Come help build an Earthship, and enjoy our food forest and gardens in Qualicum Bay, Canada

Detalles

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  Descripción

  Tony (my husband) and I (Susan) are passionate about sustainability. Together we have four children, and Bentley our standard poodle, and Mabel the amazing mouser. With our children grown and no longer living at home, we are living our dream of building an Earthship and living off-grid.
  
  The purpose of the Learning Centre is to provide inclusive, multi-generational environmental education.
  a. ‘about the environment’ (e.g. Biology)
  b. ‘for the environment’ (e.g. Activism)
  c. ‘through the environment’ (e.g. Empowerment; team work, team building, confidence building and leadership)
  
  Our goal is to grow and support a community for natural building through hands-on learning and the development of a natural building network.

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  Tipos de ayuda y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Ayuda en proyectos ecológicos

  Jardinería

  Construcción y bricolaje

  Cocinar para toda la familia
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  Objetivos de sostenibilidad de las NU que intenta conseguir este anfitrión

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  ¿Que es esto?
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  Intercambio cultural y oportunidades de aprendizaje

  Travellers will benefit immensely from our cultural exchange in numerous enriching ways.
  
  Work Structure and Learning: Your work commitment is 5-hours per day, typically Monday to Friday. daily. However, there can be exceptions, for example, if we are hosting a Saturday working bee, you may be asked to swap your Saturday for a Monday. Through this work structure, travelers gain hands-on experience with Earthship building and gardening tasks, fostering an understanding of our low impact way of life and the importance of sustainability in our community.
  
  Education through Environment: We strongly believe in education through the environment. It's the team building, confidence-boosting, leadership development, and teamwork that elevates the journey from mere traveling to a transformative life experience.
  
  Exploration Opportunities: We encourage and support our guests to get out and play, to explore all that the island has to offer. Whether you're keen on mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, or swimming, everything is within arm's reach. We have a couple of bikes available.
  
  A ten-minute stroll will get you to our local entertainment scene – live music, karaoke, jam sessions at the Crown & Anchor Pub, or a peaceful walk on the beach. The Lighthouse Country Regional Trail is at our doorstep. Take a morning or afternoon walk or trail run, and witness the beauty of our Coastal Douglas fir rain-forest.
  
  Community Connection and Cultural Exchange: The heart of this experience is in the connections you'll forge. Engage deeply with fellow guests, our family, friends, and the broader community. There is never a shortage of people, visiting, asking questions, sharing thoughts and ideas. Such interactions offer a unique lens to view and understand our traditions, stories, and local perspectives. We invite you to come and share your own experiences and stories!
  
  We are confident that every traveler will depart with not just memories, but skills, stories, and a deeper understanding of Earthships and the environment.

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  Ayuda

  We seek Earthship builders, and garden helpers, especially if you love to cook! (or would like to learn). This summer our preference is for guest volunteers with natural building and construction experience. A passion for natural building and/or gardening is highly desirable.
  
  Earthship
  We are in the final year of Earthship construction. We're on the home stretch!
  
  So far we have kept from the landfill or recycling and waste streams 1,225 vehicle tires, ~2,500 pounds of cardboard, over 10,000 beer/pop cans, kitchen cabinetry and by December 2025 thousands of glass bottles, and 3,000 square feet of 4" blue rigid insulation!
  
  The greenhouse windows are being installed this spring, over the summer, we will continue to work on interior finishes, including glass bottle walls, lime plastering, earthen floors and exterior finishes.
  
  Our next and final inspection is for occupancy in December 2025.
  
  Building construction can be hard physical work; you will be learning how to build based on Earthship construction methodologies. As important as getting the various systems in place, is learning how, why and having fun while doing the tasks. Bring your sense of humour, your muscles and your desire to learn and share!
  
  Food Forest
  Our food forest is planted; our young fruit & nut trees and berry bushes all need tender loving care to help them along. There is lots of building, planting, tending and harvesting to be done. We use mostly hand-tools, although there is a small tractor if needed. Bring your creativity, plant knowledge (or willingness to learn) and your patience. We are all learning!

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  Idiomas hablados

  Inglés: Fluido

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  Alojamiento

  Welcome here! Located a mere 6 kilometers from Bowser town center on Vancouver Island, in Lighthouse Country, this small rural paradise offers a taste of the simple life. In Bowser, you can access amenities such as a grocery store, bank, real estate office, public library, the Salish Sea gift shop, a delightful coffee shop, and an array of other retailers.
  
  Accommodation and Amenities: Our place is a sanctuary for those who love the outdoors. Off the grid and embracing rustic charm, guests can pitch a tent, park their camper van, or RV on the forest's edge (please note there are no hookups). While we offer a cute outdoor solar shower, those craving a hot water shower experience can take a quick bike ride to a nearby campground, or head on into Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum Beach for a swim and a sauna. A modest fee will get you all warmed up! And rest assured, our outhouse is well-maintained and stocked with toilet paper for your comfort.
  
  Culinary Delights: Our outdoor kitchen is the heart of the communal experience. Equipped with a fridge, cook top, stove, double sinks, and all necessary cooking utensils, it's a hub of culinary creativity. While the kitchen is stocked for a self-serve breakfast, lunchtime sees us coming together preparing soups, sandwiches, salads, complemented by coffee or tea. Dinners vary, featuring dishes like pasta tossed with feta cheese, fresh garlic and olives, Buddha bowls, and fresh in-season vegetables from our garden. A popular activity is our "build your own pizza" night, fresh homemade pizza dough topped with an assortment of veggies and specialty items based on guest preferences. Our menus are typically vegetarian, but can be tailored to include seafood, meat, or dairy. Notably, we respect dietary restrictions – if we have a vegan guest, it's a great opportunity to explore tasty vegan dishes.
  
  Responsibility for the kitchen's cleanliness is shared among all. Fresh drinking water is always available.
  
  Engaging in the preparation and serving of dinner is encouraged for its enriching experience and opportunity to get to know each other. Our past guests have loved this interactive part of their stay, where flavors and food traditions from around the world get shared. Remember to bring along your special spice or ingredient to make the meal uniquely yours!
  
  Weekend Notes: Your work week ends on Friday afternoon, you are encouraged to spend Saturdays and Sundays, adventuring around Lighthouse Country and exploring the nearby islands; Hornby, Denman, Lasqueti, and beyond.
  
  Our guest volunteers often travel together to Ucluelet and Tofino where world-class surfing and storm watching awaits!. Feel free to indulge in the fridge's leftovers or pack a lunch and explore with fellow guests. Occasionally, we host special Sunday dinners – we'll ensure you're kept in the loop. And a heads-up for August – our family and friends summer party is an event not to be missed!
  
  We warmly invite you to experience cultural exchange and immerse yourself in a community that cherishes nature, food, and friendship.

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  Algo más...

  Transportation:
  Coming from Vancouver – check out translink trip planner at
  Coming from Victoria – check out BC transit trip planner at
  
  Bus options from Nanaimo – check out . The stop you will get off is at the foot of Lions Way, Qualicum Bay. You will be right in front of the Sandbar Cafe & Art Gallery. If you’re tired... have a lovely cup of tea, and then continue from there. Cross the street and walk one block up Lions Way, take the first right onto Lioness Blvd and keep on walking. The driveway is about ½ km long. You will know you’ve arrived once you cross the Railway, the Lighthouse Country trail and arrive at the green gates. Keep right, you’ve almost arrived at the Cafe. You will likely be greeted by Bentley, our standard poodle. He will love you... although he may bark to let us know you’ve arrived.
  
  All work and no play is no way to spend your life. There are so many things to do on Vancouver Island, the local islands and in our area. Except for our summer working bees, we take Saturday and Sunday off. So do our guests, so we can rest, recharge and have time to explore.
  
  Tony and I live a very simple life, with Bentley and Mabel. We are happiest working and giving Earthship tours and welcoming people from all over the world into our lives. In August we host an annual 'friends and family' summer party. I hope you will join us, good food, music, great people, fun conversations.
  
  Over the past few years our guests have enjoyed trips to Tofino and Ucluelet, exploring Cathedral Grove, Coombs Country Market with “goats on the roof”, the Free Spirit Spheres, and O.U.R. Ecovillage tour. There are amazing beaches in Parksville (and a sandcastle competition) and Qualicum Beach. That's just to name a few; we are in the heart of one of the best recreational area in BC!
  
  We look forward to welcoming you
  
  Free Spirit Spheres cool, quirky and truly unique spherical tree-houses offer an exquisite combination of back-to-nature experience with the trendy phenomenon of ‘glamping’.
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  Horne Lake Caves Park is a caving, adventure tourism, company for many ages and abilities located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
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  Lighthouse Country Regional Trail: Take a step away from the beach and walk, run or ride the north and south loops of the Lighthouse Country Regional Trail (LCRT) located in Bowser and Qualicum Bay. The level grade and connection to more trails in the surrounding Crown forest and Wilson Family Woodlot make it easy for everyone to get out and get active while enjoying the beauty of our rare Coastal Douglas-fir forest. NOTE: you’ll cross this trail when you are on the driveway. You can wander or run the path everyday.
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  Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park is a short drive away. Impressive waterfalls cascade down a rocky gorge in a beautiful forested setting bordered by steep mountain peaks at this park, one of the most beautiful parks on central Vancouver Island.
  
  Milner Gardens and Woodlands is about a 25 minute drive away. Or bike along the ocean side; it's a lovely bikeride. Experience the magic of 28 hectares (70 acres) of unspoiled natural beauty perched on the edge of an ocean-side bluff overlooking the Strait of Georgia. Stroll the winding pathways and magical surroundings of an ancient coastal Douglas fir forest.
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  About 90 minutes drive from here you'll find O.U.R Ecovillage a permaculture based intentional community and sustainable education demonstration site. Along the way there stop at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville and enjoy the majestic old growth trees, beautiful ocean sunsets and an inviting, wide sandy beach with campsites nestled amongst mature Douglas fir trees.
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  Good eats in the bay:
  Here’s a few places to check out for food, live music and of course beer!
  For a home cooked meal, wonderful service try the Sandbar Cafe & Art Gallery a just a five minute stroll down our driveway. Free WiFi available for diners.
  
  Crown & Anchor Roadhouse Pub: A five minute walk from here; live music, meat draws, karaoke, and jam sessions. Free WiFi available for diners.
  
  Our community centre is also about a 5 minute walk away, there you will find a monthly Second Sunday pancake breakfast and yard sale.
  
  During the week you'll find drop in yoga class and many other fun activities. Google Lighthouse Community Centre Qualicum Bay for the most current info.
  
  This list could go on forever, there is so much to do and see in Lighthouse Country. Please contact Susan if you'd like more info on recreational activities in our area.

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  Un poco más de información

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    Acceso a Internet

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    Acceso a Internet limitado

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    Tenemos animales

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    Somos fumadores

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    Puede alojar familias

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  Espacio para aparcar autocaravanas

  Many of our guests travel in their camper vans and motor homes; we have plenty of space. One thing to keep in mind... is that we do not have 'sani-dump' services. Those services are available locally.

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  Podría aceptar mascotas

  Pets are welcome, as long as they are under your control at all times and you clean up after them. Our cat is a little afraid of big dogs, but our poodle Bentley loves all beings!

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  ¿Cuántos voluntarios puedes hospedar?

  Más de dos

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