Profile information
-
Host rating
100 %
-
Last replied
31 Aug 2026
-
Reply rate
85.7 %
Usually responds within 4 days
-
Feedback
10
-
Facebook verified
-
Email verified
Badges (4)
Find your perfect host
Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks
Details
-
Description
We live on a 300 acre homestead in the Ottawa Valley in eastern Ontario. Over many years of permaculture and mulch methods extensive rich organic gardens have been developed. We feed our families primarily and put together food boxes for people in our area on a need basis. In the past we vended at a local farmers market which was great but is not our focus at this time. We keep various animals for pets and food. Horses, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, and cats. This homestead is a little piece of history, established about 160 years ago by polish settler immigrants at the time so we have many hand built log barns and outbuildings some in need of rebuilt barn doors and various touch up- otherwise have been very well kept up. George my father lives in the original farm house; then across the yard I live with my four children ages 6 to 14 as well as my mother. We work together to get chores done. George is the main mind and energy behind it all and I continue to learn all I can while he is still here. As he ages he need to take more time for himself to tend his aging body and reflect on his life lived. We talk about scaling down but that its another question if we do so. In which case help during summer months largely focuses on gardening work. During winter we have some renovation projects going on.
On cold winter afternoons and eves we fire up our sauna to deal with the cold of winter.
I am a Registered massage therapist, working in my field two days per week as I mainly stay home with children, tend the fire, tend to the garden, chickens and horses. The younger two children are homeschooled we collaborate with neighbouring families in homeschool groups.
George (my father) has lived 50+ years on the farm and built it into what it is today, extensive gardens all organic and permaculture methods to build soil in this marginal land. He is a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and character!
Rhett the father of our children helps us where needed on the farm but mostly focuses on his arborist tree removal business in the surrounding towns and area.
Diana my mother lives with me now for almost two years. She has some health complications so cannot live alone.
Things you may learn and participate in:
-gardening
-food preservation
-garlic planting
-food harvesting
-small regenerative gardening style learning
-animal feeding chores
-farmers market day ( harvesting and setting up to sell at market)
-collecting eggs
-cutting or hauling firewood
-fixing fences
-helping with some childcare or learning with children if this interested you
-helping with small repairs to barns or outdoor buildings
- and much more depending on the seasons
I preserve and ferment various foods from the garden. We store veggies like onions, garlic, cabbage, root veggies(carrots, beets, parsnip, potatoes, celeriac), in our root cellar. As well as squash and sweet potato’s. These food last us all winter long. Depending on the season you will have many opportunities learn about this kind of food storage and harvest.
On time off you will have opportunities to spend time with horses if that interested you. Riding if you have the experience, we have many wonderful trails in the land. Our dogs are wonderful company for walks or rides. In this area you can find May lakes and rivers to explore as well.
We look forward to the chance to host you and to share experience together and learn from one another.
Peace -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Teaching
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
-
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
-
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We live as much from the land as possible, we eat very much seasonally organically and locally. We also are all off grid powered by solar- this makes us very aware of timing for power usage and water usage and such- to time with the cycle of the day!
We sauna regularly to keep immune systems strong through winter and to get heated to the bones!
We have a wonderful extensive local supportive community of people who we barter and help back and forth with, this is an amazing thing to experience I think if you have not before, or if you have to just share in. Opportunities in winter to experience winter are great here, like snow shoeing and cross country skiing as we normally have good long hefty winters. Summers are glorious fast and furious! great swimming in our pond and at nearby lakes and rivers. Also if you come in spring you will learn to live with black flies ;) -
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
-
Help
summer help:
-gardening; planting, digging, mulching, composting, weeding
-animal care; chicken care, exercising horses/ridding
-fencing
-harvesting and preserving food
-wine making, and other fun ferments!
-trail clearing
- building and maintenance project
-indoor/outdoor renovations
-occasional childcare
-
winter help:
-fire wood cutting and harvesting
-snow shoveling
-animal care; feeding water and hay, chicken care
-horse ridding
-indoor simple wood shelving -
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
My father is fluent in German and I can communicate. A little in German and French. I am always happy to learn a new language and to share what I can with English. -
Accommodation
in Summer we have a couple trailer options as well as tent option.
A cabin and a Mongolian yurt depending on the season. -
What else ...
during your time off we have great neighbors to visit with different set ups, friendly and welcoming and making ago of it off the land. We have extensive trails for hiking skiing or snow shoeing. We have ridding horses one for beginner and other for more experienced ridder. In summer there are amazing lakes and rivers to visit. Also in area there are various fun community and social events that go on. Ottawa canada's capital is a 2 hour drive away. Often we have found with guess in the past they often soak up our farm land, going for long walks into the nature wilderness or quiet moments by the fire or on stone fence thinking and soaking up the silence.
-
A little more information
-
Internet access
-
Limited internet access
-
We have pets
-
We are smokers
-
Can host families
-
-
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
-
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (6)
The farm is beautiful and
I had such a great time with Nadia, her family and everyone else who lives there or visited.
All the animals are really cute - I fell in love with the dog. We also did a trail ride with Nadia's horses... an experience I'll never forget.
It was harvest season, so there … read more
Kate was truly a pleasure to host! Once we became acquainted in the first week or so we were rolling. Things felt smooth, communication was easy, and she was up for my super hectic family-farm life style!
Kate is willing, eager to learn, strong, clear about what she needs … read more
This is one busy multigenerational small farm; but then again, how can't it be with 4 children under the age … read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.5)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
The farm is beautiful and
I had such a great time with Nadia, her family and everyone else who lives there or visited.
All the animals are really cute - I fell in love with the dog. We also did a trail ride with Nadia's horses... an experience I'll never forget.
It was harvest season, so there … read more
Kate was truly a pleasure to host! Once we became acquainted in the first week or so we were rolling. Things felt smooth, communication was easy, and she was up for my super hectic family-farm life style!
Kate is willing, eager to learn, strong, clear about what she needs … read more
This is one busy multigenerational small farm; but then again, how can't it be with 4 children under the age … read more
The stay on the farm was such a tremendous rewarding experience for me. A remote farm in the middle of the woods with almost no distractions, of the super modern world demands you to have, has been such a very welcome for me. What a beautiful place. It … read more
I would like to thank … read more
He was helpful in all areas he set his hand too even willing to work in the rain one day :) he was so kind with my little daughters and helpful to clean up dishes after meal too. We were very grateful for the help at our springtime work rush. Thank you Marti and would … read more
From the beginning on everybody welcomed us super friendly so it already felt like home. It was very nice that in everything we were involved really quick and could "settle in" fast.
Our tasks varied from preparing meals, gardening, building stuff, … read more
