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Help on a ranch with a herd of bison in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are looking for help for the weeks august16 to the 30 th to house sit for a few days and help feed and baby sit a 4 month old Bison calf.We are also now working on booking for this spring/ fall 2026 at this time we are open but there is interest being shown already - take care
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    We are both long time ex pats from the UK and a retired couple raising a small herd of 30 plus Bison/Buffalo high on the north side of the Nicola Valley, 20 minutes from the town of Merritt, BC. We have been raising Buffalo since 1982. We have between 25 to 30 bison - this seem to be the right numbers that our land can support.

    While we live in an in-ground house with wind and solar as our main power supply and a diesel generator as a back up, we have all mod cons of any modern house. For accommodation, we have a guest room with a queen size bed and a study with a futon bed. We also have an older self-contained mobile home which several couples have enjoyed using. As we live in a semi desert area, water is always something to be used wisely.

    My interests are Black Powder shooting - this is with muzzle loaded firearms used for targets and for hunting. We host two black powder shoots/trail walks each year - one in early May, the other in September. Setting up and repair /repaint the targets is just one of the fun this we have to do to get ready for the weekends. We love to read when we get a chance and Isobel is active with a couple of social groups in town. We get into town two to three times a week and we can take you in and let you loose !! There is no public transportation into town from our ranch.

    We have a dog, Piper, that we rescued from a SPCA shelter. Although she still gets very excited when anyone comes to our home, she is slowly learning the ropes around the ranch ! She is allowed into our home but does sleep in our sun room at night.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    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
  • Interests

    Interests

    Sustainability
    Farming
    Drawing & painting
    Animals
    Outdoor activities
    Nature
    Mountain
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Working on a Bison/Buffalo ranch gives you the chance to see them up close. They are nosey animals and will often come to see what you are working on. Also, living at the 1,375 meter level has its own benefits (views, clear skies, star lite nights and fresh air )

  • Help

    Help

    Depending on the time of year, we do limb and thin on the tree stands we have; clearing the winter's dead fall trees; fencing, always fencing :-}}}, wood splitting and stacking for winter and general maintenance. We are always working on the year's fire wood -this is on going through the spring / summer where and when we find some good wood :-)

    Some mechanical knowledge and experience on heavy duty equipment and automotive too is also appreciated as another pair of hands and eyes is always useful on a ranch!

    Extra help with feeding and keeping a check on the buffalo is always appreciated too.

    Please have your own medical insurance documents in place in case of illness or accident while staying with us. We may ask to see a copy along with a current Covid Passport or the equivalent documentation.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We have a guest room for couples with a Queen size bed. We also have a separate older mobile home which does offer time to yourselves for volunteers and guests,

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Boots and some older clothes for working in will come in handy. We have gloves, some warm jackets for use and some rubber boots. Our ranch is at 1,375 meters above sea level so it can get hot during the daytime and cooler in the evenings. We enjoy sitting around our outdoor fire in the evenings chatting about everything and anything whilst roasting marshmallows !
    We can pick you up in Merritt as there is an E Bus depot in town. Although there is no local transportation to Merritt from our ranch, we are in town several times a week to pick up groceries, banking and meeting friends and you can tag along if there's time. There are many good hikes in and around the ranch - just watch out for the wildlife...

    We are non-smokers and, as we raise bison, we are a non-vegetarian family and aren't equipped for vegan or vegetarian diets.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    while our internet connection is good we cannot handle running a full time business but one hour in the everning has worked out fine

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    up to about24 ft class C

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

    Piper (8 years)

    collie hushky but more colie

Host ref number: 997656363564

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Photos

The image depicts a long, one-story building with a flat roof, featuring arched windows and a snow-covered ground, surrounded by a fence and various objects.
The image depicts a fire pit with flames burning in a yard, surrounded by logs and a scenic view of rolling hills and mountains in the background.
The image depicts a large house with a sprawling yard, featuring a pool and a large deck, surrounded by trees and a fence, set against a backdrop of a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a herd of bison resting in a grassy field, surrounded by trees, with the animals lying down in a relaxed state.
The image depicts a serene grassy field with trees in the background, featuring a wooden fence post with a bird perched on top, captured by a trail camera.
The image shows an older couple riding a motorcycle with a dog, wearing helmets and winter attire, posing for a photo in a snowy outdoor setting.
The image depicts a bison and its calf standing in a grassy field, with trees visible in the background. The bison is brown with a shaggy coat.
The image depicts a bison and a calf in a grassy field, with the calf standing behind the bison. The bison is dark brown, and the calf is light brown.
The image depicts a serene winter landscape at sunset, featuring a tree, snow, and a mountain range in the background, with a subtle watermark overlay.
The image depicts a serene landscape featuring a herd of bison grazing in a lush green field, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.
The image depicts a herd of bison grazing in a snowy field, surrounded by trees, with a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

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