Experience life on a homestead in Silverton, BC, Canada

Details

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  Description

  We have 16.3 acres, mostly forested, partial wetlands, with a creek running through the land. There is a soothing, cool wildness to the land. I'm creating a space where people can connect with other humans, and nature. A space to learn, heal, and love. We currently have a small community living here. Ideally, I'd like to develop the space for a few more people.
  
  I spent many years volunteering with various communities around the globe! After spending years searching for a place to set some roots, I've rooted here, in the West Kootenays.
  
  I have experience with permaculture, building, plant medicines, and many things in between! I'm happy to chat about these things and share knowledge.
  
  While there are plenty of projects to do. I like to practice bringing awareness to how things are being done. I'd like to empower others by providing tasks that teach skills they are interested in developing.
  
  There are caves/mines around the property-- it was a mining site many decades ago. Town is 10 minutes away, wifi/cafe 3minutes away(by car). There is cell service and wifi. There is power, its grid-tied.
  
  Slocan lake is minutes away. We have a canoe, too.
  Great hiking/biking all around.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Workawayers will learn about many stages of homesteading.
  Preparing spaces and developing systems for humans living in harmony with nature. This experience is high value for anyone seriously considering homesteading, or being a part of a farm in its early stages.
  
  Ideally, the lifestyle and the tasks themselves will be learning experiences. They are for me, I'm mildly experienced in most of what is going on here. TI seem to have enough knowledge to be able to teach everyone that shows up, so that's good.
  
  I like to go to farmers markets, and this is a good opportunity to learn about the local culture. (It's an awesome community here!)
  I'm happy to teach what I know about alchemy, plant medicines and connecting with nature.
  
  I am connected with a couple communities in the area and there could be events or work opportunities that volunteers will be able to attend.

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  Help

  There are a few of us living here on the land. We like to share meals, have long conversations into the evenings, enjoy the sauna, and more!
  
  There are many projects to be able to choose from. Some are self-directed, and many are supportive roles where there is a lot of potential to learn.
  
  These are the projects/general tasks for 2026:
  
  Spring:
  -Helping with construction projects, mostly related to preparing a RV pad. Processing biochar, processing wood, helping to make the space pleasant.
  -Tending the greenhouses, seedlings, garden(all year). Plantings including a nursery, summer veggies, grain/forage crops, other.
  -Natural building-- a clay + woodchip cabin!
  -Renovating the bathhouse
  -Salvaging materials, mechanic work, wood working projects
  
  Summer:
  -Supporting building the claychip cabin.
  -Building a solar panel shed
  -Tending the gardens, greenhouses, ducks, mushrooms.
  -Building soil. Hugelculture beds, biochar creation and inoculation, cover cropping. bed formation, garden projects.
  -Helping to mill
  -Helping to gather and process firewood.
  
  Fall:
  -Helping finish up projects from spring/summer
  -fall crops
  -food processing, preserving, fermenting, and more.
  
  Garden, mechanic, or building skills are an asset, but not needed. For people that have no/low skills, a interest in learning is all that is needed!
  
  Volunteers will have to be in generally good physical condition, able to spend ~25 hours per week(3-5 days, if requested), often engaging in moderately challenging physical duties. I can be flexible with when hours are done, or it can be structured. Depends on what works best for the person and/or group.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Beginner

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  Accommodation

  There are accommodation options available right now the following is available:
  
  There is a 15ft diameter bell tent. It has a bed + stove inside. It is in its own little area on a playform, near the creek.
  There is a fairly large RV with a woodstove that is tucked away in the forest, too.
  
  There is a full kitchen in the yurt. It is also available to hang-out for most of the day.
  There is a sauna which can be used in Spring, Fall, and Winter!
  There is laundry room which has a shower, and washing machine. There is also access to the wood-fired hot tub in the bathhouse on request!
  
  Please note that there is wifi in certain areas, but it is not accessible from everywhere on the property. This is intentional. There are some ethernet hookups at various locations. and 2 cafes with wifi, about a 25minute walk away for long periods of wifi use. There is a full kitchen in the yurt which is used during the day to prepare/eat meals.
  
  Food stuff:
  
  I can provide cooked meals in the mornings each morning. My cooking is quite simple, and fortunately for the volunteers, I prefer to use mostly organic materials. If you appreciate high quality food, this will work out well for everyone!
  
  Lunch/dinner we will figure out a schedule where everyone gets to contribute in some way to the process of making/eating food.
  This is generally structured and is a conversation to be had on the first day. Volunteers will have access to the kitchen in the cabin, and provided with food. Kitchen access is available during the day, but not in the middle of the night!(Someone, usually me, lives in the yurt!)
  
  It's mostly a vegetarian, mostly organic diet. There is occasional dairy and meat, if the group wishes. I can provide space in the fridge for people to supplement/prepare what they wish.
  
  Volunteers are encouraged to cook and clean. Cooking, cleaning, eating and general living don't count towards working hours for an exchange. We believe that eating food, cleaning dishes, taking poops, cleaning messes/spills and such is a normal part of living in any setting. It's a bit different if there are 4people+ on the land, in that case often time one person ends up cooking/cleaning most of the time, and it does become part of a contribution, and is often appreciated!
  
  Curries, veggies/grains with sauces. Big garden fresh salads. Eggs/tofu. Usually lots of eggs. We like yummy oats on working days. There will be ample staple foods(vegetables, greens, quinoa, rice, beans, oats, peanut butter, bananas, eggs, tea etc) provided. Treats may be possible, but are not to be expected! Volunteers are welcome to use the kitchen if they would like to bake, make bread, or play around with recipes. We generally minimize cooking meat inside of the yurt/cabin during times of high bear-activity (typically late spring, and late fall).
  
  Other stuff:
  
  We like to go to the hot springs a couple times a month in the spring and fall. I can provide a lift to these locations.
  
  Farmers markets and such are frequented, too. We like to mingle with neighbors and be friendly with the community.
  
  I sometimes do full, day-long trips to town and can drop people off and pickup on the way back. Hitch-hiking is relatively accepted in the area and one can get around without a car, although it does take more time.

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  What else ...

  There is a bus that comes by and goes to nearby cities on Tuesday and Thursday.
  I make a trip into town each week and can usually bring people along.
  There are lakes, hikes, biking trails, springs, hot springs, and more around to do. Lot's of recreation.
  
  I ask that people leave the space as good or better than when they arrived.
  
  I've found most people that have come here use drugs/alcohol to escape problems, rather than for occasional enjoyment purposes or raising awareness. So, in most groups the policy is:
  No alcohol.
  No drug use on the land.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Wifi is accessible from multiple spaces. It's starlink.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Yes, there is a space where vans or smaller vehicles can park.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Yes, I love pets. I have a male cat, he is okay with most dogs.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

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