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Rancho Relaxo Resort
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What is Rancho Relaxo?
How it all started......

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Rancho Relaxo was formerly the home of two-hundred fifty or so scrapped cars, old tires, fuel tanks, transmissions, scrap metal, concrete and garbage. Together with my wife and our four kids, we picked, piled, plumbed and painted our way to a place that we could be proud of and where our kids could safely play. But, we didn’t stop there. After completing four years of research on the state of the world, we decided the best use of our land was to incorporate Permaculture Design into the property, and display a new way of living in harmony with natural systems.  Then, we started inviting lots of fun, interesting people to come and visit, and to help share the ideas with the rest of the world.

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Our family believes that combining the best global ideas for efficient resource use, organic food production, and sustainable living, regardless of economic conditions, is a responsible and achievable choice. Drawing on our experiences as international travelers, we began transforming our five acres into a Permaculture Demonstration Farm. Our goal is to produce all of our own energy and food for our family of six while teaching others how to do the same. The farm fosters social interaction through integrated meeting spaces and events, and we offer tours to share ideas with schools, community groups, government agencies, and more.

Why visit or host your next event at Rancho?
​Welcome to Rancho Relaxo Resort — where adventure meets sustainability and every stay feels like coming home 🌿✨
As one of Alberta’s first eco-tourism destination resorts, Rancho Relaxo isn’t just a getaway — it’s a glimpse into a greener, more self-sufficient future. From renewable energy systems and water harvesting to organic food production, food storage, and cozy off-grid log cabins, everything here is designed to inspire families to live well, tread lightly, and build thriving, healthy communities.

Set on a stunning five-acre permaculture demonstration farm, our little slice of paradise is buzzing with possibility. Join us for hands-on workshops, immersive courses, and unforgettable events — or simply relax in affordable, all-inclusive comfort surrounded by mountain views and fresh forest air. The atmosphere? Warm, welcoming, and wonderfully down-to-earth — the kind of place where conversations flow easily and connections (to nature and each other) grow naturally.

Your hosts, Jeff & Juli, are your local insiders and adventure guides. With their deep knowledge of Alberta’s landscapes, culture, and hidden gems, you’ll experience the province like a true explorer — from First Nations ceremonies and breathtaking parks to world-class museums and vibrant local events. Whether you're visiting from near or far, you’ll have a home base, a host family, and a personal guide rolled into one.
Curious to get your hands a little dirty? Our working permaculture farm invites you to dive in — collect fresh eggs, build healthy soil, tend the gardens, and learn practical skills you can take home with you. Share ideas, spark inspiration, and discover just how empowering self-sufficiency can be.

And let’s talk about food. Every meal is made from scratch using the highest-quality ingredients available — fresh, wholesome, and absolutely delicious. Because healthy food fuels happy people.

As the sun sets, the magic really begins. Picture guitars by the campfire, laughter under a canopy of stars, and the simple joy of unplugging from it all.
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Rancho Relaxo Resort isn’t just a place to stay — it’s a place to reconnect, recharge, and rediscover what really matters. 🌄🔥

Here's a fun video that talks about where we came from, and what Rancho is all about.
Grab some popcorn, the tissues, and buckle up for a little demolition derby footage too!

T H E   T E A M

Our Founders

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Juli Gillies - CEO

Juli's Bio
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Jeff Gillies- CEO

Jeff's Bio
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Sage Gillies
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Renn Gillies
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This video is one of a series that features students of Verge Permaculture (now called 5th World):
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​"Juli and Jeff Gillies are demonstrating a wide array of permaculture homesteading techniques on their 5 acre parcel near Rocky Mountain House, AB. Over the last few years they have transformed their land - an old junk yard - into a beautiful and productive garden, complete with food forest and up-cycled raised beds. They've used their technological know-how and a "get-er-done" approach to test everything from solar electricity and heating to rainwater harvesting, energy efficient retrofits, food storage, and large scale soil production through their business Taimi Soil Projects. Their acreage has quickly become a leading example of off-the-grid homesteading solutions for cold climates."
Code of Conduct for  Rancho Relaxo

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After hosting many events over the past 20 years at Rancho Relaxo, we've come up with a list of guidelines in order to help prevent incidents and promote connection, peace, and joy within our guests.  The Rancho Code of Conduct helps communicate our expectations to our guests in order to ensure they (and we) have the best experience possible. 
Awards

Juli & Jeff Gillies have won several awards for Rancho Relaxo including the Martha Kostuch Environmental Stewardship Award in 2012, and the Travel Alberta Growing Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship Challenge (1st Place 2016).
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Need help transforming your own place?

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Taimi Soil Projects is our other company that helps Central Alberta families to establish food production and permaculture systems in their own yards, whether they live in an apartment or on an acreage.  TSP specializes in building high-fertility soil that will grow lush, productive, gardens of nutrient-dense foods.

www.TaimiSoilProjects.ca
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Call Juli or Jeff today for more info:  403-845-7993
Text Juli at: 403-304-0333

​Email Juli at: [email protected]
Clearwater County / Rocky Mountain House, Alberta Canada
​Serving Alberta and Beyond
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