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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
10 May 2025
Reply rate
87.5 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
48
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Details
Description
URGENT:
***
I am currently looking for people with gardening skills.
***
I have a small homestead (~40 acres) with many different animals (horses, cows, poultry, bees). There are perennial gardens, as well as fruit trees and fields. There is always lots of work with the animals and the gardens, as well as processing wood for the furnace that heats the house in the winter.
I try to use organic and ecologically friendly practices whenever possible and to keep chemical usage to a minimum.
A lot of the food we eat on the farm is grown by ourselves.
The farm is very close to Ottawa (45 minutes) as well as to Quebec and the US border (approximately 2 hours), thus offering a lot of opportunities to explore and vacation as part of your volunteering visit.
Please note:
This is not a business. During winter, I typically like to find people, who are looking to be part of a community and willing to commit to a longer term stay, usually 3-5 months, if things work out after a 1 month trial. After that time period, we can also discuss options.
We usually accept short term (one month) helpers during the summer and early fall – please contact us.
Our minimum WorkAway stay is normally 4 weeks, unless you have a very special skill set applicable to our current projects (see more below).
You do NOT have to be vaccinated to come here.
Also, we have a strict NO smoking/vaping policy on the farm, that includes outside. We also have a policy against drug or alcohol abuse or overuse (a glass of beer or wine with dinner is perfectly OK, or medicinal use of cannabis is also OK) – but if you get drunk or high on the premise, you'll be asked to leave.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON DIET:
Please note that I am not set up to provide a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, although we do eat meatless meals occasionally. While I can fully understand that some people do not want factory-farmed meat (I don't want it either – that is why I farm), I believe that a healthy soil-food-web requires grazing animals and as such, some of the animals are raised for meat. I expect that people coming here are ready to eat what the farm has to offer and what is stored in our freezers. I can usually work around food sensitivities (such as gluten or nuts), but there's too much contamination if you have any really severe, life threatening allergies.
SHORT TERM STAYS:
Sometimes people inquire about staying only for a few days. If you are someone with special skills (carpentry, masonry, expert gardener, etc.) that are relevant to one of our current projects, where you could really help make a difference in a few days, I may make an exception to our regular minimum stay policy for you.
Other than that, I am really not setup for short term stays, as they represent quite a bit of work and upheaval for me and the animals.
If you think you may qualify for a short-term stay, please don't hesitate to contact me to discuss! :-)
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
People often read the comments and then ask after my late husband Fernando. Sadly, Fernando and I were parted after 37 happy years together, when I lost him to a rare cancer in 2020. Just so you realize that he is no longer with us. Still living at the farm are myself, my mother-in-law, as well as my brother-in-law and his partner and a most adorable cat named Wadsworth (Wadsie), amongst all the other farm creatures.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will learn about living on a small homestead, using permaculture principles, in a multi-cultural family with backgrounds from Europe and South America, where we speak English, German and Spanish. You'll be close to Canada's capital, which offers many cultural attractions, also close to Quebec with its own unique culture in Canada and only 1.5 hours away from the Canada US border.
Help
Longterm help is usually required over the winter. That means looking after animals, the greenhouse, the wood furnace and handling firewood. Please note that you need a certain physical strength to do these tasks.
Help with cooking and housekeeping is always appreciated as well.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
For now, in a guest room in our house.
What else ...
Visitors are always treated like they are family - you'll be living in the main house and we'll often have meals together.
If you have an international or Canadian Driver's license, have driven for 4 years or more and are over 21, then we can also lend you our car occasionally. Otherwise we can take you to the bus stop etc., so you can take public transportation for your outings.
Please note that I am not set up to provide a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, although we do eat meatless meals occasionally. While I can fully understand that some people do not want factory-farmed meat and I would never force that on anyone (in fact, I don't want it either – that is why I farm), I believe that a healthy soil-food-web requires grazing animals and as such, some of the animals are raised for meat. I expect that people coming here are ready to eat what the farm has to offer and what we have stored in our freezers.
Also, we have a strict NO smoking/vaping policy on the farm, that includes outside. We also have a policy against drug or alcohol abuse or overuse (a glass of beer or wine with dinner is perfectly OK, or medicinal use of cannabis is also OK) – but if you get drunk or high on the premise, you'll be asked to leave.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Note, while we have decent connectivity, our rural internet is NOT good enough for long or frequent Zoom meetings etc. (particularly not more than one at a time).
Space for parking camper vans
Always inquire first. We may or may not have space depending on who else we're hosting at the time.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Feedback (26)
Jacqui is kind, knowledgeable and caring. She invites you in with open arms and makes you feel at home and comfortable right away. We had many… read more
I think that when I contacted you on Workaway, I told you I will be staying for 3-4 weeks and then we will decide what next, but in the end I have been in the farm for 2 months （minus few days）, and I might like to stay longer if I wouldn't find the job in Edmonton。 BTW，If you arrive to Edmonton, give me a call！Now in Edmonton, I miss… read more
When I arrived at Jacqui's place, I was feeling fragile from recent events, but I immediately felt at… read more
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Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
Jacqui is kind, knowledgeable and caring. She invites you in with open arms and makes you feel at home and comfortable right away. We had many… read more
I think that when I contacted you on Workaway, I told you I will be staying for 3-4 weeks and then we will decide what next, but in the end I have been in the farm for 2 months （minus few days）, and I might like to stay longer if I wouldn't find the job in Edmonton。 BTW，If you arrive to Edmonton, give me a call！Now in Edmonton, I miss… read more
When I arrived at Jacqui's place, I was feeling fragile from recent events, but I immediately felt at… read more
He's a very intelligent, sensitive, articulate and interesting young man – with a lovely British accent! ;-)
We all enjoyed his funny stories and self-deprecating humour. He is willing to learn and… read more
Jacqui is an amazing, skilled and intelligent host, one who I shared many very interesting conversations and laughs with. She was a patient… read more
I… read more
She helped me tackle some organizational… read more
Annika knows her way around large animals (cows and horses), having grown up on a farm in Austria and she is not afraid of work or helping out wherever help is needed.
She's very mature, dependable and… read more
Anyone who loves their animals and is looking for help… read more
The animals are lovely and we were fortune to see the birth of two little calves.. soooo cute :D
The work is… read more
We… read more
She is a real trouper and a very hard worker - she'd spend hours outside doing chores and then spoil us by cooking a gourmet meal or surprise us with some home-baked treats.
On top of that, she is a wonderful person with a kind and cheerful… read more
I had to take care of the animals, each of them are really nice. I learned a lot about farming, Jacqui and Fernando take the time to… read more
The work was the daily care of the animals and the cleaning of the stables. In addition, in the orchard we… read more
I really enjoyed it to stay with them.
It was a very good experience and I learned a lot about planting trees, their animals and cooking.
Jacqui is an excellent cook, I loved her food. You can always be sure, that the things she make is organic or from their own farm.
You will never go… read more
I found them to be very willing helpers, quick to learn and great with all our animals, the big ones and the small ones! They were very responsible, took excellent care of the barn and also helped a great deal around the house.
Aside from being a great help, we also found them to be polite, kind… read more
Jacqui and Fernando are the most friendliest people we have ever met. They are very welcoming and let you feel at home from the first minute (and we really did!).
And Jacqui is such a good cook!! Every meal was sooo delicious (that’s why we ate so much ;) ) and… read more
I found them completely trustworthy and did not have any concerns leaving our house and the animals in their care when we were away for a couple… read more
The work is straightforward, feeding/watering the animals, cleaning stalls/shelters and letting… read more
I stayed for three weeks during the heatwave end of june - beginning of july! My chores were taking care of the chickens, cows, bulls and horses in the morning and evening. During the day, depending on the heat, we worked on weeding, repairing fences, bringing up the hay in the hay loft, gardening,… read more
He does assigned tasks very quickly, but at the expense of thoroughness and care. This tendency also leads to a number of minor accidents, which could be entirely avoidable if he… read more
We really enjoyed having Alex and Peter with us: aside from being diligent and dedicated helpers, who see what needs to be done, work independently and come up with… read more
Jacqui and Fernando are very friendly and helpful people. We felt very welcome at their place. They are interested in your hobbies, culture and stories. It was cozy in the evening sitting together, playing some games, watching Orville or having a… read more
Annika is a kind, warm and fun person to be with. She's also independent, likes to keep busy and looks for areas where she can help (like chopping wood for example!) - always appreciated! :-)
She loves… read more
He did not have much experience or a background in farming, but became independent with chores after only a few… read more
The work is absolutely doable, never more than 25 hours a day. On weekends, you can easily make a trip to Ottawa or… read more
Chores mainly consisted of morning and evening work with the animals - feeding, mucking out horses, cows and chickens with some hours in between dedicated to whatever other tasks needed doing.
I arrived just as the weather was
warming up so this mainly consisted of… read more
During our stay the main duty was taking care of the animals in the morning and before supper. In addition we helped with all different kinds of tasks around the house and garden. We stayed in two bedrooms in their lovely home and got spoilt… read more
in carpentry came in handy on several occasions and he was always looking
for opportunities to help out. Jannik is not only a hard worker but also
very friendly, kind and personable. He is genuinely interested in meeting
people and learning new things - in fact he was… read more
You want to meet they after a long trip in the bus.. very friendly, helpful,open and hospitality.
The work with the animals was great and i can only recommend it!
They provide me even their car to discover the region and there is a lot to see!
Thank you… read more
our days with his tales from his native, sunny Algeria! He's an open,
friendly and funny guy, who likes to laugh and who enjoys other people's
company. We had a great time comparing languages, since Rida is also a
professional translator. Although Rida did not have any… read more
I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a peaceful… read more
