Mary

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Warm Greetings! I'm Mary, currently in Costa Rica (normally) based in Canada

Workaway was a great way for me to get involved with super projects and meet amazing people when I travelled to Costa Rica briefly in early 2020.
Now that international travel is relatively safe again, I'm happy to be returning to one of my favorite places in the world, Costa Rica! From late-Feb to late-April, 2023.

In a nutshell, I love putting my hands and feet into the earth, respectfully, in stewardship of land and waters; and connecting with others.

I've worked for over a decade in Toronto in non-profit organizations delivering food access programs and growing plants. This work included starting and managing community gardens and coordinating a greenhouse for 5 years.

I have many years of experience abroad mainly in sustainable agriculture and educational work, in such locations as Costa Rica, Cuba, and Spain. I bring a very international perspective that’s grounded wherever I am; and a keen interest in sharing my skills and learning new ones.

I'm very friendly, patient, hardworking, and love a good adventure. I value quiet time on my own; and creative activities. I'm also happy to work with others as well as independently.

I am very respectful of other people's space. I own a house in Toronto that I'm renting, so I appreciate the trust with opening a place to different people.

I look forward to contributing to projects with my hands and heart.

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Arabic: Intermediate
Spanish: Intermediate
French: Intermediate

More details about my language interests
I love language exchanges, so can support others' learning English and more; while improving my Spanish, French, Arabic..

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Art Projects

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Some knowledge of:  

General Maintenance

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Teaching

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Able to teach about:  

Gardening

Charity Work

Languages

More details about your skills

I speak 4 languages, 5, including the "language of food" :) I love to grow edible and medicinal plants, and organize educational activities around gardening.

I'd like to help with:
- gardening: planting, composting, weeding, etc
- site maintenance
- animal care.

I'm also happy to provide English or French tutoring.

I have worked in non-profit organizations for over 15 years, organizing community gardens and providing educational sessions. I most recently was the Greenhouse Coordinator in a renowned community centre in Toronto that focuses on food access for people on low incomes. I led planting activities and garden programs with volunteers.

Age

44

What else ...

A dream of mine is to establish or join a land-based ecological, educational project in the (near?) future, in partnership with other people.

Some more information

• 

  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements
  Mostly vegetarian; I eat fish sometimes (but not other meat if possible)