We're a 75+ English-speaking couple looking for wwoofers who want steady, meaningful work in a warm home. We've lived varied lives, and bring that same open, easygoing spirit to how we host. You'll be treated like family, not like free labor. In return, we're hoping to find someone reliable who can commit to at least 1 week and become a part of things here.
A day here
Mornings start slow, with coffee and a home-cooked breakfast. After letting out and feeding the chickens, we often drive to a nearby state park to hike with our dogs. Back at the property, the work is what you make of it: splitting, cutting, and stacking firewood; helping patch up the old stone walls; tending the garden and chickens; or lending a hand to others in the community. After lunch, and another hour or two of work, you're free to explore the nearby state parks and towns, the town swimming hole, or relax on the property.
Current projects
Firewood prep and general property upkeep
Property care and tending our 7 free-range hens
Clearing and doing light rebuilding on an old stone wall
Cleaning the barn
Various indoor tasks
Food, space, and comforts
The home is a renovated 1850 timber frame barn. Meals are home-cooked, delicious, and filling, or we can stock groceries if you'd rather cook for yourself. Your private space is our lower level, with a queen bed, desk, table, shelves, and bureau, its own entrance, and a stairway up to the bathroom and main floor. The whole house is warmed by a wood stove (needs feeding once or twice a night in winter), and it stays comfortably warm in winter and cool in summer. You'll also have access to our main floor: an open, light-filled living area with a modern kitchen, cozy living space, big stone fireplace, and views three stories above. Wi-Fi covers the house and grounds. We also have a bike available for exploring the nearby trails, swimming hole, and woods.
And of course, there are animals to love: 3 terriers and a Maine Coon cat call this place home.
Meet your hosts
We're a laid-back but straightforward couple who've lived all over, including a six-mile island, a remote ranch, mining town,and aboard a 32-foot wooden sloop. "A" has been a marine engineer and sea captain with the American Sailing program, sailing the Eastern seaboard, Canada, Bermuda, Hawaii, and Africa; before that, he crab-fished in Alaska, ran a recycled wood business, remodeled homes, repaired wood boats, and hauled trash off an island. He now keeps busy tinkering with his three antique trucks. "R" has been an educator on the Hopi reservation, in an Arizona mining town, on a large Montana ranch, in various CT towns, and on an island six miles off the coast of Maine. Between us, we've also kept pack donkeys and horses and have done extensive car camping. We're a liberal couple.
The property
This is a 7-acre homestead of cleared land, wetlands, and woods, surrounded by other farms and country properties.
We're in Lyme, a small Connecticut River town proud of its agricultural roots and small-town character. There's over 50 miles of trails through Lyme's preserves and open spaces, the Eight Mile River corridor, a local swimming hole, and Long Island Sound nearby. The renovated town library doubles as a community hub with up-to-date technology, and there are museums and galleries in Lyme and neighboring towns. The train station which connects us to Boston and NYC is just 20 minutes away.
The fine print
Minimum 1-week commitment
Our hens are free-range (not fed organic feed) and help with pest and fly management by foraging for bugs, ticks, and larvae — no pesticides used on the property
Drug and tobacco free
Wi-Fi available throughout
We'd love to hear from you!
Read more
Learning opportunities
Poultry farming
Bakery
Green Building
Renewable energy production
Mechanics / tools / technology
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
2.8
Hectares
|
7
Acres
