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Learn about permaculture and natural building on Saltspring Island, B.C., Canada

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Welcome to the Ranch -
    We are a 2 year old small permaculture collective homestead.

    I am 32 years old and live here with my 26 year old partner a Biodynamic Holistic Chef, along with a few other folks in different homes on the land.

    The property has both south and north facing slopes with some short nature trails on the land.

    We are a 10 min drive to town, and a 30 min bike ride to town.
    Tis ideal is you have your own transportation but rides offered when we go to town or head somewhere on island.
    Fortunately we are a 5 min bike ride to beautiful St. Mary's lake swimming access. We have pond we like to dip in all year around. We enjoy caring for the land and planting for the future!

    We do a weekly soul song circle at 7:30pm every Wednesday evening :)

    Opportunities to help with myself and others at times and learn about regenerative gardening and permaculture skills, land tending knowledge, local edible plants, composting wisdom, building skills (some with repurposed materials), Cobb oven building, and more! We love building soil, and we responsibly practice composting our chicken manure, food scraps, and humanure.

    We eat mostly organic, home made, delicious and nutritious meals that include meats like chicken, bison, venison and elk.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Interests

    Interests

    Team sports
    Cooking & food
    Nature
    Carpentry
    Animals
    Hiking
    Water sports
    Camping
    Dancing
    Beach
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We can share in music jams, fire circles (so long as there aren't fire bans), enjoy events on Saltspring like dance temple, the Saturday Market, beaches, hikes, etc. We can lend bikes as well.
    I hope to learn about what your quest in life is, and maybe I can help along the way and both learn something from each other!

  • Help

    Help

    Currently calling in a creative, conscious, human or couple with experience in community minded projects.
    Primary focus work project - The Temple
    A 26 ft F-Dome for a warm year round space for movement
    * Cobb floor
    * Assembly
    * Outdoor kitchen

    This Fall we will continue internal finishings on a Tiny Home, The Dome Temple and, Round House in our Zone 5 for winter song circles.
    Planting Garlic after the Amaranth & Sunflowers are harvested and Giant Atlantic Pumpkins seasoned for winter chicken food.
    Planting Nuts after removing some danger trees as a future food forest including other Jugulan tolerant species.

    Primarily farming meat rabbits, Egg Chickens and growing garlic for the greater community including; Black Garlic, braiding a large variety of soft neck / shapeless types. We still look forward to the Scape Harvest in June for Personal Pesto production.

    Daily Maintenance : Rabbit & Chicken feeding (Gathering Herbal blends; Comfrey), Berkey water top up.

    Occasional Missions : Oyster shell gathering (Local Calcium supplements)
    Watering Guildes - Monday & Friday

    Leo season - Weeding
    Virgo Seaons is for planning ;)


    Working together to nurture fruit and nut tree guilds with edible and medicinal companion plants. Building an outdoor kitchen with a Cobb oven, Stacking firewood, pulling out invasive plant species, picking up garbage on the land, making burn piles with blackberries and watching them disappear into bio-char, maintaining walking trails in the woods, building a sacred fire circle roundhouse, gardening, spreading compost on beds, weeding, sharing meals.
    There are lots of possibilities for helping.
    I am happy to cater to what your interests are, also considering what the priorities are in the season :)

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Intermediate
    French: Intermediate

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Accommodation in the small sauna in the summer, and accommodation in a small camper in the winter.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    I personally practice intermittent fasting, so you are welcome experience that. Self serve is granola breakfast bar will always be available or making something with an abundance of our fresh eggs, or something more creative like spelt pancakes with bananas / blackberries as the late summer seasons change into Autumn from smoothies (we love tcm / Ayurvedic principals here). We find working from 9-1:30pm and eat lunch together after the best flow, with some days being a little longer to wrap up in a good way (tools put away) and then a later start or shorter day in lieu. You can use the kitchens to create your dinner in whatever fashion you please.

    I always provide the food via garden or store, recommendations are open and I will try to accommodate them on a big Saturday shop. Priority is given to sustainable local options with the least pesticides :)

    You can enjoy Saturday and Sunday off to explore the island as you wish. There is a rich culture of music and dance and creative folks on this Island to immerse yourself in during your time.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    We have an ethernet cord but are less ideal for digital nomads

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

    2 Flemish Giant Rabbits

    40 Chickens

Host ref number: 636564141877

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Photos

The image depicts a small, rustic cabin nestled in a wooded area, surrounded by trees and foliage, with a large tree stump in the foreground.
The image depicts a serene lake scene with a canoe situated on the shore, surrounded by lush greenery and a tranquil atmosphere, evoking a sense of peacefulness.
The image depicts a forest scene with a large tree stump and a tall, spiky plant in the foreground, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
The image depicts a serene beach scene with a small island covered in trees, featuring a clear blue sky and calm water.
The image depicts a white bucket overflowing with long, green garlic scapes, sitting on a wooden pallet in a garden setting, bathed in sunlight.
A person\'s foot is seen in front of a campfire with a forest in the background, surrounded by trees and grass.
The image depicts a serene landscape with a wire fence, lush green grass, and trees set against a clear blue sky, evoking a sense of natural beauty and tranquility.

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