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Host rating
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14 May 2025
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Details
Description
We are a farmed animal sanctuary located in the wine country of Temecula, CA. Our specific region is a hidden gem, rolling hills with oak forests, beautiful vistas and a large nature preserve nearby. Our land is nine acres, and includes a year round creek and riparian zone. The views are stunning. Our mission here is multi-pronged:
* Provide a safe and loving forever home to farmed animals in need
* Connect Workawayers to how unique, sensitive and intelligent these exploited animals are
* Preserve the habitat and ecosystem that existed here before us
* Grow as much of our own food as possible, using permaculture practices
* Model reducing our use of natural resources via solar power, rain water collection and irrigation, gray water, and planting region-appropriate plants
Our sanctuary is new, this is our first year, so there is so much to do. We are building it into a place that not only reflects our values, but is a spot that calls others to slow down, relax, and be open to contemplation. Three of us live on site, owners Kelly and Paul, and Kelly's mom, Diane.
We host pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, livestock guardian dogs, and will soon be adding ducks and sheep.
This area offers much to explore. There is great hiking nearby (and on the property itself!), old-town Temecula has good restaurants and an active night life, there are numerous wineries @ 20 minutes away, a famous casino, and farmers markets.
We are very much LGBTQ friendly, open to all non-harming lifestyles, and prioritize good communication.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Kelly and I love meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. Although, there will be plenty of times where a helper works alone, there are lots of opportunities to connect and learn from each other. We are passionate about animal care and well being, and love sharing our knowledge and experience with others. Paul is very skilled with plant-based cooking, and happy to share those techniques and ideas. Paul is a retired musician and videographer, and Kelly is trained as a therapist who now works in education - we love to pass on what we know in those realms too. Paul has a daily meditation practice, and workawayers are welcome to join in if they wish. We often meditate in the animals pens, and they benefit from the stillness!
We also wish to learn from you, what you know and can share from your own experiences.
Registered charity
This host is a registered charity in their country and is looking for volunteers to help with their project(s).
Help
Helpers can choose 20 hours/week of help and we will provide food, OR, for 10 hours/week, and helpers will provide their own food.
Having experience helping with animals is preferred but not required. We treat the animals as family here, so practices used in livestock rearing are not what we would be involved with. We encourage visitors to spend quality time with the animals, brushing them, and keeping them engaged. We wish for them to get comfortable around people other than the family here.
Tasks would include: feeding and looking after the animals and gardens and general maintenance of the property
Some tasks would be done with hosts, others on your own, but only after being trained on the tasks. Feeding and pen maintenance would be done during the week. Solo projects on Tuesday and Thursdays, collaborative projects on Saturday. For a volunteer help 20 hours, there would also be shifts on Monday and Wednesday. Specifics vary by season.
Even with solo chores, the Workawayer would never be tending to the sanctuary alone. Someone is always here to help and offer guidance. In rare cases where the primary residents need to run an errand, it would only be for 2-3 hours, always mid-day, and never during a volunteer's shift hours. The volunteer would never stay overnight without someone present at the sanctuary. Skills learned will include animal care, organic gardening , and trail maintenance
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Accommodation
A helper would stay in an RV on the property, in their own space with privacy. It uses solar panels and batteries for power, and has a bathroom, shower, stove, refrigerator and propane heater. There is hi-speed internet access in the trailer and throughout the fenced property. It has a very comfortable queen sized bed. It is very quiet here (except for our nocturnal dogs and rooster) and guests mention how well they sleep in the RV we have named Luna.
Helpers can eat food from the gardens, and eggs from the chickens. We are a vegan household, so shared meals will generally be vegan. We do not require vegetarian or vegan diets here, but any food we prepare will be that way (eggs from our chickens we do eat on occasion)
Because our schedules can be unpredictable, guests will often be making their own meals in the trailer.
Helpers can choose 20 hours/week of work and we will provide food.This would entail sharing some meals if the helper wishes, or we will stock the fridge and pantry with food of their choosing. Any combination of those two works for us.
Alternatively, the workawayer can opt for 10 hours/week of work, and provide their own food.
What else ...
Kelly and I have full time jobs in addition to working at the sanctuary. One of us is always at the property though. There will be times where the workawayer is on their own while we work, so it would be good for someone comfortable with that, and who benefits from the quiet and solitude. Its a great place for journaling and writing.
The trails around the property are really beautiful, the creek runs year round and is habitat to many creatures. There is a hammock by the creek - offering the best naps imaginable. We also have a swimming hole for hot summer days, and a hot tub for chilly nights.
We do go to sleep early, and wake up early, per farm hours. That schedule generally works best here.
As to transport options, if the workawayer does not have a car, uber or lyft is available in this area, and we are happy to have them join us on trips to town for supplies
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We also telecommute from here. The internet is generally reliable. Doing zooms from the trailer would work fine
Space for parking camper vans
If you have your own camper we have water, and there is a company that can pump black water for $90. Gray water can be disposed on site. We do not have electric hookups for an RV
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
