Why we Garden - We bought 5.5 acres in 2017 and have been transforming it from an overgrown weed patch ever since. When Covid came along we made a commitment to build a Market Garden to provide low risk, affordable and healthy vegetables. We now grow a wide selection of vegetables, berries, nuts, and plums in 2 of the 5.5 acres. Our goal is to grow chemical free vegetables using permaculture and organic methods, to sell them for a reasonable price and to help ensure food availability for our community. We have learned so much and we enjoy sharing what we have learned.
We have had so much fun hosting Woofers! We love sharing recipes, learning about different countries and areas, practicing our French and helping Woofers who want to improve their English. We also love to share this beautiful area of Canada and to make sure Woofers have a good time yet also have some quiet time or time to explore on their own.
Location - We are just 9 minutes to downtown Vernon yet we are surrounded by beautiful hills, fields and trees. Our property backs onto a creek and is just minutes from Okanagan Lake beaches. It feels like we are in the country. Our area is beautiful with hiking and biking trails and arts and cultural events to explore. Silver Star Mountain Resort is 25 minutes away by car.
Learning opportunities - We can share our knowledge in building raised bed gardens, planting, sowing, transplanting, harvesting, weeding, verma-culture building “Funky” fences and owl nest boxes, composting, pruning and stocking our roadside stand. There is also a chance to learn marketing techniques with our market stand and loads of opportunity to be creative.
Projects - There is a greenhouse full of orchids that need care. and an understanding of their unique needs. We plan on adding to our grape vines, building trellises and new flower and veggie gardens. Our new market stand needs to be painted in a fun and friendly way. Light carpentry skills may be handy and provide for some fun projects. We host a Rotary garage sale to raise money for our community so helping with that is also possible.
Who is here - Besides my husband and myself, our daughter and a part Border collie, part Newfoundland dog named Finn live here. A friend and his small dog, and a large variety of wild birds (eagles, hawks, owls, geese, song birds, quail and pheasant) and animals (deer, beaver, coyote, squirrels, voles and occasional bob cat and moose) also live here. We are all well-travelled and have a lot of experience in other countries. We also speak a small amount of Spanish and French. Meals are family style, sometimes outdoors, and special dietary concerns can usually be accommodated. We eat vegetarian and some omnivore meals and use vegetables from our garden most of the year. In the winter we use our dried or frozen vegetables from the garden. As we have to accommodate our own dietary restrictions, I have a lot of practice doing so.
What we do - We try to grow a huge variety of veggies: tomatillos, eggplant, hot and sweet peppers, numerous herbs and all the usual veggies. I try to grow heirloom or F1 seeds as much as possible. We do not grow potatoes, corn, cauliflowers or turnips.
Typical Day - I typically start in the garden between 5:00 and 7:00 AM, 7 days a week. As the summer heat increases, I start earlier so I am done by noon. In the fall I tend to start later to allow time for the day to warm up. Once the garden is producing, we have our stand open at 9:00AM but often continue picking until noon. We close the stand at dusk 7:00 to 9:00PM). Lunch is indoors, or on the deck or picnic style at 12:00. Dinner by 5:30. After dinner and during lunch we often play cribbage or other card games. We enjoy a walk to the creek after dinner too. Our daughter takes our dog Finn on long mountain hikes and in back wood areas. We enjoy going to the Lake for a cool off swim, enjoy the many cultural events in Vernon and area and hold 2 big parties for Don's clients. These are great fun.
Organic -We are not certified organic however, we use NO chemicals. The costs of becoming certified are high for a small operation like this.
Our perfect guest - We are looking for a Wwoofer who enjoys working in the garden, doesn't mind physical work, can be creative and is willing to learn and contribute. Due to my serious allergy to cigarette smoke and the risk of fire we can't allow smoking on the property. We would like a respectful and friendly Wwoofer with a positive attitude. Must like a large friendly dog.
Accommodation - We offer private accommodation (27” trailer) with Internet access. A canoe and bicycles are available for use. There is also camping and RV parking space. We provide bedding and kitchen needs and laundry facilities. Meals, lunch and dinner are family style and there are healthy snacks. We don't eat breakfast, so we provide you with ingredients for you to make your own.
There is a tremendous variety of wonderful things to do in this area and we are willing to show you some of the attractions and sites. As we work full time on the farm we also hope you can explore some areas on your own.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
No-till farming
Permaculture
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
Host type
Production farm
2.2
Hectares
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5.5
Acres
