We are a certified organic family run farm located in Oliver, BC in the sunny south Okanagan valley. Our goal is toinvite you to our farm, and then capture your heart, teach you about farming, stewardship and friendship. We hope for an honest exchange, and for you to leave with a recommendation for others to come. Our focus is on ground crops, so much of the work is the daily grind of weeding, pruning, harvesting, washing etc, however we have many ongoing projects, and we will endeavour to give you a diverse and interesting experience. Depending on the time of year you may also find yourself mixing potting mix in the greenhouse, seeding plants, pruning berry bushes, or starting trees from cuttings.
We are close to lakes and hiking, there is a lot to do on your days off. 30 min north is Penticton, with Skaha Bluffs for avid rock climbers, and to the south is the town of Osoyoos boasting Canada's warmest lake. Amazia is a commercial farm, so we farm to sustain ourselves and our kids, and we love what we do. All this to say- it is hectic keeping it all going. The decision to receive Woofers for the first time in 2017 was taken in an attempt to strike some balance. Over the last 8 seasons I haven't ever regretted it. The exchange, the friendship the conversations over dinner have been a lot of fun. Farming is a lifestyle that is enhanced when it is shared. Amazia wouldn't be the farm it is today without the woofers who have helped build it. In return we try to include woofers in what is going on in the community and teach them whatever we can about our interests and help them with theirs. Every year we take whoever is on the farm to the Keremeos Rodeo, and this season we will also go to the Princeton Rodeo in June as well. . It's a lot of fun. For woofers who don't know Canada, it's something different and hopefully enriching. For woofers who do know Canada, it is a good regional experience . In the past few years some things have changed due to Covid. We turned more towards the outdoors and continued to entertain ourselves with each other's company on farm. The farm focus for 2025 is to keep going, and to be sustainable both economically and environmentally. The household focus is to be as self-sufficient as possible, but in a modern and reasonable sense. We're not looking to live on a farm from the 1800s, but to create a modern farm that embraces some of the technics from the past and also employs modern technics to create a more responsible model. We don't ever know how organized things will be, and if we will have the time to mentor people on the side projects, (like our essential oil still and metal forge) but you are welcome to teach yourself and use the tools. If you are interested in farming, we are happy to teach you whatever we can, from how to set up irrigation to how we balance the soil, and if you have questions just ask, and of course, the longer you stay, the more you will be exposed to through the normal course of work.
Our accommodation is a combination of fully furnished RVs and tents as well as CC a tiny house. We have RV accomodation for 9 people, and overflow goes into tents. The tents are all new, and very large (you can stand up inside) they are meant for 8-10 people, but are set up with a bed on a frame, off the ground, and are very comfortable. We love to cook, and always enjoy woofers who share that passion. If you have read this far you are a patient and passionate person and I think you might be a good fit. Please get in touch. Mike
Organic methods: No till. Stale seed bed. Flame weed. Straw, Fabric and Plastic Mulch (we are trying to phase this out). Composting. Biological Predator Control. Heirloom production. Rare breed. Companion Planting. Regenerative.
Certifications: PACS
Spring: March to May: Masoning the stone entrance way and wall. Welding and iron gate way and setting up the actuators. Prepping fields for planting. Transplanting, Seeding, Weeding, Harvest, Setting up prep room. Breaking Pasture for culture. Building a cold room. Building planter boxes and landscaping. Building new tent pads. Notable events on our calender: Keremeos Rodeo on the May Long Weekend, Princeton Rodeo
June: Transplanting, Seeding, Weeding, Tomato Pruning, Harvest, Market Prep. Breaking Pasture pasture for culture. Chickens, Pigs, Goats, moving pasture fencing for the animals. Notable Events: Princeton Rodeo
July: Transplanting, Seeding, Weeding, Tomato Pruning, Harvest, Market Prep, Canning. Drainage install.
Notable Events: Canada Day fireworks in Osoyoos.
August: Transplanting, Seeding, Weeding, Tomato Pruning, Harvest, Market Prep, Market. Canning. Moving pasture.
September:Transplanting, Seeding, Weeding, Tomato Pruning, Harvest, Market Prep, Market. Pull finished crop. Covering the greenhouse.
Notable Events: Fall Fair in Rock Creek.
October: Harvest, Market Prep, Market. Pull finished crops. Blow out irrigation. Dig winter drainage. Chickens. Garlic Planting. Sausage making (and everything else involved)Local Hockey Season starts
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Raising of other farm animals
Wild foraging
Flower farming
Seed saving or production
Meat processing
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Food justice / sovereignty
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Biodynamic agriculture
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Accommodation
