I live in Toronto in a wonderful intentional community co-operative house called Toad Lane, which is based around the shared values of veganism and social justice. Not everyone is vegan, but everyone is vegan in the house. We cook collectively 4 or more nights per week.

I am currently doing a Masters in Adult Education and Community Development. I'm very involved in the housing co-operative movement (I sit on the boards of various organizations, this takes up a lot of my time).

I'm pretty into baking. I bake sourdough bread for the house 2-3 times per week. I can show you how to do it if you're interested.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've hosted more than I've surfed, but I have had some great surfing experiences especially in Lyon, France in 2012. There I had the great chance to go couchsurfing-camping with the Lyon couchsurfing community. We even went white water canoeing (no insurance waivers - it's France!). I have nothing but good things to say about the couch-surfing community in Lyon.

I have hosted a lot over the past 8 years living in Toad Lane. We generally host people who message us saying why they'd be interested in staying at a co-operative house with the values we share.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Honestly in all my couch-surfing experiences there has never been a negative experience. Sometimes people don't get along like best friends, but people have always been respectful. I understand the anxiety of being a surfer - especially when you're in a bad situation and you need to find couch on the short notice. We really need at least 5 days notice for Toad Lane because I need to confer with housemates, but in emergencies sometimes it's possible to consider exceptions.

Interests

Co-ops! Philosophy!

• arts
• books
• literature
• singing
• festivals
• dancing
• cooking
• vegan
• politics
• news
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• guitar
• canoeing
• camping
• surfing

Music, Movies, and Books

For film, I love the work of Terrence Malick. I also love Wes Anderson. I love films in general, and in the end I'm not too picky because I think you can take interesting things even from 'bad' films.

I love to read, I read everything!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Teaching and being taught in a castle in Cork, sleeping under the stars in al Quds/Jerusalem, performing for a wedding inside a medieval french church, dancing over the fires at a birth of summer festival in rural Ireland!

Teach, Learn, Share

I like to meet with people who are truly engaged with their community, their situation, their time. I find that engagement is the basis for true learning, and solidarity rather than neutrality is the basis for understanding.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Experience of living in a communal co-operative, cooking tips, bread making.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Palestine, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada