3 acre diversified fruit and vegetable production, orchard, 8 acre prairie reconstruction
Iowa
Found in 2008, the farm is an evolving 11-acre, volunteer-based farm dedicated to ethical food production/distribution, ecological land use and community. Using organic and sustainable methods, we grow a diverse variety of vegetables and fruits for local food donation venues, workers, and paying members. The farm raises chickens, sheep and bees in addition to practicing prairie and savannah reconstruction. Land stewardship activities include prairie restoration, crop rotation, minimal tillage, cover cropping, and permaculture and regenerative farming inspired practices. We promote community interaction by hosting regular potlucks, a variety of classes and workshops, and other social events. We welcome persons of all backgrounds, spiritual beliefs, genders and sexualities
Participants will share in physical farm labor, daily planning, group cooperation, meal preparation, and working with volunteers. Depending on the timing and length of your stay, you may be able to participate in farm classes, natural dye, seed saving, food preservation, prairie management, or the farmers market.
All meals are provided though WWOOFers are expected to contribute to cooking and food prep/cleanup. Most of the food comes from the farm! We can accommodate omnivore, vegetarian, and vegan diets. Simple room and board are provided (limited access to air conditioning and running water). We have a variety of indoor / RV sleeping quarters (all bug free!) and access to a storm shelter. We cook and eat in an outdoor kitchen and have an outdoor shower.
Our farm crew and volunteer harvest crew work together from 7-10 AM on Tuesdays and Fridays from May-October. Our interns/core farm crew generally work from 7-3 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Farm class takes place on Wednesday afternoons. Group breaks are scheduled for a morning snack and a lunch we prepare and enjoy together. WWOOFers would be asked to join us for harvests and expected to provide 30 hours of labor/week during their time with us. (Talk to us to plan your visit!)
We are in a rural location about 12 miles from Ames, IA (population ~67,000). We host potlucks and social events on the farm throughout the season (May-October). There are educational/fun opportunities on the farm, including natural dye, fiber art, seed gathering and saving, food preservation, and music/singing. We like to go swimming at Peterson Pits on hot afternoons.
We also offer Agroecology Internships from May to October each year. Internships are a minimum of 8 weeks. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit our website and go to the Internships page to read the full description. Our 2025 internship applications are open! Please apply by March 15, 2025!
We accept visitors from May to October. Long-term visitors start with a 1-2 week trial stay. Use of recreational drugs and excessive alcohol consumption are prohibited at the farm.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Viticulture
Beekeeping
Flower farming
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Traditional crafts
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Rotational grazing
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
4.5
Hectares
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11
Acres
Accommodation
Alice
Member since 2013
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 5 days
Iowa
Des Moines International Airport, Amtrak Station in Osceola
My past WWOOFers
Allyson
May 2026
•
Wisconsin, United States
Reviews
Allyson
United States
•
May 2026
We had a wonderful time during our week here! Alice and Nate were welcoming, friendly, and easy to be around. We would recommend this stay to anyone interested in organic farming :)
Taisei
United States
•
August 2025
Having WWOOFed at about a dozen farms so far, I think there are a couple characteristics that differentiate the great farms from good ones (This place is one of the great ones).
The first I would say are the meals. Not only the quality (the food here is really delicious), but the communal aspect of mealtime. Most of the meals are cooked and eaten with all the other people on the farm, which has been such a source of learning, thought-provoking conversations, and laughter, which brings me to my next point.
I feel like I’m always laughing here. Not necessarily about anything specific, although there have been countless funny moments. There have been so many times when all of us have been laughing so hard that we can hardly breathe, and it doesn’t really matter what started it. It’s such a good feeling to live somewhere with so much laughter.
Another important factor is how farms treat their workers. I’ve felt very cared for on the farm. Alice and all of the people here care about each others’ wellbeing, and there is also a constant effort by everyone on the farm to make sure that all of the people are well, both physically and mentally. Everybody is very hardworking, but we all make sure that no one is overworked.
This farm has surpassed being just a wwoofing experience and is now someplace that I call home, somewhere that I hope to come back many times in the future.
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Ashley
United States
•
September 2024
My experience at this farm reignited my hope for humanity. The farm is fostered by an amazingly generous group of people that care deeply for their community and the earth. Everyone was so kind to me and instantly made me feel like apart of the crew. I appreciated the availability of the farm members to answer questions and help with tasks. I stayed in a cozy little trailer that had the perfect amount of space and sufficient privacy. The food was delicious and I got to help to do some cooking! Alice and the crew are such inspiring humans that truly "walk the talk"! I 110% suggest WWOOFing here!
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Reply from Alice
Thanks Ashley for such a sweet review! we miss you already! I hope your adventures are fantastic and that we see you again someday! peace!
Erin
United States
•
August 2021
Mustard Seed was a very welcoming environment and they made sure we were comfortable! Harvest on Friday was a great community effort and everyone we met during our time there was so lovely! We wish we would have stayed longer to get more acquainted into their routine, but it was an experience we won't forget. Alice and Nate were great hosts and a great first WWOOFing stop!
Nicole
United States
•
August 2019
I’m not sure I can accurately convey how valuable wwoofing at Mustard Seed Community Farm was to me, on so many levels. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience! I had the opportunity to learn about the cultivation of various crops (from planting to harvest and all the necessary care in between), permaculture practices, crop rotation, compost maintenance, food preservation, bread making and beekeeping. Alice and Nate are tremendously caring people. They are two of the hardest working folks I’ve ever met and their commitment to the community through free food programs, care for the environment, along with the time they invest in educating interns is nothing short of inspiring. I’m so appreciative of your generosity in knowledge sharing and hope pay it forward someday. Thank you!
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Tristan
United States
•
December 2018
I would recommend working on Mustard Seed Community Farm! The work I did there was hard at times, but I grew as a person doing it, and I learned a lot about myself. It felt great being outside all the time even though Iowa summers are hot. I learned a lot about sustainable agriculture, my cooking improved, I made new friends, and got lots of exercise. I am very happy with my experience. Alice and Nate are wonderful hosts and are such dedicated and hardworking servants of their community. They continue to inspire me with their daily work. I was there a little over two months from June to early August in 2016.
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