Experience a modern and tradition balanced lifestyle with us in rural Alberta, Canada

Infos

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  Description

  Hello, my name is Laura. I’m 38 years old and live in rural northern Alberta with my husband Shayne (48) and our two boys, ages 8 and 15, on our 70-acre homestead that we built from the ground up.
  
  Although we have beautiful scenery here, and there are many grand places in the world, that’s not really what this is about. This life isn’t something I put on display or try to capture. I don’t build it for an image — I live it. And what I’m offering is the chance to step into that and experience it for yourself.
  
  It’s an immersed, lived, grounded, and wholesome way of life — not rushed because we have to, but motivated because we want to.
  
  Some days are more relaxed, focused on basic chores and daily routines, and other days are more project-based where we work together to get bigger things done. We often have friends or family around helping as well, so it’s a balanced and social way of life.
  
  My husband Shayne is incredible. He works less than half the year so he’s right here with me planning, creating & enjoying.
  
  We have access to a sawmill and woodworking equipment, and we have a large supply of lumber. A lot of what we build comes from what we have available, and you’ll get to see and be part of how we use it to create what we need.
  
  Your experience here will be a slower, yet productive way of life. We are not off-grid, and we are not a large production farm. There is space here — space for autonomy, for learning, for exploring, and for gaining a true understanding of rural living and community.
  
  We moved here from Ontario and built this life from the ground up. We left behind an urban lifestyle and chose northern Alberta to step away from light pollution, overconsumption, and the constant rush — not just for ourselves, but for our children. Piece by piece, we created something that feels real and honest to who we are.
  My children do NOT have cell phones or tablets. We do have a TV and internet lol!
  
  My days are filled with what matters — the land, the quiet, my family, and our animals. I do work that I genuinely love.
  I am on call firefighter and I own and teaching yoga from my home studio, I live to be at home but I also live being part of a community.
  
  We are living proof that you don’t need generational land or farm wealth to build a life of peace and balance. You don’t have to go completely off-grid, and you don’t need mass production to make it work. We built this slowly, piece by piece — and we’re still learning as we go.
  
  Everything we produce and build is done with our own two hands, with the goal of living more self-sufficiently and intentionally.
  
  Our farm includes cows, goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, geese. seasonal turkeys, meat birds, along with two dogs who are very much part of daily life. Much of our flock is free-range — something you won’t see in many places.
  
  You'll have the opportunity to learn and take part in a wide range of skills here. Caring for animals, learning how to free-range them, gathering and managing eggs, gardening and greenhouse growing, bread making, foraging for tea and herbs and their uses and preserving food through canning, fermenting, jam making, and even winemaking using what we can grow or forage. Berry picking is a big part of the season, and much of what we gather gets turned into something we can store and use through the year.
  We also hunt!
  
  You’ll have a chance to use some different farm equipment. Woodworking & building new structures. Putting power into structures, building and fixing fencing. Cutting and clearing forest and stacking wood.
  
  More than anything, you’ll experience how to balance a life between work, rest, and play — and how to live in a way that supports your own sustenance while still enjoying the day-to-day without becoming extreme or burnt out.
  
  We also trade goods the old-fashioned way with neighbours and friends, and you’ll get a feel for what real community looks like out here.
  
  We live in the boreal forest. There are no neighbours you can see or hear — just quiet, space, and wildlife — but we are deeply connected to the people around us. We even have a neighbour who lets us use their in-ground pool, which we access by ATV through the forest on hot summer days.
  
  It’s peaceful and open, yet we are still only 15 minutes from the town of Peace River, so you’re not completely removed from access to essentials.
  
  I spend most of my days on the farm and work from home, so I’m usually present and involved in the daily rhythm here.
  
  Mornings usually involve basic farm chores — feeding animals, refreshing water, gathering eggs, and maintaining spaces. Some days are simple, others more hands-on depending on what’s needed.
  
  We’re always building and improving —.This year includes new garden spaces, a duck shelter, expanded goat areas, fencing, putting power in and preparing for a horse and mammoth donkey.
  
  Meals are shared and often farm-to-table, using what we’ve raised or grown but we still buy and eat some convenience meals when necessary . You’re welcome to cook with me, use the BBQ or smoker, or prepare your own meals if you prefer.
  
  Evenings slow down. Campfires, big skies, quiet conversation. The northern lights often show themselves here.
  
  You’ll also experience a more balanced way of living — one that includes movement, rest, purpose, and connection. Whether it’s yoga in my home studio, joining a fire training night, heading out on the river, or simply sitting still and taking it all in.
  
  We offer a private summer trailer for your stay, fully equipped with everything you need to be comfortable and self-sufficient, while still being part of our daily life.
  
  Life here is exactly that — alive. A balance between work, rest, and play.
  
  We explore, we build, we rest, we connect.
  
  There are rivers, lakes, trails, and wide open spaces all around us. There are opportunities for boating, swimming, ATVing, and experiencing the North in a real way. Jasper Alberta and BC are both a few hours West.
  
  The closest town is Peace River, which has everything you need without the overwhelm of a big city. Grande Prairie is two hours away.
  
  There is always something fun going in the area. We have the largest and fastest boat races in the world. We have rodeos and carnivals, festivals and river days. There is also a good ski hill!
  
  We have cultivated a life that I feel is worth sharing. I’m humbled and grateful to live the way we do, and I want to open that up to others — to share what we’ve built for ourselves and our family.
  
  I’m truly grateful for this life, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with the right people.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Bénévolat

  Projets artistiques

  Pratique d’une langue

  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
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Dev. personnel

  

  Ferme

  

  Événements/vie sociale

  

  Culture

  

  Bénévolat

  

  Écriture

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Photographie

  

  Musique

  

  Langues

  

  Histoire

  

  Jardinage

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Astronomie

  

  Art et design

  

  Animaux

  

  Voile / bateau

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Montagne

  

  Nature

  

  Randonnée

  

  Fitness

  

  Danse

  

  Camping

  

  Plage

  

  Yoga / bien-être
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  Life here is simple, hands-on, and connected to the land. You’ll be part of our daily rhythm—helping with projects, sharing meals when it feels right, and spending time outdoors.
  
  We can share skills like gardening, preserving food, animal care, and building, while offering space to slow down and step away from busy life.
  
  In return, we value the exchange of stories, perspectives, and good company along the way.
  
  You will be integrated into our lifestyle and community with lots of time to enjoy nature and explore the area.

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  Projets impliquant des enfants

  Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.

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  Aide

  would love support this summer with a variety of projects around our homestead. We’re in a season of building and expanding—getting the greenhouse up and running, growing and extending the garden, and moving into canning and preserving what we harvest.
  
  There’s always meaningful tasks here: caring for animals, harvesting, cutting wood, building outbuildings, and bringing power to different areas of the property.
  
  My husband Work only half the time but it’s hard to wait to get things done. Many of these projects are best done with two sets of hands. Having someone here not only helps move things forward, but also brings a sense of shared effort—good company while working, learning, and building something real together.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Français: Intermédiaire
  Allemand: Débutant
  Hollandais: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Our children speak French. I come from a Dutch family and my husband comes from German and Irish ancestry. We know little from our cultural backgrounds but have bother been to Europe and love it. We welcome any and all Cultures.
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  Hébergement

  We offer a private holiday camper with running water heat and power. Three queen beds and a full kitchen. We also offer house kitchen and shower and living space. We share in meals or you can fend sometimes for yourself. We will do shopping together and you can chose what you would like.

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  Autres infos...

  Would love to have a video call to virtually meet and I can show you around the farm and house.

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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

  You can work when you need to.

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  We have area to set up and power.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

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  Mes animaux

  

  Charlie

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