Profile information
Host rating
85 %
Last replied
8 Feb 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 17 days
Feedback
1
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Details
Description
Welcome here, our 5 acres of paradise just minutes outside of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta!
We are currently re-designing our 5 acres in order to build it into a Permaculture Demonstration Farm. We are working towards the goal of producing all of our own energy, and growing (most of) our own food for a family of 6 people, and then showing other people how to do it for them selves. Our farm will not resemble a typical farm we see now, as I am exploring a model for low-energy farming. Â
Currently we have several types of solar energy systems installed including solar electric, solar air heating, solar cooking, and solar water heating. We have also retrofitted our old farmhouse to be super-efficient in terms of energy use, and also to improve its long-term durability.Â
In terms of food production, we have installed twenty-four hundred square feet of raised garden beds, as well as the initial stages of three perennial food forests. Food forests will display the twenty-five species of fruit we can grow in this climate, as well as provide a low-maintenance alternative to annual-garden production.Â
Hand-in-hand with food production comes food preservation and storage. In order to display these ideas, we have a root cellar under our deck, and a walk-in freezer made from a shipping container. The shipping container is underneath a hill to help moderate temperature, and will keep food frozen year round without using any outside energy inputs.
Finally, we hope to develop our large Quonset building into a classroom-type facility that will facilitate teaching various courses such as renewable energy systems, soil building, cooking, canning & preserves, greenhouse design, music, yoga, and any other classes that the community desires.Â
So, if you are looking for some interesting ideas, conversations or friends, stop by for a visit and a tour of our ranch
Growing & Producing Sustainable Ideas!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
General Maintenance
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Farmstay help
Help with Eco Projects
Help around the house
Animal Care
Help with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our family has 4 kids, which live here at different times. Sage (12yrs), and Renn (10yrs), live here full time. Harrison (20yrs) and Elliott (23yrs) will visit from time to time on weekends. The kids are very sociable, and will be willing to help, play, sing, wrestle, paint, draw, or drum on anything you choose!
Our home is an old 5 bedroom farmhouse that has been converted to a high-efficiency building.
The property is designed to maximize production, but also to help form connections between people and their environment. Connections with other people, animals, and nature allow us to see things in a different perspective.
Our house and public toilets feature a simple, 5 gallon pail, compost or DRY toilet system.
We do not use any synthetic fertilizers of pesticides. We hand pick weeds and bugs if necessary. We use compost tea as fertilizer and ducks for pest control.
Methodologies: Bio-Dynamic, Biological pest control, Composting, Mulching, No-Till Agriculture, Permaculture, Without chemicals or pesticides
Practices: culinary herbs, gardens, vegetable, medicinal herbs, mushrooms, self-sufficiency, solar energy
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Animal Care, Construction projects, Cooking, Egg gathering, Firewood splitting & gathering, Gardening tasks, general, Help with Computers/Internet, Help with Eco Project, Kitchen help, Maintenance, general, Pruning, Weeding.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We have rooms and beds in the house as well as our pop up tent trailer in the summer time.
Meal options: Lacto-Vegetarian (includes dairy), Non Vegetarian, Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarian (includes eggs and dairy), Ovo-Vegetarian (includes eggs), Vegan.
Meal Planning & Sharing: All meals are eaten together with the host family, Everyone takes a turn with meal preparation, Help is welcome as host family and volunteers work together in meal preparation and clean up.
Approx. Percentage of food eaten is organic: 80%
We try to obtain the highest quality food possible. We are hoping for local, organic, GMO-free, chemical free, fertilizer-free, but in small-town Alberta, these options are not always available. Our drinking water is from a well, is chlorine-free, and fluoride-free. Breakfast (8am) usually consists of porridge or cereal with milk. We are not vegetarian all the time, but some meals are.
Please keep the doors and windows closed at all times during the winter to conserve heat. Please keep the doors and window screens closed at all times during the summer to keep out flies.
Smoking is allowed outdoors only. No smoking in the house but on the property is fine. 420 Friendly.
What else ...
We are 2.5 hours drive from Calgary or Edmonton, and 1 hour from Red Deer.
The town of Rocky Mountain House is a town of 7000 people and takes about 10 minutes to drive to from our home. Rocky has 3 grocery stores, 8 liquor stores, 2 laundromats, a movie theatre, a couple pubs, a swimming pool, 2 skating rinks, a museum, a national historic park, a post office, and lots more.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-6 hours a day, 5-7 days a week
