Summer Jobs at The Snag

We are hiring for one Canada Summer Jobs position this year (2026). This job is open to anyone from the age of 15-30 who is legally able to work in Canada, and require no prior experience. See below for details on the job, who might be a good fit, and how to apply.

The gardening assistant position has been filled. We are still taking applications for a Conservation and Restoration Technician until Friday, May 22.

Conservation and Restoration Technician

We are exploring possibilities in ecosystem restoration and subsistence conservation - finding ways to help the land we live on become healthier and more resilient to changing climate conditions. We are particularly interested in low-tech techniques using local materials. This work takes into account both local regulations and our principles of subsistence conservation. You could help with:

  • Identifying areas most in need of protection or restoration

  • Developing and implementing active restoration plans

  • Invasive species removal and native species planting

  • Sustainable wild harvesting

  • Co-ordinating with local conservancy and restoration groups

The idea person for this job:

  • Cares about healthy ecosystems, and believes humans can be a part of them

  • Knows about local flora and fauna, and wants to learn more

  • Likes working outside, getting wet and muddy, and doing both physical and mental work

  • Enjoys working with others in a collaborative, non-hierarchical, communicative context

  • Is happy living off-grid and learning about our off-grid lifestyle

 

What is The Snag?

You can learn more about us by clicking around this website. But in a nutshell, we are a small, off-grid, consensus-based intentional community in formation, committed to mutual aid and decolonization through subsistence-based conservation. We are a LGBTQ+ positive space and are involved in supporting Indigenous communities in their efforts at strengthening their cultures, ties to the land, and political systems. Our property consists of 42 acres recovering from clear-cutting and gravel mining that happened in the 1990s. It has abundant water from several streams, a number of ponds and wetlands, mixed forests, and several fenced and irrigated arable areas that are currently under cultivation. We have a flock of 50 mixed-breed chickens, grow annual vegetables, and take care of a variety of berries and fruit and nut trees using mixed methods informed by permaculture, sustainable agriculture, and a desire to respond to the challenges presented by the climate crisis.

More information

We’re looking for someone who is

  • Reliable, on-time, and willing/able to work the hours agreed.

  • Can maintain what we call WTF (Whole Task Focus), i.e. doing the task from beginning to end, including cleaning up, putting tools away, etc.

  • Takes direction well, can handle working on challenging or repetitive tasks, and can view difficulties as opportunities for learning.

  • Can work in the heat of summer (we work earlier and/or later in the day when possible, to beat the mid day heat!)

How we work

We put in a good day’s work, with breaks throughout the day and ample time to get a good rest in between days. Our schedule shifts with the climate. In summer, when it can get quite hot on Denman Island, we start early and wrap up early, avoiding the hottest part of the day and leaving plenty of time to do other things. 

We try to work to our strengths, dividing tasks based on peoples’ skills and interests, in a way that seems fair and manageable to all. Since we live and work alongside each other daily, we cultivate kindness, open and respectful communication, and working through challenges with honesty and clarity. We strive to balance efficiency and effectiveness with caring for ourselves and each other, so we try to be flexible with work hours and tasks. But as farmers, we work hard and in all sorts of weather!

Free Accommodation

We offer free lodging for off-island folks, and access to our gardens for seasonally available vegetables, fruits, nuts, and berries. We have an older fully equipped RV with a queen-size sleeping nook, kitchen, seating area, toilet and shower. We also have a hot outdoor shower and swimming hole to conserve potable water in summer. We have a small cabin with a full kitchen, hot shower and outhouse. There is also a wall tent nearby for folks who may want to camp in the forest to beat the heat. (Due to wildfire risk, please note that all cooking must be in one of our dwellings or at the outdoor kitchen at the cabin.)  

Other notes

If you are not planning on staying with us during the work term, you will need dependable transportation to and from the farm. We are on the north end of the island, and the local bus service unfortunately does not reach us.

It will be a bonus if you have a drivers’ license and are comfortable driving a small pickup truck.

Things to do on the island

    • Take a dip in the swimming hole on the property, or in the ocean nearby

    • Ride our bikes or walk through the extensive trails of the adjoining park

    • Sit around the fire outside hanging out and playing music

    • Head downtown to attend one of Denman’s many social and cultural events (see https://visitdenmanisland.ca/ for more info)

    • Help with and/or attend (both optional) the events we organize on our property and elsewhere on Denman, such as folk dances, comedy shows, film screenings, fundraisers, etc. 

Legal and Financial Details

Length of contract: Full time (35 hours per week) for 8 weeks.

Start Date: Flexible between May 4 and July 20 2026. Must finish by August 29.

Pay rate: $20 per hour. 

Physical health: You must be able to safely do physical labour, including repetitive tasks such as weeding (kneeling or squatting), using a wheelbarrow (lifting and pushing),  shovelling (back work) and other tasks typical on a farm or for conservation activities in a non-park setting.

How to Apply

Please e-mail your resume including two references (with email and/or phone number), as well as short cover letter telling us why you are interested, to autonomousdcentre@gmail.com

We will conduct interviews as applications arrive, and will announce, here and via the Canada Jobs Portal, when the positions have been filled.

We look forward to hearing from you!