Seeking fresh energy to help at a mixed farm in Ontario, Canada

Infos

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  Description

  2024 will be a year of big changes at the Farms!!!!
  
  We love having new people join us at our home and become friends through common interests and working alongside each other, as well as enjoying the great outdoors together doing a range of activities.
  
  The major projects we have going on this yr are:
  
  -Moving our 2 RV’s to a secluded location and installing water and a nice custom built outdoor toilet. Adding a rock fire pit, small deck and roof over RV’s. making a cute trailer park type area for visitors and family/friends, possible air BnB later
  -Tearing down a large barn that was built in a poor location, and rebuilding it up on the hill where it will be used for equipment storage (we will teach you how to do this!)
  -starting vegetable flower and herb seedlings and caring for them
  -planting gardens
  -spreading seeds of native perennials around the property to have more flowers for the bees, planting more shrubs and trees for birds & food
  - Making more walking trails in the forest
  - Building some bird, owl & bat houses out of scrap lumber, decorate them if you wish!
  -Redoing some fencing to keep cows where they should be to better improve our fields
  -Much much more
  
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  Hi! Our names are Patrick & Valencia and we practice organic, no-till, regenerative methods with a focus on building topsoil. Our farm is 160 acres of fields, forest, marsh and natural springs. We allow wildlife to build homes here and coexist with us. We selective cut lumber to build with, and mill it right here on the farm.
  
  In the past 4.5 years we have hosted over 65 volunteers from around the world of all ages, genders and races. We try to make everyone feel like they are welcome and have built lasting friendships with our workaways. We hope to meet more people and learn new things.
  
  We have 5 dogs, big to little, that love people but love walks more. Valencia works shift work so we need someone to take the dogs out everyday and be here to keep them company. They are our children. So you have to love dogs to be the right person.
  
  We want you to do the basic animal chores twice a day, which means watering & feeding the egg and meat chickens, a few pigs and turning the hose on for the cattle and running it for 40 mins. It takes about 1.5 hour per day for everything (combined morning and night). We practice deep pack bedding so there is no cleaning out of the stalls or barns. We just keep adding over the winter and it starts to decompose on its own. We use it for gardening and to add nutrients to the soil. Now that spring is here we have miles of wire fencing that needs repair. It's not hard, but it is one of the main jobs we have. We will teach you, it's easy!
  
  We ask that you walk the dogs once a day or in bad weather just let them out. Some housework like sweep the floors, wipe down the bathroom once per week. And cook 1 dinner per week, then help with prep like making a salad or chopping veggies the rest of the time. You can relax in the afternoon, watch TV, read, or go for a walk. We have lots of trails through the forest. It's about 5 hours a day we ask, 5 days a week with 2 days off. We are flexible about what days and can discuss depending on what's happening that week. That leaves lots of time to explore the area. You can use the car to get around and go to town to shop, relax, see new places. With our volunteers we have been camping, on day trips in the canoe or kayak, swimming at the famous Sandbanks Beach in Prince Edward County. This area is famous for 1000's of acres of government land and thousands of lakes. There are dozens of national parks and great towns like Kingston to enjoy a nice meal. Valencia loves getting out in nature and would love to have some company camping or hiking!
  
  In the past we have trained people on driving tractors, cutting wood, building etc. We aren't perfectionists and often the house is messy, and there is junk laying around that we want to focus on getting rid of this yr. We've had volunteers build chicken coops, cute garden gates, benches to sit on and enjoy the ponds, bee hotels, anything you feel like you are free to do. We have unlimited lumber and supplies so get creative!
  
  We think our reviews speak for themselves. In the last 4.5 years we have had some helpers stay for a week, some for 6 Months. We have made incredible friends. You are welcome to hang out with us in the evenings!.
  
  We would love to meet you! Send us a message and we can see if we fit!

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Projets artistiques

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général

  Aide informatique/internet
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Vegetarians can come and learn about ethical and humane meat production to give them an idea of what really happens on a small pasture-based operation- see that we are not cruel heartless killers who truly do love our animals. We want you to experience the joy of raising livestock for food and how the earth can actually benefit and heal from eating food right in your backyard. Help reduce your food footprint by eating food raised right here on the farm!! It doesn't get more local than that!.

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  Aide

  Basic animal chores : feed & water chickens, pigs, water cows.
  
  Dogs: let dogs out, walk dogs for 20-30mins
  
  Meals: if you can cook and want to great! If not, chop veggies.
  
  Help with fencing that needs repair
  
  Build bird houses and feeders, creative projects like signs and cute stuff for the gardens.

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  Langues parlées

  Anglais: Courant

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  Hébergement

  2 Private RV's with double bed, couch, table, basic cookware, electricity (water coming this spring)
  
  Access to Starlink high speed internet, laundry, kitchen, bathroom and anywhere in the house or outside
  
  Electric Plug in for mobile camper or rv

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  Autres infos...

  We are more than happy to pick you up in Napanee (preferred), Kingston or Belleville. The bus can be taken to these cities.
  
  There is plenty to see and do less than 1 hour from the farm and you can get mostly everything you need in Napanee. Special items can be purchased on weekends when we go to the city or during your day off.
  
  Smoking is allowed everywhere outside EXCEPT the barns/sheds and inside the house. CIGARETTE BUTTS and BEER CAPS are to be kept OFF the ground. Marijuana and minor alcohol consumption is allowed during your time off. No smoking pot while driving equipment or operating machinery. Anyone not following these rules will be asked to leave immediately.
  
  We hope to host you soon! Thanks for reading.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We have Starlink now

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  We have power for you.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  25 hrs per week as help vary by season

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