Hello Wwoof travelers, the farm is full until March 1, 2027! If you are long term planning for mid summer and fall 2027 please send me a message! Spring 2027 is a wonderful time to experience the farm, wildlife, animals and for riding (between spring snow storms lol).
Wwoofing will include caring for horses, cleaning horse sheds, burdocking (its a thing), weeding, helping with grassland and riparian reclamation, fences, riding when the weather supports a pleasant ride, caring for the chickens, gardening (we grow amazing garlic), raspberry patch nurturing and more! There are Working Equitation Shows I attend June, July, August and September, and I will need help getting ready for those.
Wwoof guests have the option to stay in the cooler main home large Den that I am currently finishing. There is room for one guest only with a share the bathroom. Windy Coulee is a minimalist Ranch and Household. I strive to reduce waste and reduce the use of plastic, as well as work and live more efficiently so we can spend even more time in nature and enjoying the horses and animals. I can help with your trip planning and offer ideas for minimal and efficient items to bring.
The ranch is a great place to rest and "disconnect with the online human world". Sourdough is a tradition Sebastien created in 2022 and the starter is hence named "Sebastien". Most wwoof guests bake sourdough during their stay, I am happy to share Sebastien's recipe, with Lisa's additions, Ella and Ava's savoury and sweet additions, Sophia and Louna's experience and my tweaks and Ari and Francoise hot scoring tips. Summer 2027, the farm will once again host Harvest Host Campers. The campers have become yet another fun tradition, with guest dog walks and interesting people traveling across Canada in large and small RV's.
We welcome Wwoof Guests who are a good fit for the farm, have a work visa and have good extended health care insurance coverage for travel.
If you are vegan or vegetarian (or just willing to try that for a while), and enjoy a tranquil and quiet time, follow safe horsemanship and farm practices, gardening, land restoration and want to learn more about riding English or Western, groundwork and horse/pony handling, with minimal cell phone access, healthy food and maximum outdoors, this is the Wwoof stay for you!
There is enough to do on the farm to keep folks busy, happy, rested, learning new things and sharing knowledge. If you enjoy snowshoeing and skiing, exploring the mountains, riding horses, caring for animals, managing the pastures, spending time in nature and bird watching, there will be plenty of adventures to experience. The farm is also located within 1 - 3 hours drive to 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Waterton Lakes International Peace Park, Dinosaur and Writing on Stone PP, and Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump.
This landscape is Nitsitapi land; Blackfoot Territory since the beginning of time. “Niitsitapi” (nee-itsee-TAH-peh) means “the real people.” I am grateful to be on this land and share it with so many people.
Winter 2027/2028 Wwoofing includes keeping a close eye on the herd who will be in the main large pasture, keeping the chicken house clean and caring for the birds, walking a farm dog, and caring for the cats. An added benefit, is the cozy wood fire that keeps the house warm and the exercise we all get moving firewood to keep the wood stove going. The home we share is basic. A bath, (no shower), a good washing machine and drying racks, hand washing dishes, and imported non plastic brooms to keep the floor clean.! Inside tasks include carpentry, dog training, processing berries , and there always is tack to clean. We bake our own bread, grow sprouts and strive to create healthy meals. The rustic lifestyle is slow paced and keeps us all in touch with nature and the winter.
Organic methods: The land is managed as sustainably and naturally as possible. Invasive species management, (hand and mowing), growing a small organic garden, fencing, pasture rest, rotational grazing and more. The corral, house and one section of the grassland and riparian part of the farm sustained a substantial blow dirt accumulations from neighbouring industrial cropland in 20126, and will be working with an Environmental Consultant to reclaim this damage. It is interesting and involves planting and caring (weeding/watering) for reclaimed native grassland, shrubs and trees.
Certifications: I do not produce a food product other than what we grow and eat from the garden ourselves; the land is managed organically. I am a certified in Equine First Aid and have taken Human First Aid courses. I am a retired Environmental Educator and full time Farmer, transitioning to offer high end camping and farm excursions.
Current projects: In summer, work to get the pasture ready for fall grazing, "burdocking", moving hay, working with the ponies and horses is the norm. We always share cooking. Wwoof guests are encouraged to keep their own space clean and tidy and more importantly keep all shared spaces in the house and workshop tidy and clutter free. We have a WWOOF Cookbook to share favourite international recipes! It is important to note, we have cats and two young large dogs in the house, WWOOF guests with allergies should know this. Guests will be taught how to manage the dogs properly! There are always firewood moving, building projects inside and outside, and animal care projects.
Internet access available.
Please note, the process for confirming a stay. You send a request, next we do a Whats App meeting/interview to make sure the farm and you are a good fit. I will be interviewing a few requests for the same stay, so please make sure you are available for this. If you are the successful Wwoof guest for the rough dates we both agree on, then I accept. Once the accepted guest is making firm travel plans you communicate this to me to make sure I am available to pick you up on a specific day and time, and then you adjust your stay dates on the request and click confirmed.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Poultry farming
Horse or donkey farming
Wild foraging
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Green Building
Renewable energy production
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Holistic management
No-till farming
Rotational grazing
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
