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5 Sep 2024
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Description
We are happily accepting Workaways!!!!!
We need willing hands this spring/summer/fall to help with building a garage, landscaping, cooking, general life stuff and plenty of finishing on our Earthship that we now call home!
Our family of 4 lives on the side Willowbank Mountain in the Bleaberry valley near Golden in beautiful British Columbia!
We are on an off grid adventure. For 6 years we loved living in our hand built yurt. In the summer of 2016 we started tackling the building of an Earthship to be our forever home. We moved in 2 years ago and are LOVING IT!!! There is still a lot to be done.
We are focused on finding joy and purpose in life. We love sharing experiences with people and love the idea of doing things as a community!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We do our best to welcome our workawayers as part of the family, providing a loving, comfortable place to exist while you are here with us. Come have fun in the down time and help enthusiastically alongside us. We love the idea of a rich community on our property. We currently have our family of 5, my Dad, and my sister and her family of 5 as residents of Inshallah. It's awesome!
We are hoping to expose people to different alternative building styles and off grid solutions.
If you are thinking of living off grid in any capacity we are sure there is something you can learn!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
This summer we are looking to have hands around to help with:
-Cooking/Dishes
-Cobwork/plastering
-General Building projects
-Finishing
-Landscaping
-Plumbing
-Garden
-Cooking
-Child care/teaching
-Permaculture
-Yard care
-....
Generally we need help with building, developing the property and daily life.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
We offer a very basic accommodation situation.
We have a camper that is cozy with a wood stove in it for the cooler nights in spring and fall (we’ve even had a couple workawayers stay a winter in this trailer!
As we are completely off grid there is no “normal power” (leave your air conditioner and curling iron at home please! Ha!!). However we have plenty of power for charging small electronics and keeping connected.
There is running water in the earthship. We also have a sauna for relaxing and bathing.
While we are off grid we are not off line and do have Wi-Fi.
Things we have an abundance of are: amazing views, wonderful quiet, dazzling starry skies, TONS of world class activities in our area, campfires, music and NATURE!
What else ...
Golden is known for it's outdoor activities.
Within an hour of Golden you will find most any outdoor activity you desire and chances are it will be "world class".
Biking, climbing, kayaking, rafting, paragliding, hang gliding, hiking, backcountry huts, camping, etc.... It's all right here!
Golden itself is a small town with all the basic amenities. It has plenty of great local restaurants and cafes, a decent night life. It even has a a bowling alley and a movie theatre. Wow!
Calgary AB is the closest main centre.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We are off grid but not offline. We have a stable internet connection that allows for video chats and reasonable download speeds. Not great for gaming or huge transfers.
Space for parking camper vans
We have plenty of space to park an RV but it would need to be self sufficient as we cannot provide any utilities to it.
Can possibly accept pets
We are open to discussion and accepting workawayers with well behaved furry friends. We have our own puppy named Riffle and occasional livestock so it would mandatory that your pet would be good with children and other animals.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (26)
the work was also a lot of fun because we made firewood and built a wood store.
the environment is beautiful! Jair also made time to play guitar with me and took me water rafting.
Unfortunately, the time has passed too quickly!
Many thanks for everything!
Photos
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the work was also a lot of fun because we made firewood and built a wood store.
the environment is beautiful! Jair also made time to play guitar with me and took me water rafting.
Unfortunately, the time has passed too quickly!
Many thanks for everything!
I stayed two weeks in May… read more
While he doesn’t have a great amount of experience he was always game for any task you’d ask him to tackle and he’d do it to his best ability and with a smile. He was never afraid to ask for help, clarity or to confirm he was doing things right.
He was an… read more
During the 5 weeks of my stay, I had the occasion to see them beautiful and inspiring earthship, meeting the pigs and exploring the land. Golden is a wonderful place, close to so much wild beauty: glaciars, waterfalls, wolfes and… read more
They were very respectful of our home and privacy and very willing to work hard for us.
Girts has a great knowledge of building and is an amazing problem solver. He loves to get stuff done and will often work longer and harder than asked to finish up his tasks.
Sabine… read more
We absolutely loved having him as part for he family for the month and a bit he was here.
Hard working, willing and dedicated to a task no matter how miserable or enjoyable it was.
He was very easy to get along with, was honest and open and was great with our kids.
It was sad day to see him leave.
We would welcome… read more
On top of that he is easy going, self motivated, willing to work hard and skilled at carpentry and finishing work.
We had a great time with him and would happily have him back again anytime.
They spent 8 months living and working with us on our earthship project and life in general. When they left there were tears and it was hard.
They are the kind of people who go above and beyond. Not because they are trying but just because it’s how they naturally are.
They both put their heart into… read more
They spent 10 days with us. We wished they could have stayed for months.
The vibe of happiness and love that they bring with them is contagious and their willingness to work with joy is inspiring.
No job was too menial and everything was done with great care and attention to detail.
Thanks for all your efforts!… read more
Our work included cobbing around posts and along the base of walls, helping lay an earthen floor, cutting bottles and making cob/bottle windows, and some… read more
Mel, Jair, Nova ad Asher are so nice and it's a real pleasure to share all the moments of this lovely family. It is a great project and Jair is very patient and helpful for explain what and how participate at the construction
I was a part of the family from the beginning on.
My main tasks were helping in the earthship with painting and cob:D
But you should also help with everything that needs to be done.
And you shouldn't be too picky about where you sleep and cold showers:)
I enjoyed… read more
Jair and Mell where really welcoming, and everyone else was really friendly. The location is beautiful and the projects are really interesting. I wish I could move in and build my own earthship!
Thanks for a really great week Jair and Mell (and… read more
I highly recommend volunteering here. Thanks again to the whole… read more
Namaste
I guess I spent one of the happiest term in my life with Jair's family. They were always super warm and kind, even when they were tired. I helped them with painting the sauna (very lovely one), carrying woods, cleaning the site and so on, but they are really easy and flexible, and didn't seem like a job at all. Another point is… read more
I had a really wonderful few days staying with Jair, Mel and family - a more welcoming and kind one you couldn't wish for. I only wish I could have stayed longer. My days included helping Mel with the garden, getting a bit of reading and maths done with very sweet kids Nova and Asher, chopping some kindling, clearing brush piles… read more
