; I'm pretty comfortable accommodating vegetarian and vegan needs -- initially because of cooking with and for my daughter, and more recently just from hosting guests with various dietary restriction . I would need to be clear on the restrictions , and if I know I cannot accommodate (like peanuts -- there is for sure peanut butter in the house!), I will definitely make that clear beforehand!
We have a number of different kinds of projects that are ongoing or looking to get underway. At the top of the list is a large greenhouse/workshop addition on the house that will include a small chicken coop! We are a bit stalled on the beginning stages just because of winter, and in the meantime will be taking the opportunity that a recent windstorm gave us taking out our entire backyard fence .... to build a "historically resilient" wriggle fence (it's a Newfoundland thing, lol -- see the pic of a nearby neighbour's in the photos) Built out of tree branches (yesss, B'y, for real!),...
Marc and I are very passionate about glass recycling and about sustainability initiatives in general. We are also involved with some neighbours in the beginning stages of creating a community arts and sustainability hub in an old 7000 sq.ft. church next door. The project name and it will include a micro cinema, a live theatre space, a community garden, a bicycle repair station, a co-working space, and arts programming focused on heritage crafts and upcycling. Most importantly we are looking to make sure that all of the programming offered is accessible to and actively includes everyone within the diverse demographic of the neighbourhood and surrounding community.
In addition to all of this, we are always experimenting with upcycling DIY crafts and projects, just at home.. Love making useful and beautiful things from waste and thrifting :)and Marc is always looking for extra hands for repairing bikes or trying out little known in-town cycling routes!
Basically, there's always something on the go...and we look to make sure you feel welcome to join in on whatever thing suits you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Dancing
Yoga / Wellness
Water sports
Politics / Social justice
Culture
Farming
Pets
Sustainability
Van life
History
Cooking & food
Gardening
Languages
Plant care
Music
DIY & crafts
Books
Art & design
Animals
Nature
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cycling
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Great hiking. Very colourful and friendly place. Let's just say there are a great many free ways to have an entirely different cultural experience when you step onto Newfoundland!
Help
As mentioned in the overview, there are a few different projects that travellers can help with... from
Wriggle Fence building support
Greenhouse building
Chicken coop building
Feeding chickens
Community arts and sustainability hub projects (there can be many and they can vary based on where we are in the process )
Walking dogs
Helping with bike repairs
Gardening: in the yard or in the planning of the community garden (for the CSCommons)
Glass Crushing: helping put together and test economically viable and effective small scale solutions... for different sizes of crushed glasss
Glass Sand for use in outdoor paths and walkways and also as a base for the homade recycled candles mentioned above.
Painting: Much of it seems to be done for the moment, but projects may pop up!
Soywax Reusable Wraps
No-Sew Amish Knot Braided Rug making from old sheets ...
And, paper quilling trim and container projects (from junk mail circulars)
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
A basement L-shaped space with 2 bedrooms (one in each part of the "L"). There is no door between the spaces of the "L"-- just a curtain. There is separate entrance to the space itself to create a sort of untraditionally set-up walkout in a downtown St. John's row house-- though most people staying just use the front door to the house :) There are 2 single beds (one with a trundle in the event the two people staying would prefer to stay a bit closer :)) and a private ensuite bathroom for the area . Breakfast is provided and light snacks are provided. Dinners are included more on a shared basis, meaning guests are welcome to contribute an item and/ or participate in meal preparation at times .. always sensitive to any food restrictions and aversions ofc :)
What else ...
Stroll down to the Harbour and walk through the town of St.John's. There is always something going on downtown and in the summer the whole main street is closed to cars. Easy access through walking or a drive or bus ride to walk to Signal Hill. Check out Qidi Vidi, where there are great views, hiking, and craft beer! There are endless beautiful hikes - the East Coast Trail ...one more beautiful than the next. You can always check out Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic. Blueberry late summer and Partridgeberry picking late fall, whale watching, and iceberg spotting (all depending on the time of year). There is a nearby ferry to the very unusual Bell Island (35 sq km island that looks like it's a puzzle piece of rock face edges that has been pushed out of the ocean). And that's just stuff that's here all the time!. There's always different events and festivals.. It's a very festive place!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
I live in downtown St. John's and so have great access to internet. In addition I have a large front office desk and workspace and other common living spaces that workawayers are welcome to share.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Beo (9 years)
Big Brown Dog... looks a bit like a cross between a Viszla and a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Very calm and passive...except when there is knocking (anywhere -- doors/ tables) and he senses entering of people (new or familiar), then he barks ferociously til he hears "turn around" and he skulks back to sleeping on a mat or chair...timid and not as initially friendly as JJ but super sweet and definitely grows on visitors to have his own fan club :)
JJ (7 years)
Very friendly and furry white dog that is possibly some part husky ... looks a bit like an arctic fox... rescue from Labrador.., love people and cats....likes to boss other dogs, of any size :/
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (9)
I spent a magical 10 days with Tamara, Mark, Gabe, Bale and GiGi!)
If you like to talk, Tamara's house is the best choice!))))) We discussed many topics with Tamara at the house and with Mark at the farm. They are both very funny personalities, and it's just hilarious to watch them discuss things… read more
We were able to organise our daily schedule in a… read more
I made a camping kitchen for her van and a rug, did some paper arts(?) and camping bed sewing, gardening... she has many kinds of projects. I think it shows her passion.
Tamara is literally easy-going. I've always tried to be perfect, but she taught me that it's okay not to be perfect. I learned that there are… 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:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I spent a magical 10 days with Tamara, Mark, Gabe, Bale and GiGi!)
If you like to talk, Tamara's house is the best choice!))))) We discussed many topics with Tamara at the house and with Mark at the farm. They are both very funny personalities, and it's just hilarious to watch them discuss things… read more
We were able to organise our daily schedule in a… read more
I made a camping kitchen for her van and a rug, did some paper arts(?) and camping bed sewing, gardening... she has many kinds of projects. I think it shows her passion.
Tamara is literally easy-going. I've always tried to be perfect, but she taught me that it's okay not to be perfect. I learned that there are… read more
I spent 10 days at her place, where I did some pretty cool projects, like storage room organizing, making a beautiful colourful wooden gate for the garden, making the tool for cutting wine bottles and trying it out, mostly successfully:)
We had so much fun!
She was so kind to pick me up after a hike and we also did… read more
She isn't asking for a lot of hours and there is a lot of time to explore St. John's. We even went for a couple of hikes together or she would pick me up at the end of my hike… read more
