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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
25 Mar 2025
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100.0 %
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Details
Description
We are an environmentally minded couple in our mid 40s, who are growing roots on a 13 acre off grid homestead, where we are planning to build an earthship inspired home in the coming years.
Mark is a red seal electrician, certified solar installer, reiki master teacher and martial artist. I'm a gardener, certified in both holistic nutrition & plant-based cooking, a professional aromatherapist, reiki master and crafter.
Until we're ready to start building our home, we're working to establish additional vegetable gardens, repairing the existing sheds and cottage, as well as other landscaping and artistic projects.
Our homestead currently has 6 x 250sqft vegetable beds, a few flower beds, apple trees, currants, strawberries, blackberries, gooseberries, haskaps, etc. We also have a small frog pond and 10 acres of woods with established walking trails. We have simple compost toilets inside for night time use, (bucket & sawdust method) and there is an outhouse and spacious gravity fed shower near our cottage. We collect our wash water from the roof of one of the sheds and our electricity comes from a combination of solar and wind energy. It's a beautiful, peace-filled space, full of wild flowers, birds, bees, etc.
This is a gentle and safe space for anyone who visits, no matter their race, religion, sexual preference, etc. Our ideal visitors would share this attitude and help us to keep this space happy, healthy and peaceful.
This is an absolute haven for introverts!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Self development
Sustainability
Politics / Social justice
Farming
Culture
Plant care
Photography
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Books
Astronomy
Animals
Art & design
Yoga / Wellness
Outdoor activities
Nature
Camping
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Visitors will learn what it's like to live an off grid and low waste lifestyle. They may also learn more about gardening, preserving the harvest, wild fermentation, solar and wind energy, earthships, holistic health, cooking, local food and living in tune with nature.
Help
There are many areas where we could use help, so the projects we tackle together will be highly dependent on who comes to visit. The following are some of the projects we would like to focus on this summer:
Gardening is an ongoing task, with weeding, planting and clearing new beds. We also have many areas of overgrowth that need to be knocked back. General maintenance on the outbuildings is always needed, as is routine tidying of the walking trails. We'd also love to add to the trails that we currently have. In the early fall, there are tasks related to firewood, preserving the harvest and general tidying of the land. Occasional breaks from dishes and cooking are sometimes welcome, if you're so inclined.
Please note: It's important that you are able and willing to help us independently at times. We aren't always available to be with our volunteers.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have an 18 foot long, 1975 camper tucked away in the backyard of our cottage that can comfortably accommodate 2 adults. (If you are coming alone, don't worry! We won't put you in there with a stranger. You'll have the space to yourself.) Like the rest of the property, it is completely off grid. It has a double bed with 2 small bunks overhead for storage, a propane stove/oven, simple compost toilet, (bucket/sawdust method) table and benches. (Seating area folds down into an additional bed.) There is no running water, heater or electricity, but we keep the camper equipped with plenty of warm blankets, simple solar lights, washing and drinking water, (We get our drinking water from a local and tested spring.) and you are welcome to charge your phones/laptop/ebooks in the cottage or utility shed during the day. We have an outdoor, yet very private gravity fed shower and pit toilet/outhouse on site. The camper is kept clean, but please note that 1) The camper is from 1975 and showing its age, including a slight leak around one window (nowhere near the bed) and 2) We're in the country, and little critters occasionally make an appearance. We work to keep it to an absolute minimum, but it's a part of life here.
As for food, we keep the camper equipped with a variety of simple breakfast and snack foods and ask that you fend for yourself at the beginning of the day. You are invited to join us for lunch and supper each day you are with us. If you wish to have private lunches and suppers at any time, or specific specialty foods, we ask that you provide them for yourself, though you are always welcome to help yourself to the many veggies that we grow on site.
Though I am a plant-based cook, we are not vegan. Vegans, vegetarians and omnivores are all welcome and accommodated here...and none are judged. We are passionate locavores and grow a large percentage of our own food from April-November.
We are located a 10 minute drive from the nearest village, so having a vehicle would be very useful. But if you're wishing to completely immerse yourself at our homestead, we'd be happy to bring you into town with us once or twice a week and make sure that you get to see a bit of the surrounding area.
While our homestead typically has good reception for cell phones, we do not have an internet connection. There are a couple of libraries & cafes in the area, with free wifi. It's what we use and you're welcome to tag along!
Please note, while our homestead tends to be a relaxed place, we will not tolerate any racist or discriminatory talk, rowdy/drunken behaviour or excessive noise. We are respectful of the quiet serenity enjoyed by ourselves, our neighbors and the wildlife we share this space with. 4/20 friendly, but again, not in excess and once the days work is completed. We also ask that you keep the camper in good shape and as clean as you found it.
What else ...
We are located in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, which is a hub for local food in the province. There are plenty of markets to explore and an abundance of wineries, breweries and pubs/restaurants.
We are fairly close the Fundy shore, (World's highest tides!) Hall's Harbour, the Cape Split hiking trail, Blomidon Provincial Park and numerous waterfalls & trail systems.
If you're looking to explore a little further, we're within a 2 hour drive of the city of Halifax, the south shore, Digby and multiple other regions.
And of course, our homestead lends itself to quiet relaxation and is a great place to enjoy some time away from the bustle of modern life.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Our front yard has space for a camper or van. However, there is no hook up for power, water or septic because we are completely off grid. We also wouldn't be comfortable with someone running a loud generator for more than a little while each day. This is a pretty quiet spot!
Can possibly accept pets
We're willing to have guests bring their dog, but only if you're certain they wouldn't do damage to the camper and they aren't big barkers.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (3)
Karen and Mark were incredibly thoughtful and kind hosts, we felt very welcome in their home as soon as we arrived. We really enjoyed the tasks in the garden, and we loved learning from Karen who is a very knowledgeable gardener. We loved seeing the wildlife in the garden while… read more
We would say that 5 stars isn't enough! Karen and Mark are two incredible people living in an amazing land (vegetables garden, beautiful woods with trails, even a pond...). They are open minded, kind, generous, respectful and very funny. You will feel at home within a minute. Karen is an amazing cheffe and if you love local… read more
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Karen and Mark were incredibly thoughtful and kind hosts, we felt very welcome in their home as soon as we arrived. We really enjoyed the tasks in the garden, and we loved learning from Karen who is a very knowledgeable gardener. We loved seeing the wildlife in the garden while… read more
We would say that 5 stars isn't enough! Karen and Mark are two incredible people living in an amazing land (vegetables garden, beautiful woods with trails, even a pond...). They are open minded, kind, generous, respectful and very funny. You will feel at home within a minute. Karen is an amazing cheffe and if you love local… read more
