When we first got to Canada I felt really anxious about the whole experience just the night before arriving at the first farm.  It kind of felt like the first day of a new semester when you aren’t sure if it will be easy or really really difficult or somewhere between the two.  At Hollanbec Farm they were so accommodating and sweet that by the time we made it to Headwaters Farm I wasn’t feeling anxious at all, but rather excited.  Here’s what we were going on as far as what to expect from their Workaway listing:

Ecological Farm, Market Garden and Education Centre in the rolling hills of Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada

Set atop the rolling hills of Northumberland County, Ontario, our 120 acre farm is a mixture of field, forest, meadow and wetland with a beautiful view of Lake Ontario. We moved to the country in 2012 to live a more peaceful and self-sustainable existence, closing the gap between field and table. We grow and raise our food using organic and permaculture principles learned through our travels around the world. We also buy from and support our local farmers. We are a community farm with and an open door to those who want to get closer to the land but might not have access to it. 

We have great plans this summer working with an amazing organic market gardener to add another 1.5 acres of veg and fruit to our existing one-acre of permaculture gardens. We also raise goats to breed and for milk, chickens for eggs and meat, and bees for honey. This year we will be adding a small herd of Highland cattle on a rotational grazing pasture system and also turkeys to join in with our chickens. Our products are on-farm at our Farmgate market and also off-farm at a local farmer’s market and sold wholesale. Our education centre is launching the first of June and will offer cooking classes, yoga and wellness retreats, homesteading workshops, gardening tours and lots of property to hike and enjoy nature.

Our farm has a communal atmosphere with everyone gathering together at meal times to cook, share stories and ideas and get to know one another. We hope that our volunteers leave us fit and happy and passionate about growing and eating good food.

When we drove up the long drive to their farm Mr. Plate and I just looked at each other and said WOW!  Their main residence is a very unique and beautiful strawbale structure with a view that will leave you breathless.  It is just a really gorgeous home in the best spot possible.

Here’s an article about Tony and Linda and their awesome home.

We were greeted by Tony and his 3 dogs and he made us feel right at home giving us a bit of a house tour.  Linda then showed us where we were to live for the next 4 weeks.  Our lodging was a dated camp trailer but it was quite comfortable and gave our own little family our own space.