Canada
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We have a 130 acre family farm right next to the beautiful Kejimkujik National Park. There is a 4 acre lake and just over 100 acres of woodland, with the rest cultivated or used as pasture.
We don't have a tractor here - when we say horse power, we mean it. Our horses are used for everything, from hauling wood to plowing over land. If you're interested in learning to work with horses, we'd be happy to teach you what we know.
We manage a small market garden aimed mainly at producing enough for ourselves year-round, and some excess to sell. We are working towards raising all our own meat, eggs and dairy on farm, and are gradually expanding our flock of Icelandic sheep to produce wool for local fibre markets. This will involve putting in more fencing and opening up some of our younger forest to make wooded pasture.
Our family currently consists of four German Shepherds, four cats, numerous chickens, four horses, two Saanen goats, ten Icelandic sheep and two humans (Riley, the farmer and Elizabeth, chicken expert).
Our dogs are very much a large part of our lives and all live in the house with us. They are all friendly but as there are four of them they may be a little overwhelming to those with dog fears/anxiety.
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Farmstay
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Animal care
Once a month we make time to take our volunteers on an outing of their choice. This gives you the opportunity to explore Nova Scotia and learn more about whatever interests you. There are events in the park and at the nearby research institute that delve in to local history and conservation efforts.
We are constantly working on many different projects so our volunteers have a range of tasks to chose from. Depending on your skills and interest, we need help with: the vegetable beds; the orchard; repairing and maintaining farm buildings and fences; caring for the animals and; cooking and preserving food including cheese-making. We breed our German Shepherds so occasionally have numbers of small fluffy puppies in need of socialization. We have a board of ongoing tasks in the kitchen, and we sit down to discuss who's doing what every morning over breakfast.
English, intermediate French.
We have a single and a double room available in the main house which is winterised, and a double room converted from the veranda and a camper van parked in the yard which are not. The house is equipped with Wi-Fi, available Netflix account, and a delightful bath tub for soaking after a long day. We have guest accounts on the computers if you want to use them. All meals are provided and eaten with the family. We can offer pick-up as far away as Halifax if you let us know in advance.
We ask a minimum stay of a month.
There is a lot to explore around us and we encourage you to do so! The back entrance to Kejimkujik Park is a short mile up the road, and we are surrounded by trails and lakes which we frequently explore both on foot and from horseback. Borrow a bike from us or rent a canoe in the park and explore on your days off.
We live a fairly relaxed life, focused on our farm and animals, and we are very flexible about time and days off to work around your personality and interests.
We want you to be comfortable here and are open and accommodating to all races, religions, cultures, expressions of gender and sexualities.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
More than two
4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
