🛠️🌿 Help Build Our Sanctuary in Nature | Rochester, Canada
The experience
Barn Restoration & Other Acreage Projects
We’re looking for volunteers with some building, carpentry, or general maintenance experience to help restore an old barn and assist with projects around our rural acreage.
We’re slowly building this place into a peaceful Airbnb sanctuary, with the house and barn available for guests seeking rest, creativity, and connection to nature. Your work will be part of bringing that vision to life!
What you offer
25 hours of help per week
Painting & Decorating:
Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.
Building & Repairing:
Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Gardening:
Help grow plants and cultivate gardens
What you get
3 days off per week
Private Room:
You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Breakfast:
You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch:
You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner:
You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Discounts on Tours:
Get discounts for tours and excursions around town.
Free Laundry:
You can use our laundry room freely.
Free Hiking Tours:
We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!
Use our equipped kitchen:
Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Fast Internet Access:
High-speed internet for you to work remotely
Requirements
Fluent English
Between 25 and 50 years old
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
Mandatory volunteer introduction video
What's not included
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Program Details
Our volunteer program is centered around helping restore an old heritage barn and maintaining a peaceful rural acreage that’s being thoughtfully developed into a future Airbnb sanctuary. This is a hands-on, meaningful experience for people who enjoy practical work, country living, and being part of a long-term vision.
Volunteers contribute to real projects while enjoying a slower pace of life, home-cooked meals, and plenty of free time to explore the surrounding area. We value respect, communication, and a positive attitude over perfection.
Activities & Shift
Tasks vary depending on skills, weather, and project needs, and may include:
Barn restoration and repair
Basic carpentry and renovation work
Painting, sanding, and cleanup
General property maintenance
Mowing lawns and yard care
Chopping and stacking firewood
Light organizing and upkeep
Building or renovation experience is a huge asset, but not required — there is a mix of skilled and simple tasks.
4 working days per week
Approx. 6–8 hours per day
Workdays are flexible and discussed together in advance
Remaining days are free to relax, explore the area, or enjoy the property. A huge perk of staying here is that we’re big outdoor adventurers, and days off often turn into trips to the mountains for hiking, backpacking, kayaking, rock climbing, etc and we have extra equipment if you’d like to join. If you enjoy being active and exploring the outdoors, this can be a really fun part of staying here.
Rules
To keep things comfortable for everyone, we ask that volunteers:
Be reliable, respectful, and communicate openly
Have a genuine interest in hands-on work
Respect shared spaces and quiet hours
Be comfortable with rural living (this is not a party environment)
Like cats — they live here and are part of daily life 🐾
No drugs; alcohol in moderation only
Clean up after yourself and pitch in with basic household tidying
This program is best suited for independent, easygoing people who enjoy nature, purposeful work, and a peaceful setting.