Burgeoning Farm and Nature Education Centre near Honeywood, Canada

Details

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  Description

  We’re inviting thoughtful, engaged people to join us on the land for the growing season and be part of a small, intentional community rooted in care, cooperation, and meaningful work.
  
  In exchange for your help with a variety of ongoing projects, we offer a simple and comfortable place to stay, shared nourishing meals, and the chance to take part in a way of living that’s closely connected to the land and the seasons. Days here tend to be steady and grounded, with time for both work and rest, shared meals, conversation, and quiet moments outdoors.
  
  The work itself is hands-on and varied. Depending on the time of year, this can include things like maple sugaring, planting fruit trees and berry bushes, tending the vegetable garden, inoculating mushroom logs, trail maintenance, wood chopping, and general care of the property. There are also opportunities to help with food preservation, such as drying herbs, making simple herbal preparations, fermenting foods, and supporting harvests. Some people enjoy helping with light building projects, organizing shared spaces, or assisting with small educational gatherings and retreats.
  
  We’re a small, non-profit community farm that grows food for friends, family, and our wider community. Our focus is on living in a way that feels sustainable, respectful, and humane. The work can be physical at times, but we pay attention to pacing, communication, and supporting one another so that the days feel balanced rather than overwhelming. Reliability and care matter more to us than brute strength.
  
  Stays can be flexible. Some people join us for a couple of weeks, others for a month or two, and some for most of the growing season. From March or April onward, we generally ask for about five days a week and roughly five focused hours of work per day, leaving space for rest, exploration, and personal time.
  
  This isn’t a retreat, but it also isn’t a grind. We value warmth, respect, shared responsibility, and a sense of ease alongside meaningful effort. If you enjoy being outdoors, contributing to something real, living communally in a thoughtful way, and engaging with the rhythms of land-based life, we’d be happy to hear from you.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  General Maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Technology

  

  Events & social

  

  Pets

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Charity work

  

  Farming

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Art & design

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  History

  

  Architecture

  

  Gardening

  

  Languages

  

  Photography

  

  Writing

  

  Hitchhiking

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Carpentry

  

  Astronomy

  

  Animals

  

  Cycling

  

  Hiking

  

  Dancing

  

  Beach

  

  Fitness

  

  Camping

  

  Nature

  

  Yoga / Wellness
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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

  We have spent years learning, experimenting, and developing a wide range of skills connected to living close to the land, and we are happy to share this knowledge with people who arrive ready to work and learn. These are practical, grounded skills that many people rarely have the chance to experience directly.
  
  If you are committed and curious, there are opportunities to learn about organic gardening, tree planting, and the craft of making maple syrup. You can explore herbal medicine making, wild fermentation, and simple, nourishing food preparation. We also spend time engaging with deep ecology, mindful communication, and the often overlooked skill of working efficiently and intentionally in the physical world.
  
  Over time, you may gain a clearer sense of what it means to live in a grounded and authentic way, staying present and connected to nature while managing time, energy, and resources with care and intention. For those who truly show up, the benefits extend well beyond the work itself.

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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

  Projects that we need help with include: maple sugaring, planting fruit trees and berry bushes, working in the veggie garden, inoculating mushroom logs, drying herbs and making herbal medicine, fermenting food and other food alchemy, making trails in the forest, chopping wood, creating art in the landscape, helping put on some meditation retreats, keeping things tidy and in good order, building projects, and more.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate
  French: Intermediate
  Portuguese: Intermediate
  Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  Learning a language is like doing a jigsaw puzzle of a million pieces with a picture that keeps changing. It's like getting lost in a foreign city without a map. It's like playing tennis without a ball, like being an ant in a field of grasshoppers. It's being an acrobat with a broken leg, an actor without a script, a carpenter without a saw, a storyteller without a middle or an end. But then gradually it¹s like being out in the early morning with the mists lifting. It¹s like a chink of light under a door, like finding the glove you were looking for, catching the train you thought you were going to miss, getting an unlooked-for present, exchanging a smile. And then one day it's like riding a bicycle very fast downhill.
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  Accommodation

  Accommodation is simple yet comfortable. Most people stay in tents set up in the forest, and many of them are equipped with mattresses. During the colder months, some tents also have small woodstoves to keep things warm and comfortable. It is a rustic, off grid experience that offers a strong connection to nature, especially for those who appreciate fresh air and a simple way of living.
  
  Food is something we care deeply about, and there is plenty of it. We grow much of what we eat and prepare meals in straightforward, nourishing ways. Our food is mostly vegetable based, though we are omnivorous and usually include some meat each day. Meals are shared, and everyone helps out in the kitchen at times, whether that means preparing food, cooking, or cleaning up afterward. People eat well here, and no one goes hungry, but it is a shared responsibility that keeps everything running smoothly.

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  What else ...

  We’re located about an hour and a half north of Toronto, just up Airport Road on the way toward Collingwood. The farm is nestled in a peaceful, rural setting surrounded by forests, fields, and rolling hills. We're far from the distractions of city life.
  
  There’s no public transportation directly to our location, but we do offer a few options to help you get here. For a modest contribution to cover gas, we’re happy to pick you up from Toronto or nearby areas when it fits into our schedule. Alternatively, you can take an Uber from the city if you'd prefer more flexibility.
  
  Once a week, usually around 3 p.m., we also make a trip to the train station in Barrie to pick up new arrivals. We’ll coordinate with you in advance to make the journey as smooth as possible.

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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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  Space for parking camper vans

  We can accommodate a moderate sized van or trailer

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We may be able to accommodate pets on a case-by-case basis, but this is not guaranteed. Only well-behaved, quiet, and well-disciplined animals will be considered. Our property is a working farm with sensitive gardens, wildlife, and ongoing projects, so any animal that disrupts the work, damages the land, or causes disturbances will not be permitted to stay.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  Trudies (10 months)

  We have a small flock of 15 Rhode Island Red hens ~ all female, no rooster. They’re hardy, curious, and full of personality. Most days you’ll find them scratching around the garden beds, pecking at bugs, or sunbathing in the dust. They’re great layers and usually provide a steady supply of fresh brown eggs.
  
  They’re used to people and don’t mind being around volunteers, though they can be a little shy at first. Once they get to know you, they’ll follow you around hoping for scraps or treats. We let them free range when possible, but they also have a secure coop and run to keep them safe at night.
  
  It’s a peaceful rhythm taking care of them ~ feeding, checking water, collecting eggs, and watching their little flock dynamics. Simple and sweet.

  Hank (3 years)

  Hank’s the best! Super friendly, well trained, and gentle with people. He’s a big dog with a sweet and goofy personality. He loves attention, belly rubs, and following you around while you work. He’s used to being around lots of different people, including volunteers from all over the world, and he’s great with both adults and kids.
  
  He’s calm most of the time but still playful and curious. He listens well, doesn’t jump up, and knows basic commands. He might bark once or twice when someone arrives, but it’s just his way of saying hello. He’s part of the family and spends his days lounging in the sun, roaming the land, or keeping an eye on things near the kitchen.

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