WWOOF USA Host Farm
Get your hands in the dirt
Come live and work alongside Madi, Grant, and all the animals on the same 58-acre family farmstead where four generations have tended this slice of the Appalachia .
WWOOFing at Cair Paravel is not a job posting or a vacation rental gig. It’s an exchange: your helping hands and curiosity for our meals, knowledge, and a place to sleep under the orchard trees. If you want to learn what small-scale farming actually feels like — muddy boots, bee stings, and all — you’re in the right place.
The work
A little of everything, every day
Tasks rotate with the season and the weather. No two days are identical, but the rhythm is steady: feed, water, weed, build, repeat.
Big projects right now
- Building a greenhouse from recycled materials
- Planting wildflower meadows
- Tree and berry planting
- Invasive-species removal
- Building a wood-fired sauna
Not on the WWOOF docket: Airbnb turnover or cleaning work. We keep that separate. If a WWOOFer wants extra cash, paid turnover help is available only as an optional side gig and not always a gaurentee.
Learning
What you might leave knowing
We treat WWOOFing as mentorship, not free labor. Ask questions. Take notes. Try things. Madi is especially passionate about beekeeping and loves teaching it — if the hives are active while you’re here, you’ll probably get your hands in them.
- Vegetable, poultry, and pig farming
- Beekeeping & honey harvesting
- Wild foraging and herbal medicine
- Meat processing & food preservation
- Traditional crafts
- Permaculture & regenerative agriculture
- One-on-one mentoring from Madi and Grant
- Design Systems thinking
Where you stay
A renovated 1968 Airstream in the orchard
This will be your home on the farm. It is private to you, and only shared with same gender WWOOFers with only prior consent. The Airstream has bedding, hot water, food items, and even wifi. More details shared after WWOOFers have made applicaiton.
Food & provisions
You won’t go hungry
We eat what we grow and raise as best we can. WWOOFers join us for dinner most nights and have farm-supplied ingredients to make their own breakfast and lunch.
Dinner most evenings
WWOOFers help cook and clean up, then gather around the table with the family.
Farm ingredients for breakfast & lunch
Eggs, pork, chicken, veggies, and pantry staples are yours to prepare during the day.
Dietary needs welcome
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice.
Practical notes
Before you apply
We want this to be a good fit for you and for us. A few details to keep in mind.
Very rural
The nearest grocery store is about 20 minutes away, so plan accordingly.
Phone interview required
We like to chat before anyone arrives to make sure it’s a good fit for both sides.
Flexible length of stay
Stays can range from under a week to 3–4 weeks, depending on the season and project.
No pets
We love animals, but the farm dogs and livestock make this a tricky place for visiting pets.
Age policy: the volunteer must be 18+
WWOOFer applicants need to be adults. That said, families are absolutely welcome to bring their own children along as part of a qualifying adult’s stay. We love having kids on the farm — this policy just means the person signing up as the volunteer needs to be a grown-up.
“I wish there were enough words to describe how incredible this visit was! Madi and Grant (and their kid Cy) were extraordinarily welcoming… In just a long weekend, we foraged for herbs/plants, processed ducks, beekept, helped pave trails, watered plants, and learned so so much!… We are endlessly grateful for our experience and cannot wait to return!”
— Sydney
Ready to apply?
Start your WWOOF adventure with us
We list our volunteer opportunities through WWOOF USA. Head over to our host profile to read the full details, check availability, and submit an application.
View our WWOOF listingHave questions before applying? Email us at info@cairparavelfarm.com.