Enjoy the calm while staying with our family in rural Ontario, Canada

Details

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  Description

  We're a busy family of 7 (Liz and Roland, the kids Caleb 7, Elijah 4 1/2 and Silas 1 and grandparents Juliet and Michael) living on a small farm in rural Ontario on about 23 acres, with a 160 year old farmhouse and barn, a large vegetable garden including a commercial-size greenhouse and several other kitchen gardens, several flower gardens, a small orchard, goats and chickens. We also own a small artisanal bakery in the nearby village.
  
  While we have a business in the nearby village, a bakery, this listing is for help at home. What we grow is for our own family.
  
  We believe in the principles of agroecology and use organic, regenerative farming practices to promote the health of the land and our local communities. As the pandemic has made obvious, our global food system is so fragile. Food insecurity and lack of sustainable choices is also clearly interwoven with the social justice and other challenges that we are grappling with today.
  
  The village of Sydenham is 5km away and offers most basic services (groceries, bank, hardware, library, churches, dentist, etc.) The city of Kingston is 20 km from our house. Guests can use our bicycles to get to town or to Kingston. We also go to Kingston frequently and can provide a ride. There is excellent swimming, canoeing and hiking all within 5 km of the property.
  
  Guests stay in a modern trailer on the property. It has a fully equipped kitchen, a washroom, A/C, a sound system (but no wifi) and is situated in a quiet area near the barn. The trailer and the house are non-smoking. Several times a week we dine together and we are happy to accommodate most dietary preferences. In the house we have lots of books, a piano, wifi, but no television. During the summer we often host yoga classes in our restored barn, which you're are welcome to join.
  
  The farm has been in the our family since 1989. We (Liz and Roland) live here with our young sons in one unit in the house. Liz's parents live in an adjoining unit in the house. We share the work and the love of this property.
  
  We speak English and German in our home. Liz' parents speak French, and her dad also speaks Spanish. We can only accommodate one or two guests at a time.
  
  In this rural environment there are not a lot of opportunities to meet other people and there is no public transport. This environment is best suited to workers who enjoy time on their own, alongside time spent with our family.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We want (1) to offer first-hand experience of organic farming & gardening and (2) to get a helping hand with the work on our property (3) to offer an opportunity to live in the countryside and experience Canada and Canadians (4) to advance the organic movement, which is often labour intensive and does not rely on artificial fertilizers & pesticides (5) to make contact with other people in the organic movement. We're a busy family and it often is noisy in our house. Helpers stay in their own trailer and can have lots of privacy there. We usually share meals a few times a week and are happy to take you to our favourite lakes for a swim and to other places we love.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Depending on the time of year, we need help with planting, weeding, watering, grass-cutting, repair and maintenance of outbuildings and equipment, occasional building projects, grain cleaning and milling, animal care including cleaning stalls, cutting firewood, harvesting, preserving and preparing the gardens for winter.
  
  We're happy to share the few things we've learned over the years and of course provide training for all tasks you'd be doing. Our two older kids go to a Waldorf school in Kingston, but are otherwise at home. Especially during the summer we are looking for help with childcare as well.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  We are interested in learning Spanish. Liz lived in Spain for a year, but lost lots of it. Roland is a total beginner and we love if the kids pick up a new language.
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  Accommodation

  You'd stay in a modern trailer on the property. It has a fully equipped kitchen, a washroom, A/C, a sound system and is situated in a quiet area near the barn. We provide bedding and towles. The trailer and the house are non-smoking. We have lots of books, a piano, wifi, but no television. There's also a hot-tub, a wood-fired sauna and a cold plunge. We have a short waking trail on the property and a fire pit for sitting in the evenings.
  
  We provide all food for you to prepare your own meals. About 2/ week we dine together and we are happy to accommodate most dietary preferences. Depending on the seasons there's plenty of fresh food from the garden.

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  What else ...

  The village of Sydenham is 5km away and offers most basic services (groceries, bank, hardware, library, churches, dentist, etc.) The city of Kingston is 20 km from our house. You can use our bicycles to get to town or to Kingston. We also go to Kingston frequently and can provide a ride. There is excellent swimming, canoeing and hiking all within 5 km of the property. The house and trailer are non-smoking.

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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