I love CANADA. Is it just me, or are the majority of Canadians extra polite? I know in general it’s not good to generalize, but I truly have been impressed overall in each of my Canadian interactions.
Mr. Plate and I had been contemplating what to do this summer. Prior to getting my unexpected job at the school (that will now count for externship hours) we hoped to find a position somewhere that would be able to count for my externship hours while also providing some sort of compensation, even if just in the form of room and board.
If you know us you’ll know we didn’t want to do something run-of-the-mill. Not that there is anything wrong with ordinary, we just wanted to take full advantage of our nomadic and unique opportunities right now. I love to dream of all the possibilities! Remember that internet search last spring that led to us selling our home, quitting jobs, and moving to Austin, Texas!
Another internet search led to many new ideas for this coming spring and summer.
Some of my favorite places to dream:
And our Wish List:
- Somewhere we haven’t been before
- Somewhere less populated. No big cities. . . going to the country gonna eat a lot of peaches. . .
- Somewhere that we could have culinary opportunities as well as permaculture ones
- Somewhere safe to bring a toddler
- Free room and board
Workaway seemed the most likely venue to meet up with someone that would be willing to host our family while also granting these wishes. I signed up and scoured the work sites relating to yoga, permaculture, healthy cooking, etc. I sent about 15 inquiries out. Many were in the New York, Maine, Canada area. A handful in the UK, Scotland, Ireland, England, and a few in Australia. They all looked dreamy.
After a week I had multiple affirmatives! All of them were within 6 hours driving distance within Ontario Canada. . . I think that is where we are meant to be. I was so pleased that they were all happy to have Little Plate come along for the ride. We decided that we will spend 3-4 weeks at each site. We have verified our dates and have received extra information packets from our hosts. We are so excited to learn and volunteer for them!
We will be volunteering for:
-A couple that has had plenty of their own Workaway experience and now live and run an 120 acre farm set atop the rolling hills and a mixture of field, forest, meadow and wetland with a beautiful view of Lake Ontario. They grow and raise their own food using organic and permaculture principles. The are welcoming and encourage others to come and learn from their farm experience. They have an on-site cook and I hope to help with the load of feeding many hard-working farm volunteers.
-A couple that owns 140 acres of Organic Certified farm. They raise beef, pork, goats for milk and meat, Jersey cows, meat chickens, turkeys, have laying hens and make their own maple syrup. They make cheese, yogurt, and kefir from their own milk. They also have two large gardens and run a CSA. We can’t wait to meet them and learn about family farming on this scale.
-A multi-generation family that runs a lovely heritage farmstead. A 7 acre property that includes small barn, wonderful old apple trees, large gardens and Wellness Studio. They have an emphasis on herbs and we will have ample opportunity to learn about growing, wildcrafting, harvesting and using herbs for food, medicine, personal and home care.
-And possibly a yoga studio and vegetarian restaurant with many diverse art and sustainability projects.
Or
to the one YES we received in Scotland, if we can swing it, to stay at a B&B that is supposed to be much like the Picadilly Circus. . . their words, not mine :).
We are so excited to make new friends, have new experiences, and see what others are doing with permaculture and the farm fresh ingredients they produce. We are also excited to explore, bike, hike, and camp in beautiful Ontario!
Loves!
Ash