Historic 38-acre family homestead farm
Vermont
Our farm is a small, family-run farm located on a historic 38-acre mountainside property in southern Vermont. We have been welcoming WWOOFERs from around the world for more than 10 years and love sharing both our farming life and creative environment. The property was once home to the father of William Howard Taft, and today it is home to Robert and Kathy. Robert is a glassblower, sculptor, and designer with a studio in Townshend, which Kathy manages.
Our farm produces vegetables, fruits, herbs, maple syrup, honey, and meat using sustainable practices including rotational grazing, crop rotation, composting, and low-till growing. We raise Randall Lineback cattle (a rare Vermont heritage breed), sheep, chickens, a llama, and an alpaca. We grow food in greenhouses, gardens, orchards, and pastures.
WWOOFERs work primarily with our farm manager about five hours per day, six days per week. Daily tasks begin with animal care—feeding, collecting eggs, and cleaning barns and coops—followed by seasonal garden work such as planting, weeding, harvesting, composting, and food processing. Special projects may include maple sugaring, fence moving, haying, firewood, seed saving, wool processing, and farm maintenance.
In addition, WWOOFERs volunteer four hours on Fridays at our local agricultural non-profit during community “pizza night,” which is often a favorite social experience.
WWOOFERs stay in private accommodations—a tiny house or pop-up camper with queen beds—and share a kitchenette and bathroom. In warmer months, there is an outdoor shower, swimming pond, and hot tub. We share family meals once per week and provide farm food and groceries for other meals. Wi-Fi is available.
This is an excellent place for WWOOFERs interested in learning about:
Sustainable farming and rotational grazing
Maple syrup production (including tapping 350 trees and bottling syrup in hand-blown glass bottles)
Animal care and heritage breeds
Gardening, food preservation, and seed saving
Rural Vermont farm life
Glassblowing and artistic practice (optional opportunities outside WWOOF hours)
Each season brings unique experiences—from maple sugaring in late winter, to planting and haying in summer, to harvest and cider making in fall, and animal care and forestry work in winter.
Our farm has spectacular mountain views, hiking trails, swimming, skiing, and mountain biking right outside the door. We are located near the vibrant arts and farming community of Brattleboro. WWOOFERs also enjoy interacting with guests visiting the farm through our agritourism programs and Airbnb experiences. We have a newly built observatory with a 1864 Thomas Cooke Telescope 8 1/2" Dia. We do weekly Star Gazing for paying guests.
We prefer stays of one month or longer, though shorter trial stays may be possible. Couples often do well here. We are happy to teach everything we know and value curiosity, initiative, and positive energy.
This farm is more than a workplace—it is a place to learn, create, and experience life on a working Vermont farm rooted in both tradition and creativity.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Grain farming
Poultry farming
Cattle farming
Sheep or goat farming
Wild foraging
Meat processing
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Traditional crafts
Methods or systems
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
15.4
Hectares
|
38
Acres
Accommodation
Robert
Member since 2014
Languages spoken:
English, French, German, Swedish
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 1 day
Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont by train/Bus; Bradley Airport in Hartford CT
Reviews
Mike
New Zealand
•
May 2026
I spent 2 weeks at the farm after Robert reached out to see if I was interested. My main job was cutting up fire wood (chainsaw) and splitting which is my "happy place" and was able to carry out this task at my own pace . I also helped with the morning and evening chores relating to the animals on the property. The hosts were very friendly and helpful having done so for years..and we're happy to pick me up and drop me off at the closest train station. I enjoyed my stay and would visit again if the opportunity arose ...
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Peggy
United States
•
April 2026
My husband and I spent 7 1/2 weeks (mid Feb - mid April) at this farm and had an incredible experience! Robert and his wife Kathy are such kind, knowledgable, generous, and inspiring hosts and we were warmly welcomed into their lives from the moment we arrived! Our time spent at the farm was richly rewarding on so many different levels.
We specifically came for the maple sugaring season and can't imagine a better place to be! Robert was a fantastic teacher who has been sugaring since childhood. We not only learned every aspect of the process (tapping, boiling, filtering, bottling, tasting!), but also the rich history of sugaring in the northeast. Beyond the sugarbush, they have many animals (cows, sheep, chickens, and Benji the Llama) as well as an extensive garden area. We enjoyed helping with animal care and fencing projects alongside Cameron, their Farm Manager who is also a joy to work with!
There are so many things to do in the area and the community is very friendly. We loved the weekly pizza nights and getting to know local peopleand neighbors, as well as being able to participate in Robert's glass blowing classes!
If you love stunning views, hearty and rewarding work, a variety of opportunities to learn and grow, local connections and activities, and kind and knowlegable hosts - this farm is for you!! Our biggest regret is not being able to stay longer. We definitely plan to be back!!
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Adam
United States
•
March 2026
I WWOOFed for only one week here, because I wanted to try out WWOOFing and see if it was for me. It was an unforgettable experience; Robert was kind and incredibly accommodating. I enjoyed working with his farmers, who took an interest in teaching me what they could during my short time there. I liked the animals, whose distinct personalities became clear in a short period of time. The work is hearty and at times challenging, but always invigorating and never unreasonable. The location is tranquil, the locals are delightful, and there are plenty of things to do in the area with your off time. I wish I could have stayed longer! This was a perfect introduction to WWOOFing.
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Nicholas
United States
•
February 2026
I had an amazing time during my stay at the farm, I enjoyed the beautiful Vermont scenery, charming animals, and the kind people who welcomed me there. As a history buff I loved learning the story of the area and the property and found the host to be incredibly knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. This is a peaceful paradise in the mountains and you will find the tasks very rewarding!
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Taylor
United States
•
October 2025
My boyfriend and I thought this farm was a very good place to stay, it was beautiful and a lot to learn. We got to meet new people and live life to the fullest.
Jared
United States
•
July 2025
This is a beautiful homestead tucked away in the mountains of Southern Vermont. Robert is a very passionate and driven person and a renowned artist. He and his wife Kathy welcome you into their home and treat you like family. Robert jr (the farm manager) is a wealth of knowledge and a pleasure to work with and be around. Him and his wife do an excellent job taking care of the wwoofers and teaching them what they know. The entire Townshend community is unique and was worthwhile to immerse in. The work here is varied and Robert jr puts in effort to tailor to your interests but there is also plenty of need to do items you’ll have to attend to. The time commitment is a bit higher than other farms but worthwhile with the right attitude. You will be taken care of but you will also have to fend for yourself at times but that makes it equally as rewarding. There are many things going on here and many things to be done and improved so if you’re looking for some challenge and fun then this is a good option for you.
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