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27 Mar 2024
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Description
Hello and Namaste!
*Please read our profile carefully before contacting us to ensure that this experience feels compatible with your interests.
We are a family of 4 humans: Mark (builder, designer, artist), Sunni (yoga teacher, veggie chef), Nash 10 and Tulsi 8. We also have 4 friendly, outdoor dogs, plus 2 fluffy cats to keep the rodents, bears, coyotes, wolves, lynxes and cougars away from the homestead.
Mark and I met through the Vancouver yoga community after travelling to India and staying in ashrams/temples. We both fell in love with the spiritual culture and our hearts led us here to this wild BC, spiritual wonderland.
Our homestead and local village is a unique combination of off-grid, Canadian, wild-country in an intentional spiritual community (Hare Krishna), a traditional bhakti yoga culture from India.
Bhakti yoga is a path of self-realization that focuses on purifying the heart through loving service. Our purpose is to share the wisdom and beauty of living a yoga & bhakti inspired lifestyle.
We are building a beautiful eco homestead and yoga & bhakti retreat on 10 acres of forested mountainside, overlooking the stunning Venables Valley and lake. Venables Valley is home to Saranagati Village, our 1500 acre, off grid, organic farm and bhakti yoga community near Ashcroft, BC (4 hours drive north of Vancouver city).
You can reach us by plane, train or bus service from Vancouver, Kelowna and other surrounding areas.
We're in our 10th year of development on forested land. For the last 4 years, our workaway guests have helped with so many projects and we are so grateful. This year, we are focussing on some building projects, maintaining our garden, greenhouse and orchard and landscaping.
We welcome guests who are interested in and open to: off-grid/eco living and development, Indian spiritual culture, classical yoga and a sattvic (vegetarian/simple/clean/sober) lifestyle. Our whole community is like an ashram (place of spiritual practice)...we offer a truly life-transforming adventure! If this description sparks your curiosity and excitement, we welcome you to contact us.
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️IMPORTANT*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
•Children and community are a huge part of our daily life. It's important that you love kids because our kids love to connect with our workaways. If spending time with family and community is not your thing, this workaway is not a compatible fit.
•If you are coming to help with childcare (June-August), you will be asked for references. We have child protection and community guidelines and protocols.
•We are vegetarian (no meat, no eggs, some dairy). *We are happy to accommodate a vegan diet.
•We require that guests abstain from smoking, alcohol and drugs during their stay. These are cleansing yogic practices. Please make sure this would be an authentic commitment and practice for you before contacting us.
•We do not discriminate based on a person's appearance, religious views, medical choices, nationality etc...
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will be immersed in a remote, wild, off-grid, spiritual lifestyle. We practice yoga & bhakti so this is a perfect place to explore and deepen your spirituality.
You are also welcome to join us at the house for sunrise sadhana (yoga practice) at 6am on weekdays. This is a silent time (before the kids wake up) for personal yoga/meditation practice. *Optional
We offer a weekly community yoga class on Saturday mornings. *Optional
There are regular spiritual activities such as weekly temple programs, potlucks, philosophy reading/discussion and small festivals. *Optional
There are also weekly casual community games days/nights. *Optional
You can learn about off-grid/eco living, building, landscaping, Yoga & Bhakti, Vedic culture and philosophy, vegetarian/gluten-free/Indian cooking, Ayurveda, organic gardening/farming, canning, village life, alternative living etc...
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We are looking for singles or couples with good work ethic for various tasks and projects. We need help with building, gardening, landscaping, general maintenance, vegetarian cooking and housework. Childcare is needed in Summer from June-September.
Construction skills and experience with power tools, chainsaw etc... are huge assets!
Experience in photography, videography, landscaping and gardening/permaculture is also welcome!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Workaways stay in a private, tiny cabin (5 minute walk from main house). Nearby, there is fresh mountain spring water, an outhouse and an outdoor. Daily showers and laundry machine are available at the house.
You will be provided with delicious vegetarian meals. Breakfast is served at 8:30am (usually oatmeal, toast, fruit or smoothie), a big lunch is served after work at 2pm and lighter dinner at 6pm (usually leftovers or soup and salad).
Meals are often Indian style cuisine, main sources of protein are lentils, beans, tofu, nuts, seeds and some dairy. All meals are served at the house (5 minute walk from your accommodation).
We also provide snacks, such as: smoothies, fruit, veggies, homemade dips, crackers, toast, muffins/cookies, granola bars etc...
*We are gluten-wise (NOT celiac).
*We are happy to accommodate vegan workaways.
**No unsealed food/garbage in your cabin or tent trailer...it will attract critters!
What else ...
SPRING/SUMMER SEASON (April-September):
Work is generally 9am-2pm (5 hours), 5 days/week. Days off may vary.
Climate is hot and dry (semi-arid desert valley, 2600ft). Long, hot days, 10C to 40C! Nights are cooler.
Bring layers for hot and cold weather. You need good shoes/workboots for outdoor work and sandals.
There are a variety of bugs/insects, bring bug spray if needed.
With the long hot days, we tend to spend a lot of time outside and at the lake. (June-August)
FALL/WINTER SEASON (October-March):
Work is generally 9am-2pm (5 hours), 5 days/week. Days off may vary.
Climate is cold and dry (semi-arid desert valley, 2600ft). Short, cold days, 5C to -25C!
Usually lots of snow from November-March.
Bring lots of warm clothes, layers and wool socks etc...
You need full winter gear: winter coat, snow pants, snow boots, thick gloves, tuque (snow hat) and scarf.
We may have extra gear if you need to borrow some.
With the short, cold days we tend to spend less time outside. There is more time for reading, meditation, yoga etc...
There is a lake for swimming/skating (1 km from us) and endless back country to explore.
The nearest towns are Ashcroft, Cache Creek and Spence's Bridge, which are a 25-35 minute driving distance. Nearest city is Kamloops, 1.5 hour drive. Our homestead borders wild back-country and this area is home to rattle snakes, coyotes, bears, dear, mountain goats, moose, cougars, wolves, lots of birds and many pesky rodents who's life mission is to find a way into buildings and make it their own!
Our village is home to holy cows and many friendly family dogs.
Transportation is very limited. There is no local bus. For personal supplies, we go to town about once a week. Guests can go to town with us or carpool with community residents.
*Limited wi-fi is only available at the house and shop between 8:30am-7pm
*IMPORTANT*
•Children and community are a huge part of our daily life. It's important that you love kids because our kids love to connect with our workaways. If spending time with family and community is not your thing, this workaway is not a compatible fit.
•If you are coming to help with childcare (June-August), you will be asked for references. We have child protection guidelines and community protocols.
•We are vegetarian (no meat, no eggs, some dairy). *We are happy to accommodate vegan diet.
•We require that guests abstain from smoking, alcohol and drugs during their stay. These are yogic practices for wellbeing in body, mind and soul. Please ensure that this would be an authentic commitment for you before contacting us.
•We do not discriminate based on a person's appearance, religious views, medical choices, nationality etc...
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Any size. Power and water hook-up.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
5 hours, 5 days/week
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The Harre Krishna valley and community was a unique experience. Every resident in the valley is very warm and welcoming. We had the pleasure… read more
