Alternative co-operative community, Educational Centre, Market Garden, Diversified farm

British Columbia

9 reviews • Updated 6 months ago

Imagine if there were a living model of resilience right in the heart of your community - a physical space where we could demonstrate ways to sustainably feed ourselves, heal the local ecosystem, and work in harmony with nature and each other - would you want to be a part of it? Now imagine an interconnected network of these local models scattered around the globe, sharing information and resources to get through, and even thrive in, whatever might be coming. That's the vision behind the Lifeboat Academy - modeling resilience and regeneration at the person, place and community level in ways that can be easily replicated by practically anyone in their home community. The Lifeboat Academy is a working farm as well as an experiential education and retreat centre offering the experience of living a regenerative lifestyle in a deeply supportive and respectful community. We're building a model mixed-used regenerative farm with an integrated blend of pastures, food forests and gardens growing a variety of healthy food while increasing the vitality of the environment. The farm serves as a community hub for people learning to live healthy, happy, resilient lives together. Learn more about the project at www.lifeboat.academy. .............................. There are currently two of us living on site at Spalding Valley Farm. Ben & Roland planted and nurturing the seeds of The Lifeboat Academy for the past decade, hosting iterations of the project on three different farms. We are currently working to raise $2.5 million to purchase and liberate a 47-acre property on South Pender Island that is well-suited for the first campus of the Academy. We only been on the property for slightly over a year and are very much in the start up and building stage, so there are lots of interesting projects to get involved with. We are officially open for short-term WWOOFers, interns (longer stay WWOOFers), and hopefully fellow farmers. We are most interested in finding interns to help us develop Spalding Valley Farm. Internships are an immersive opportunity to develop your personal and practical resilience and regeneration skills. Your days will include a variety of activities, from routine chores to farm projects. You’ll have a chance to participate in our shared governance system based on Sociocracy 3.0, so you can contribute insights and perspectives to help us shape the model. Your days and weeks will be full, mixed with ample time for self-care and socialising. Other logistical points to note: You’ll be given a place to stay and fed* *The farm tries to feed itself as much as possible. We predominantly eat together based on a local, seasonal and self-resilient diet. Specialty foods or snacks that have a high carbon footprint would be up to you to obtain. The kitchen, as with most of the farm, operates on the Gift Economy, meaning we expect everyone to give what they can, and donations are welcome. If this sounds strange and confusing, like it’s a leap into something challenging and unknown, and you’re excited about it, this is probably a place for you.

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Poultry farming

Sheep or goat farming

Seed saving or production

Vegetable or fruit preservation

Bakery

Green Building

Food justice / sovereignty

Methods or systems

No-till farming

Regenerative agriculture

Mentoring opportunities

LGBTQ+-operated

Host type

Nonprofit / Community

19 Hectares | 46.9 Acres

Accommodation

4+ WWOOFers

Bedroom

Camper / RV

Campsite

Children accepted

Pets accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Length of stay

1 day (local)

Weekend

Less than a week

1-2 weeks

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Ben

Member since 2021

Languages spoken: English, French Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 5 days

December 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

British Columbia

Pender Island Ferry Terminal at Otter Bay

Reviews

Laura

Canada • November 2025

Wow, what a special place these guys have built. I stayed at the Lifeboat Academy for a month in July 2025. There were between 1-5 other volunteers on the farm during my stay, plus Ben and Roland. My chores included feeding the chickens, clearing trails, weeding/watering/harvesting, and organizing the tool shed. Here are a few things that make this project unique: Very strong focus on individual & group wellness Guided meditation & reflection every morning Self-led work - we chose our priorities as a group at the start of each week A beautiful beach, a warm lake, and a hike with a spectacular view all within 30 mins walk from the farm! Daily lessons on sociocracy with Ben Amazing food by chef Roland - I still dream about that chocolate pie! In short, I highly recommend Lifeboat Academy as a radical model of 'big picture' sustainability and a break from mainstream culture. Thanks a bunch Ben & Roland!

Oliver

United Kingdom • July 2025

Had a wonderful time with Ben and Rolland! They have an amazing project going on which anyone would be lucky to be a part of. The food was incredible and the land was beautiful. I met some incredible people and I will miss this place dearly.

Victoria

Canada • May 2025

First of all, this was maybe the best food I've ever had while volunteering! Every meal was nutritious, flavourful and made with love. I had an excellent stay with Ben and Roland! Every morning began with guided meditation and reflection. The work during the day was varied and calming (weeding, pruning, fire building, gardening, etc). Each night we had great conversations. I came with a bit of a scattered mind and left feeling grounded and confident in my next direction. Ben and Roland are building a wonderful space for connection, inspiration and action. Highly recommend this farmstay to anyone!

Sanja

Canada • March 2025

What an incredible, healing week with Ben and Roland at Lifeboat Academy. A word I keep coming back to is flow. Stepping outside each morning, I was greeted by an orchestra of bird song and the scent of evergreens, soil, and mist. Carrying my container of chicken feed, I slowly made my way towards the lightening sky, unhurriedly walking the path that leads to the coop. I heard excited clucks of 10 hens increase in volume as they registered my approach. This was just one of many daily rituals that felt “right”. The mix of tasks that I needed to do were a well-fitting variety. I got to feel the power in my body when splitting wood and adding soil to a vegetable bed. I also had the privilege to cook in beautiful, well stocked kitchen, following Roland’s excellent recipes. I felt supported to do what I needed to do, and comfortable to ask for any guidance. In between the chores were wonderful moments of conversation, learning, reflecting, and growing. The joy of a companiable silence as the fire crackles in the wood stove is like a balm. Ben & Roland both have lived, read, and experienced a lot. I learned so much from them in such a short time. They live what they say – kindness, curiosity, compassion, experimentation. Do not skip circle time!! I am deeply grateful for the time I got to spend at Lifeboat Academy. It is a place to find your shoulders relaxing, a place to find yourself breathing deeply, and a place for healing from the modern horrors of late-stage capitalism.

Janine

France • July 2024

I had a wonderful time at the Lifeboat Academy! Ben and Roland are very kind and welcoming hosts and super inspiring persons, from which you can learn a lot. I spent almost 4 weeks there, camping in the beautiful forest hearing the birds singing in the morning and the frogs croaking in the evening. I worked on interesting projects (small construction stuff, gardening, animal care) and I especially enjoyed the morning circles and the interesting dinner conversation. I experienced the Lifeboat Academy as a great learning environment with empowerment to try out new things. When your looking for a beautiful place with funny goats and great people working on strategies to meet worldwide changes and challenges, the Lifeboat Academy is the place for you.

Jessica

United States • September 2023

I spent 10 days at The Lifeboat Academy, and had an overall positive experience! Ronnie, Ben, Roland, and Jen were welcoming and made me feel at home during the time I was there. I enjoyed meditating together in the mornings and sharing meals together. While I was there, I spent most of my time doing tasks such as picking blackberries, weeding, removing limbs from trees, and spending time with the animals. It was exciting to witness the beginning of the project at Lifeboat and I wish you all the best of luck in the future. Thank you!