Thinking about wwoofing here?

We've hosted wwoofers from across the US and from Europe and Japan. (We've had more from Michigan than anywhere else. Explain that and you'll get a prize!) They've ranged from novices to experienced gardeners, and we believe that all have enjoyed their stay here and left with valuable new knowledge.

We welcome wwoofers because there is always some work to do, and because we enjoy meeting people who share our passion for fresh food and food justice. We are active in Slow Food and spend a great deal of time thinking about the problems of the modern food production and distribution system and how we can contribute to positive change.

We think the ideal period of stay for a wwoofer here is one to two weeks, although we are open to somewhat longer visits. Ten days is sufficient to enjoy the neighborhood and get to know the operation and take advantage of the educational opportunities. Those wanting more time here should consider coming back three or four months later to see just how much the focus changes season to season. Our work season goes from March through November. Because December, January, and February are slow times, and often wet and muddy, we host fewer wwoofers. Feel free to ask, but we may encourage you to look for a farm in a better climate.


Our house is new (2002), comfortable, and energy efficient. We have two cottage-like guest rooms, separate from the main house, with shared toilet and shower. One of the guest rooms has a double bed, the other two single beds (trundle style).

We provide meals, although some times you'll be on your own to prepare them. We accommodate all diets.

We honor the wwoof program guideline of no more than four hours work per day (but sometimes treat that as an average). Since we sometimes get caught up on the usual farm chores here, we encourage wwoofers to volunteer on the adjacent Preserve and to take the opportunity to better understand the dynamics and mechanics of a large scale protected area. We are adjacent also to the historic MacFarland Ranch, a work-in-progress restoration of a 150-year-old farmhouse and compound, and they are good people always in need of extra hands. We also support a couple of local community gardens and will often provide some labor there. We welcome wwoofers to assist or take the lead in projects such as bread-making or beer-making.

Because we are small and not farming on a production scale, and to assure a quality experience, we host one or two individual wwoofers (or a 2 or 3 person group) at a time. All of our wwoofers have been exceptional people, and part of the fun for us is the sense that we're building an extended family or community.

If you are interested in visiting, we offer several suggestions to make things easier. First, if you have any questions not answered here, feel free to ask. Second, let us know your flexibility at the outset. Third, we know that constructing a wwoof itinerary can be a daunting task. If you want us to hold space for you for a range of dates, let us know. Otherwise, we'll make a commitment to you when you're ready to make a commitment to us. Finally, feel free to share your planning. We may have ideas about other places to visit and travel routes that make sense. And, by the way, you don't need a vehicle - we're happy to meet the bus or train in Sacramento, Lodi, or Stockton.