Planning a Visit to Spalding Valley Farm?

Here’s What to Expect

Lifeboat Academy Driver and Mission Statement

The Spalding Valley Farm is the first campus of the Lifeboat Academy and a living experiment to create a model of resilience and regeneration at the person, place, and community level that can be shared with other lifeboat builders around the globe. Climate chaos, social breakdown and a post-peak energy future mean we’re all facing turbulent times. We are creating a future where people and the planet thrive by using nature’s wisdom to create an integrated, balanced, carbon-negative, whole-diet producing ecosystem. For more check out the

See the Lifeboat Academy Driver Statement and Agreements.docx for details. 

Agreements and How We Work

We use a Sociocracy 3.0 framework to organize our work & treat all projects as experiments to maximize learning. 

In practice, it looks like clear agreements about how we work together, an adaptable plan, and a daily huddle to coordinate activities and priorities on the farm. 

Everyone on the farm is expected to honour the agreements while on the farm. 

Balanced Energy Flows and the Commons

• We are opposed to commodification and strive to live as much as possible through the gift economy. At the same time, we have to balance the material needs of the farm and our inhabitants so we need to ensure that there is a balanced flow of resources to match needs, including guaranteeing adequate income to keep the lifeboat afloat. 

• We ask that everyone working or staying at the farm consider how they can balance the energy flows to ensure they are contributing in a way that feels fair to everyone involved.

• This might involve a combination of effort (doing chores, helping with projects), cash, or other support (talking to your friends about us, for example) or anything else that contributes to a balanced flow. $ donations to the farm make it possible for us to continue operating and hosting guests! Make a donation to our Pay-It-Forward fund.

• The farm is a full-time, full-immersion opportunity to develop your personal and practical resilience and regeneration skills. Our days and weeks are full, but also with ample time for self-care and socializing.  

Villager Agreement Short List 

• Timeline of the day - 7:30am morning chores; 9:30am circle/huddle; 12:30pm lunch; 7:00pm dinner.

• Quiet hours - 9pm until 7:30am.

• Monday is Farm Sabbath, which means most work/projects are on hold for the day.

• No smoking on the property for human health, plant health, and combustion concerns.  

• Please do not enter an area or use equipment that you have not been oriented to. 

• Ask for what you need. You will have a “go-to person” during your stay, if you have any questions, ask them.

• You always have the power of choice. 
  
  

Practical Things

Transportation

We are located at 9891 Spalding Rd. South Pender Island. 

The only way onto the island is BC Ferries. Here’s a more user-friendly ferry schedule. 

The farm is located about 20 minutes or 14km from the ferry terminal 

• 20 minutes by car

• 55 minutes by bike (very hilly)

If you would like a ride from the ferry, please arrange with the farm at least a day in advance. 

There is no public transportation on Pender Island and our ride share program is still in place but has been impacted by the pandemic. It is bikeable but hilly with narrow roads. 

Distances to other amenities

• 9km to Driftwood Centre mall (4605 Bedwell Harbour Rd) - Tru Value, BC Liquor Store, restaurants, pharmacy

• 7.5km to Medicine Beach Shops - Slow Coast Cafe

What to Bring

• Seasonal and work-appropriate clothing

• Work gloves

• Gumboots

• Hiking and/or work boots

• Sunscreen and hat

• Biodegradable, earth-friendly personal care products

Meals

We share lunch and dinner with anyone on the farm who wants to join. Lunch is at 12:30 and dinner is at 7:00.  We cook seasonal, regenerative (omnivorous) meals. Everyone is encouraged to share cooking and cleaning duties and to contribute to the cost of food in one way or another.

Dietary Restrictions

We attempt to accommodate dietary restrictions, but avoid using exotic, high-carbon or eco-damaging alternatives (tropical oils, nuts, etc.) to natural regenerative foods. 

Accommodation 

We currently have limited and “rough” accommodations available for guests. Please contact us ahead of time to reserve your spot. 

Facilities

• There is a full bathroom accessible to people staying on the farm, including shower, located in the Bunkroom.  Laundry is available for long-term visitors in the laundry room on the bottom floor.
  
  

Water-Wise Tips

Pender Island is a water-wise community, especially during dry summer months. Please take extreme care not to waste water when using any of the facilities. See the bottom of this document for water-wise tips and expectations. 

• 3 minute showers – consider turning off the water when soaping, shampooing or shaving

• No leaks – make sure no taps or hoses are left dripping

• Let it mellow – minimal flushing of toilets

• Turning off the tap – when soaping hands, washing dishes, etc.