Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
29 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
24
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
We invite you to join us on our beautiful community farm, in the heart of Cortes Island. We are primarily a homestead and grow food for the community. This 300 acre parcel of land encompasses lakes, bluffs, forests, fields, orchards and gardens. As a homestead, we have been providing for our needs for over 30 years, and are mostly self-sufficient in energy and food. We have cows for dairy and beef, goats, ducks, chickens, and sometimes pigs. We grow lots of vegetables to eat and store throughout the winter.
We appreciate help from passionate helpers seeking fields and gardens to tend, food to harvest and enjoy, and animals to love. We are enthusiastic about living sustainably and operate the farm year round. We have an alternative energy system and strive to connect the diverse aspects of the farm to make a greater whole. We eat breakfast and dinner together, and think it's pretty amazing that 80% of the food we eat is grown right here on the farm. We are eager to have people on board that appreciate this privilege. We make our own butter, yoghurt and cheese, as well as preserve vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish so that we can enjoy our bounty throughout the year. We ask for 25 hours a week in exchange for scrumptious food and comfy accommodation.
Housekeeping, cooking, and animal care are among daily scheduled chores included in your time, with the remainder filled by seasonal farm projects such as gardening, preserving, stacking firewood, and working on building and maintenance projects. We try to give you the jobs you are most interested in doing, with daily meetings to check in. On the weekends we take it easy and only do the mandatory chores. During your spare time you will find plenty of trails for biking and hiking, including a 30 minute walk through the forest to the beautiful Salish Sea! The farm has three gorgeous lakes that are ideal for swimming, canoeing, and fishing, and sometimes skating. Off the farm you will find Cortes has a vibrant and eclectic community of alternatively-minded people who are usually happy to pick up a hitchhiker or two. This is a magical place for us to care for, enjoy, and share. If you are easy going, community minded, and have a deep respect for your environment and the people that fill it, we would love to have you as an important member of the community.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
There are many things to learn on the farm! Gardening, cheese & dairy processing, small-scale building, animal husbandry, cooking for a group, preserving food - you will gain many skills in a short amount of time! And there is lots of room to take on a self-directed project for your personal learning.
Help
We are mostly looking for people who want to be a part of the daily life of the farm, including gardening, animal management, cooking and food processing, and some building/ maintenance projects.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Dutch: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We have a variety of small cabins available, with outhouses around and a shower in the main house. There is also the option to camp at the campsite area by the lake, which is equipped with an outdoor kitchen area and outhouse. Meals are generally prepared in the main farm house and shared, but there is the possibility of being more self-sufficient as well. We have an abundance of fresh farm foods and mostly eat from the land & animals.
What else ...
Cortes is a beautiful island with much to offer. There are a multitude of beautiful spots within hiking distance of the farm. We are nestled in a valley with tons of trails connecting to the farm. Look us up on the web!
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?
More than two
Feedback (10)
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.7)
They tackled many diverse tasks, and were alway clean, organized, and eager to help Oh and very responsible too. They are sorely missed!
Please come back someday!
What more can I say, Henry
Cortes is such a beautiful island. If you love being outside (hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking,...) this is the place to be. There are endless trails to explore, lakes and the ocean to swim in and mountains with amazing views. It… read more
He was energetic, enthusiastic, and fun addition to our team. He was open minded, and always willing to pitch in with the cooking and cleaning, among all the other farm tasks.
Nothing but pleasant things to say.
Good luck on your future endeavors Erik!
You'll be helping with various tasks on the… read more
She has great work ethic and followed directions well. Nice to have in the house too.
We wish you a great adventure. The Crew
If you want you can learn loads in this place. And… read more
Henry, Magret and Elijah open there doors to host, teach and share the beauty, hardship and community needed to run this Farm.
I cooked most nights (because I'm a chef) they have an amazing selection of local Farm… read more
We are hoping he will be back! Henry
