Información de perfil
Evaluación del anfitrión
100 %
Last replied
13 sept 2024
Porcentaje de respuesta
100.0 %
Usually responds ≤ 1 dia
Comentarios
59
Facebook verified
Correo verificado
Medallas (3)
Busca al anfitrión perfecto
Detalles
Descripción
"In the middle of nowhere" is the best place to be!
We are 5th-generation farmers in rural Saskatchewan Canada
I've collected a variety of farm animals: goats, miniature horse, donkey, small pigs, alpaca, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea hens, dogs and cats. They are for our own enjoyment and use, and to provide educational outreach to our local school and community, and for our Workaway guests. We also own and operate a large grain farm of 5,000 acres of wheat, canola and dry peas every year between May and October. Our guests will be able to observe the operation of our grain farm, but do not help or work on this farm.
Our location is quiet and beautiful, with nature all around us and few neighbors. We know everyone in our small town, and we (and the town residents) love to meet and help new friends.
We are conveniently located right beside the VIA Rail Train that crosses Canada (you can see the train pass by when at our barn) and are easy to find if driving yourself. We can pick up from the airports in Saskatoon or Regina.
June 2024 update:
I am not actively seeking guests for June, July or August. If you are just passing through, you may contact me, and if you intrigue me, I might just change my mind! :-) Our preference is always independent travellers (with their own transportation) who are mature, undemanding, casual, flexible and have a sense of humour! We are a WORKING farm, and our family, grain farm (which pays our bills) and the health and welfare of our 100+ animals (herd of 70 goats) MUST take priority over our guests. This is not a "farm vacation". We love meeting and hosting travellers but it can't become the thing that takes over my time and energy. Thanks for your understanding!
Travellers who are already in Canada with a one-year Working/Holiday Visa, who have variety of work/life experience, and are flexible in their length of stay (2-4 weeks) are the guests who work best for us.Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje
Trabajo de caridadPráctica de idiomasJardineríaConstrucción y bricolajeCuidado de animalesAyuda en una granjaCocinar para toda la familiaAyuda domésticaMantenimiento generalAyuda informáticaObjetivos de sostenibilidad de las NU que intenta conseguir este anfitrión
Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje
We have traveled extensively as tourists, backpackers and also worked abroad. We understand the needs of travelers. We enjoy hosting and telling people about Canada. We really like teaching and showing off our farm operation. How food is produced, is a topic we are all interested in, and we appreciate the opportunity to show you why we farm the way we do. Animal care and welfare, sustainable farming, and minimum-till soil conservation practices are always interesting topics of conversation and you will experience real-life decisions being made. If you are here at the right season and the weather cooperates, you will be able to witness seeding, spraying, or harvesting, and may even be offered to ride-along in the big equipment, in the fields, while we work!
Visitors will learn about Canadian culture in a rural farming community. We can experience Native Canadian culture by visiting reserves and pow-wows. Past visitors have seen deer, coyote, fox, porcupine, badgers, and even moose, right in our area! We live on the Central North American flyway for bird migration and you will see huge flocks of birds in the spring and fall. You can watch the Northern Lights and enjoy the stars and see planes and satellites overhead, without any light pollution!
Because we know our town and neighbors well, we will be able to introduce you to other people in our community who may share your interests, be closer to your own age, or keep you busy or entertained, when we cannot.
About us: I (Janice) am 58, and lived in Japan teaching English when I was younger. I enjoy yoga, drawing and painting, photography, hiking, backpacking, tenting and being outdoors. Darryl is 66, backpacked around the world several times when younger, and enjoys history, politics, and travel. We travel overseas regularly and spend a few weeks in Mexico every winter. Since Covid lockdowns, both Darryl and I have explored our genealogy roots and did our DNA to assist our search.Ayuda
Help on our hobby farm will include:
Animal care: feeding, filling water bowls, assisting with health care such as hoof trimming, moving animals, cleaning manure out of sheds and coops, lifting and stacking bales from the field into the barn, salvaging and bagging spilled grain for animal feed.
Gardening: planting, weeding and harvesting our vegetable garden.
Landscaping: picking rocks and roots, and raking newly prepared ground. Spraying for weeds. Mowing grass. Trimming trees and shrubs and hauling away.
Painting: Sheds and fences. Scraping, prepping, and painting.
Building: Fence and shed building and maintenance. Assisting with measuring, holding and cutting wood boards, screwing screws with a power drill.
Housecleaning: washing dishes, sweeping, washing windows, organizing.
Cooking: prepping and peeling vegetables, cooking meals, baking - whatever your abilities are.
Guests will NOT work on our business farm (our grain farm). Guests will have the opportunity to learn about our grain farm and observe our operation and perhaps even have a ride on our equipment, depending on the season.
Hours are flexible so you can likely do some longer days and then have more days off. Most help is outside in the summertime, so the volunteer should enjoy being outside, even if it might be hot, cold or windy. Visitors should expect to get dirty!
I try to provide a list of a variety of tasks, and let the volunteer pick what suits their skills and abilities. Occasionally I have jobs that "must" be done, (often due to incoming changes in weather) and we will all pitch in. All I ask is that visitors have a enthusiastic attitude and be willing to have sore muscles or a blister or two. Most of the help is with jobs I would not get around to, without extra help, so its very exciting for me to see our farm getting more organized and looking better!
There may be other opportunities to do volunteer community work in the town, like helping at the community-run Museum, or helping at events like the Agricultural Fair in August where I provide a "petting zoo", for free as a community service.
My mom was German and since many of my Workaway guests have been German, this is a good opportunity for me to learn about my German roots. I would also like to refresh my Japanese and begin to learn Spanish.
*We currently have 5 cats that live in the house (they also go outside) so if you have allergies to cats, please be aware. The trailer is a cat-free zone however.
WINTER:
We will consider hosting guests in the winter months of November through to the end of March. All outside work projects end, but occasionally I need help moving feed or cleaning barns. If you are travelling through the area and need a rest stop for a few days, you may contact us to stay at our place, if we are available. We have a lot of free time in the winter, so its actually nice to have a visitor to pass the time with. In the winter, you will stay in the house rather than the trailer.
Winter visitors need to be independent adults, who are prepared to entertain themselves or are okay with lots of downtime. There isn't much work to do, and honestly I don't want to do much work. I use the winter to rest and watch Netflix, do art, take naps etc. So its better for a couple who can explore the area on their own. If the weather is extremely cold, we become entirely house-bound as travel is difficult and even dangerous.
WINTER HOUSE/FARM-SITTING.
We occasionally could use a reliable, trusted worker, to look after our house and animals if we take a trip during the winter months. This would be planned a few weeks to a month in advance. We travel when an opportunity arises.Idiomas
Idiomas hablados
Inglés: Fluido
Español: Principiante
Japonés: PrincipianteEste anfitrión ofrece intercambio de idiomas
I taught English in Japan for one year, and I've also volunteered with the Open Door Society with orienting and supporting new immigrants to Canada. So I'm very comfortable communicating with people who have English as a Second Language. I'm aware of the quirks of English and happy to explain regional words and slang! I'm currently studying Spanish at a beginner level but very enthusiastic!Alojamiento
You will stay in our 32-foot trailer that sleeps many people with a private queen-bed room, private bunk room, and fold-away couches and benches. This might be shared with other Workawayers. It has electric power, air-conditioning, and a heater. We do not use water or the toilet in the trailer. You will use the bathroom with toilet, shower and tub, in the house, which is just a few steps away from the trailer. Basic wifi is available in the trailer, internet phone or video calls are possible closer to the house (on the deck). Deck and BBQ available for your use. There is a fire-pit for nighttime fires.
Sometimes, the main trailer is being used, so we also have an older, smaller trailer that is available for sleeping accommodation.
Food is casual. The fridge is always stocked and we all make our own breakfast. Lunch is make-your own sandwiches, etc. Dinner is also informal and irregular as our working day in the summer is very long. Usually I make big meals that can be reheated whenever needed.
We have often rented out extra rooms in our house, to students or temporary workers in our town (as there are few rental options) so we are very used to sharing our house with others. We are casual and flexible. This is a working farm, that can get very busy, so farm work takes priority over worrying about housework.Algo más...
We are very centrally located, perfect for a stop while travelling through Canada from East to West (or vice-versa). If you are travelling with your own vehicle, we are an hour or less from Highway #1 or Highway #16. We are very near the VIA Rail Train that crosses Canada (you can see it pass right by our farm) and the pick-up and drop-off station is at the town of Watrous, just a half-hour away. Many of our visitors in the past year have travelled here by train. If travelling by plane, we will pick you up from Saskatoon or Regina.
There is no public transportation here, either between cities, or in our local area. If our work schedule permits, we will help you see local sights and attractions on your time off. In the past this has included summer fairs in Saskatoon and Regina, hiking, pow-wows, local lakes, shopping, etc.
A highlight for many of our visitors has been having a beer and meeting people at "Nokomis Craft Ales", our local small craft brewery, with live bands on an outside patio throughout the summer. "Wings night" on Thursday at the bar is always fun! During the summer season there are many dances, ball tournaments, music festivals, and agricultural fairs in the area.
Just a short drive away is Manitou Lake and Springs, with a salt-water lake and indoor pool and spa that is a nation-wide tourist attraction. We also have the oldest Bird Sanctuary in North America just a 15 minute drive away. We are on the major bird migratory path in North America and watching the geese, ducks, cranes and herons is spectacular! Deer, moose, raccoon, muskrat, coyotes, fox, porcupine and badgers are a common sight in our fields around our house.
We own two kayaks with life jackets that may be available to use on our nearby lakes or sloughs. I enjoy hiking in nearby fields and wildlife areas and am happy to have a hiking partner if we have time to get away from the farm. I once went on a multi-day hiking trip with a couple Workaway guests.
We are very casual as this is a working farm. There are no small children; only myself, my husband and our adult daughters (ages 27 and 24) who live nearby but are often at our house to work on the farm, or eat with us. So basically we all look after ourselves, in regards to food. The farm work takes priority in the busy season. But we all enjoy working together, and there is a good energy and its exciting when we are seeding or harvesting, full blast. We get a great feeling of accomplishment in getting the job done!Un poco más de información
Acceso a Internet
Acceso a Internet limitado
Tenemos animales
Somos fumadores
Puede alojar familias
Puede acoger a nómadas digitales
We have high speed internet and have hosted people who are working remotely while traveling. We even had a full-time Master's student take shelter here for 6 weeks, at the beginning of the Covid-19 lock-down, and she was still able to do all her Zoom meetings and lectures from our spare room!
Espacio para aparcar autocaravanas
We have plenty of space for parking and water hydrants and hoses for filling your tanks. There is a local RV dump station for your sewer, for a small fee. We have hosted trailers and RV's already.
Podría aceptar mascotas
Pets can be hosted, we would prefer to discuss this prior to finalizing your stay. We do have lots of farm animals that sometimes are loose in the yard, and we have our own farm dogs. We have hosted Workawayers travelling with dogs before.
¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?
Más de dos
Horas esperadas
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Comentarios (24)
Spending nearly a month together has been truly wonderful, and the time we spent with Janice, Daryll, their two children, and all the friends and family has been exceptional.
Firstly, we felt every day was… read more
Fotos
Comentarios
Son opciones de calificación adicionales para cuando los miembros dejan sus comentarios. Se muestra la calificación media dejada en cada opción.
Precisión del perfil:
(4.9)
Intercambio cultural:
(5.0)
Comunicación:
(5.0)
Spending nearly a month together has been truly wonderful, and the time we spent with Janice, Daryll, their two children, and all the friends and family has been exceptional.
Firstly, we felt every day was… read more
The work itself isn't very complicated, and… read more
We stayed for a week and had plenty of jobs to get on with, branching from building a fence to clearing down areas and tending to the farm animals. This workaway is ideal for anyone who wants to… read more
Interesting and exciting conversations, stories, hips of advices regarding traveling and the nice places of Canada, we even had the chance to go out for beers and wings which was… read more
Je suis simplement arrivé au bon moment pour aider Janice qui c est brisé la cheville. J ai vécu une belle expérience a la ferme avec les animaux.
Je les remercie de la belle acceuil.
A bientôt j espère !
Danielle
Janice and Darryl are generous, considerate and witty people, who will do everything to give you an amazing time on their farm. They even managed to keep me busy when they were gone for the weekends and I got to do lots of fun things with their friends/family.
The work was… read more
They are absolutely amazing and caring and we wish we could stay longer.
We had many bad experience so far and this is definitely the best place!
Your working hours are really fair –we weren’t not used to it– the work is… read more
We stayed there for 3 weeks and had a lot of fun!
We lived in a heated trailer on their property and could use the bathroom in the house. As it got pretty cold, we moved into the house and had a private room there.
Janice is a lovely hosts, who explains everything you… read more
We spent three weeks in August together and at any point in time they made us feel like being a part of their family. Both of them are very open-minded, attentive and generous people. They made always sure that you… read more