Year-round farm that is a 20 acre peri-urban organic farm with 100+ member CSA in Missouri

Missouri

25 reviews • Updated 9 months ago

Year-round farm is a 20 acre peri-urban organic farm 4 miles north of Springfield, in SW MO. We have a diverse operation, including seasonal pigs, 6,000 s.f. greenhouse, 5,000 s.f. of solar heated hoop houses, 3 acres of vegetables, a wood-fired pizza oven, an orchard, forest, ponds, flowers, etc.. The farm is managed organically, meaning we focus on soil health, using compost, cover crops, and manure as our primary fertility sources, and avoid the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Our farm is located close enough to a metropolitan area that we get to host many tours a year, from beginning farmers to preschools, and education is a big part of the reason we do what we do. We believe that it's important for eaters to re-connect with the source of their food, and that's what we're here for. We sell our produce through our 100+ member Community Supported Agriculture program, an on-farm market, FMO- our farmers market, and a weekly pizza night. We have a large and busy family with 10 kids. Community is also a big part of what we do here on the farm; at any given time we have at least 3 families living on the farm, and we hope in the long term to have at least 4 families in full-time residency. In addition to these permanent residents, we host a number of guest workers and volunteers through the season, including WWOOFers from all over the world, interns and apprentices, and daily volunteers from the Springfield metro area. Our community pizza nights are also part of the way we foster community, by having up to 150 people out to the farm to eat, socialize, enjoy the farm, and get to know each other. This tends to be a focal point here week to week. Live local music really brings it all together. We are currently working on many projects involving a 45 member winter CSA and several farmers markets, along with seeding, transplanting, weeding and pest control. Animal care includes feeding, watering, fencing, butchering (poultry), and record keeping. Construction and tractor work include construction of a hoop house, field renovation, cutting firewood, clearing trees, orchard planting, and animal housing. Marketing involves our CSA (community supported agriculture) program, our on-farm produce stand, and several farmers markets a week. We have a green "Tiny House" on farm that functions as an Air BnB. We are always working on high tunnels, low tunnels or green houses. We expect WWOOfers to work with us a minimum of 6 hours per day, 5 days a week. We also put on farm-to-table pizza dinners. We have a number of housing situations, long-term apprentice housing is in the "Stuga", a small cabin with full facilities, near the main farm house. Summer housing is in the "Chateau", a two bedroom shack in the woods, with no electricity or running water. The kitchen, laundry, and bath are in the community space of the farm house. Breakfast and supper are on your own, with full access to the farm house pantry, freezers, etc. Lunch is shared at the farm house, eating with our farm community. On occasion wwoofers have stayed in a hammock in the woods, in a tent, or even in a travel trailer. Couples and families are welcome, depending on housing availability. We take WWOOFers year round, and love having you stay, learn and work. We have learned so much from our WWOOFers, it is a delight to think back at all the wonderful people we have gotten to know through this. We can pick you up, locally at the greyhound, or we have had a few hitch hikers which we have picked up where ever they had gotten dropped off. Our longest woofer family has been with us for about 2 years, and the shortest stay has been a few days, we find that 2 weeks gives you a chance to really understand what we are doing here, but we are flexible; before we farmed we loved to travel, now we love that the world comes to us through our wwoofers! We speak English. There is a cave that give tours within walking distance, a couple of lakes, we have been known to take volunteers with us camping or canoeing, and you get to experience life in the Ozarks with the Millsap's. We have a bike available if you want to ride in the area. If you need a special diet, please let us know before you come and we will try and accommodate. The # of wwoofers at a time depends of housing, but we love hosting you, and love what you bring to our family and community. Apprenticeships or internships are also a possibility, check out our apprentice program at www.ozarkscraft.wordpress.com Check out our video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5jf-lGH3HI&list=PLIvvsYkwPjbbFgTEi_b4gC6pgtXAytRqq Organic methods: We grow 2 acres of vegetables using intensive production methods; we are minimum tillage, heavy compost application,

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Pig farming

Flower farming

Seed saving or production

Methods or systems

Holistic management

No-till farming

Regenerative agriculture

Host type

Production farm

8.1 Hectares | 20 Acres

WWOOF-Verified

Accommodation

4+ WWOOFers

Bedroom

Campsite

Cabin / Mobile-home

Children accepted

Pets not accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Length of stay

1-2 weeks

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Curtis

Member since 2014

Languages spoken: English Response rate: 0%

December 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Missouri

Reviews

Brooklyne

United States • January 2025

These hosts are the loveliest people, farmers, community builders, and friends we’ve ever met! WWOOFing here will grow you as an aspiring farmer for sure, but also change your perspective on community and stewardship in the best of ways. 10/10 recommend!!

Mónica

Spain • November 2024

Our time at this farm is going to stay in our hearts forever! They were very welcoming, and they managed to host us in a very calm and wonderful place for my partner, me and our baby. Their project is very empowering, and we learned a lot of things for improving our farm. Their scale is bigger but it's very inspiring for us to see how they are able to manage everything. We experienced a very interesting exchange with the whole family, and also with the crew. We shared delicious meals that fed our souls! We feel that the community they have is very important to support the project, and we see that this is the consequence of many years working on it. Congratulations for such an amazing proyect of life! Also we were happy to see a real CSA, working in a very professional way! We take with us new skills, ideas for better organization and the motivation to continue on this path. When we get stressed, we'll think about Millsap and feel that everything is possible! We felt like part of the team from the beginning, and at the end we feel that they are part of our family to visit next time in the States. Thank you so much!

Revani

Netherlands • September 2024

My family had an amazing first time WWOOFing experience at this farm. Curtis/Sarah and the team were incredibly friendly and accommodating, making us feel welcome from the start. The kids had a blast running around and learning about the farm life, and it was such a joy to see them engage with nature. After our two-week stay, we had the opportunity to extend our time here at the farm. We’re excited to stay longer! Curtis (and family/crew) is very knowledgeable, and we’ve learned so much during our time here. Highly recommend this farm for anyone looking for a wonderful WWOOFing experience.

Ellie

United States • August 2024

I spent the month of July on their farm as my first WWOOF and enjoyed every minute of it! I got to do new things everyday and learned so much about farming and all that goes into it. Everyone was so kind to answer my questions and teach me how to do new things. The harvesting and weeding was enjoyable with the company of other volunteers and staff. I loved being a part of such a welcoming and friendly community! I got to meet so many amazing people from all over the world and am grateful for the time I got to spend with everyone. Pizza night was always a good time and I got to do other fun things with the Millsaps. I loved my time on the farm and all of the things I got to do!

Reply from Curtis

Ellie is top notch, a-tune and ready to learn and grow into a great farmer! Super dependable and hardworking, such a wonderful community member and a joy to host. If she ask you to come, first say "go back to the Millsaps, they miss you" but if she is ready to adventure to your farm, say "absolutely, when can you be here?" You will be glad she came!! So much love and respect to this budding farmer!

Michael

United States • February 2024

This is such an amazing place filled with energy, kindness, and community. There was never a dull moment while I was there with meeting new people, going on weekend adventures, and learning lots on the farm. Everyday I had a different task and had exposure to the step by step process of farming. I am so grateful for Curtis and Sarah for letting me stay with them as one of the crew - they are awesome! And to their big family that was so easy to get along with and share fun times with. Definitely recommend this farm for those serious about starting a career in agriculture.

Noah

United States • December 2023

This was my first farm on my Woofing journey and I couldn't have asked for a better start. The family and community around the farm were nothing but exceptional. I was hesitant at first but they welcomed me in with open arms and I enjoyed learning and sharing laughs with everyone on the farm. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about sustainable farming and community building.