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Join us in creating a garden paradise in Mill Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Now taking applications for 2025! We will be taking in 6 volunteers at a time during April & May, minimum 2 week stay. We will be cleaning up the garden beds, building soil, putting in irrigation, starting plants, chopping wood and breaking trail through the forest. If you have construction or handyperson skills, we need you too! We've got a few things on the go that you can help with. Reach out for more info! If you are a certified tradesperson (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, concrete, etc) I may have paid work for you, please contact for details.
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    Our place is a permaculture homestead & farm tucked deep into the woods, lakeside in Nova Scotia. I'm 56 & relocated from BC to Nova Scotia in 2021 to build my semi-retirement eco dream that will provide food & shelter for generations to follow. You will be working on ONLY projects that do not generate income, like gardening/food production, firewood collection, general property upkeep, etc. the Cottage is an unpaid workaway, but you're housed in a vacation paradise! My short-term rental guests pay almost $200 a night to stay here.

    We have a new food forest (fruit tree nursery) with fruits, nuts and herbs, a flock of chickens and lots of wildlife, we even have groundhogs that have their own food garden. The goal is to be fully off-grid & self-sufficient within a few years. I'm 2 years into transforming my property. I believe in working with nature, instead of fighting her, using natural and permaculture techniques to operate organically. This property was a mowed field with flower beds, where they used TONS of pesticides. I'm transforming it back to nature, while keeping the uncleared land as a pristine watershed forest with walking paths. My chickens are pretty pampered, I grow them fodder/microgreens in winter & ferment their feed which means I get non-stop eggs all winter when most people's egg production plummets.

    Permaculture practices I use include soil building, hugelkultur berms and swale trenches to move water / water my food, collecting trailer loads of washed-up seaweed and I race around the neighborhood each fall grabbing all the leaves my neighbors bag up! Since I'm in pristine wilderness we have lots of local animals. My land houses porcupines, squirrels galore, beaver, deer, mink, bobcats, a bear and I'm sure more critters I just haven't seen yet. I operate an Eco Retreat Short Term Rental as well, introducing people to how the land can be used effectively by embracing nature - you will NOT be involved with this operation.

    What will a day at my place look like? A delish meal of fresh eggs and homemade sausages for our Omnivores, then we start around 9-10am on various projects for 1/2 the day. After that, you're free to fill your time however you choose, I've had some volunteers working remotely part-time on their regular jobs or if you're a skilled trade no doubt you'd find many in the area eager to hire you during your off time.

    If you love to cook I love to eat, otherwise, I cook for a living and I'm happy to teach you new healthy meal ideas. When I'm not working on a fun project or working my day job (from home) I spend time on the water kayaking and watching nature OR I have my hands in the dirt growing something!

    Please note that the project is 420-friendly, outdoors of course! IMPORTANT: I'm extremely scent sensitive so colognes, shampoos etc can set off my allergies. I ask that you respect that and use the unscented products I provide (soap, shampoo, conditioner and laundry soap) AND bring your own unscented personal care products. EVEN a small whiff or scented body lotion or deodorant can sent my allergies into freefall.

    We're fully LGBTQIA2SA+ and Neurodivergent friendly here!

    I'm a bit of an introvert, I love love love to visit & educate, then I love my downtime. If you're an introvert know that after peopling a while, you'll also be able to enjoy downtime here at the place. There are so many spots to escape into nature!

    I started with another service first before workaway, please check WWOOF for my extensive reviews.

  • 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
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • 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

    My location is a vacation paradise. Lakefront complete with Kayaks and a paddleboard, bikes to explore around and a 250' waterfront boardwalk to zen out and enjoy the lake.

    I'm a fantastic cook and specialize in healthy meals full of flavor that come together in under 30 mins and would love to share this knowledge. First I have to grow that food! If you've ever wanted to learn how to grow your own food by embracing nature, I'm your gal and teaching this to others is my life mission, it is how we change the world, one plate at a time.

  • Help

    Help

    Would LOVE some help with a few building projects especially! More details in my main writeup.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Food is included, you just tell me what you need for your eating style. You whip up your own bfast or lunch with supplied groceries and a dinner will be provided.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We are 10 mins from the small community of Hubbards NS. Two ocean beaches are a 20min bike ride away (bikes are provided). If you love nature, I have 17 acres of pristine forest for hiking & exploring. I've been hosting Wwoofers since 2023 and my reviews are outstanding and the experience has been remarkable!

  • 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

    I've got great wifi and have hosted digital nomads before.

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We've got a large level driveway as well as a upper-level lookout that can be parked on.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 696197885574

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