Accomadation / work exchange

Welcome! Come and learn how to play with the plants. We are looking for apprentice/ helpers from April 1st and on wards until the end of October & possibly a short way into November (weather dependent). We prefer Helpers who can stay for at least 8 weeks, though depending on our needs and the time of year we will consider a shorter stay.We are a small organic market garden, providing vegetables, berries ,herbs and edible flowers to a farmer's market, restaurants and families in the Nelson area. My husband and I have been running the market garden for 20 years. Gardening experience is not essential, we prefer a desire and willingness to learn. There is room for your inspiration and creativity here. If you have an interest in guiding and teaching others you can take on various challenges in the leaderships aspects of the garden & kitchen.

We are a market garden, your tasks as an apprentice/volunteer helper, will be learning and participating with myself & other volunteer helpers in the gardens , planting, weeding, harvesting ,mulching ,pruning and learning how to make vegetable compost, as well as other tasks that are all part of growing a successful garden .We will be doing some yard & property maintenance such as lawn mowing ,weed whipping , small landscaping , raised garden bed building projects on the property. In the fall help is needed with canning, drying & preserving foods ,making soups for our consumption, winter storage .

We are looking for apprentices/Helpers with a serious and genuine interest in learning organic gardening skills, You must be teachable, able to follow directions , ask questions as needed, and to participate cooperatively with others as well individually .If you are reliable, honest, responsible, physically fit, enjoy outdoor activities in most weather conditions then we would be happy to host you.
We provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about organic gardening, perm a culture, a large variety of different food plants, drying and processing ,as well as local food networks.

We are an easy 20 minute car ride from the cafes , pubs and stores of Nelson, and 10 minutes from Balfour. There is a very dependable bus service available just minute from the garden to get you to Nelson and other destinations. There is forest to explore above the property with many hiking and biking trails. Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park is a 10min bicycle ride . A semi-private beach is just 5 minutes down the road for swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. We have bikes for you to use, a badminton court, and two hammocks under the walnut tree as well as a fire pit to cozy up to & enjoy with friends on those starry nights
Call Bren 250 229-4346