Hands-on homesteading with goats, poultry, gardens, cheese, bees, organic cooking and more...
California
Are you ready to fully immerse yourself in life on a working homestead? Join us for a rewarding and educational stay where you'll gain valuable skills, connect with the land, and enjoy the rhythms of a farm lifestyle.
_______________________________________
Farm discription:
We are a small, diverse homestead located in the beautiful Central Coast region of California, nestled among oak-covered hills and surrounded by local vineyards. Just 10 miles from the nearest town, our 6-acre farm is home to:
• Dairy goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and bees
• Friendly farm dogs and cats
• Raised garden beds and a new greenhouse
• A peaceful, quiet environment ideal for reflection, learning, and unplugging from busy city life
We’re a semi-retired couple, passionate about sustainable living and sharing knowledge.
_______________________________________
Learning opportunities:
Our farm is active nearly year-round (January–November), with milking and feeding twice daily. We generally work from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and resume evening chores after dinner around 8:00 pm. Afternoons are free for rest, reading, hiking, crafts, or optional farm projects.
Hands-on learning opportunities include:
1. Dairy Goat Care & Milking — Milking twice daily and learning to hand-milk.
2. Cheese Making — Hands-on cheese making (smoked mozzarella is a favorite!).
3. Animal Husbandry — Feeding, egg collection, and pasture management via rotational grazing.
4. Lamb & Poultry Processing — Learn to process meat on-farm (seasonal).
5. Gardening — Planting, weeding, composting, and greenhouse propagation.
6. Beekeeping — Help with seasonal honey harvesting.
7. Cooking — Daily organic meals plus bone broth, kefir, fermented veggies, and more.
8. Fiber Arts & Crafts — Learn rug weaving, quilt-making, or contribute to our farm cookbook project.
9. Farm Maintenance — Cleaning pens, weeding, unloading hay, small repairs, and more.
Next opennings:
• April 15 - 30, 2026
• May 1 - 15
• June 1 - 15
_____________________________________
Meals & Lifestyle
We cook and share three healthy, home-cooked meals daily (7:30 am, noon, 6pm), using organically sourced ingredients . We maintain a mostly gluten-free, sugar-free, organic diet and avoid processed foods. That said, homemade sourdough bread is baked regularly for those who eat gluten!
Please note:
• We cannot accommodate vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, or dairy-free diets. Our farm experience is deeply rooted in the full-cycle connection between raising, processing, and preparing our food together.
• We eat together and expect participation in meal prep and clean-up as part of daily community life.
_______________________________________
Accommodations:
You’ll stay in a private 19′ travel trailer parked next to the house. You’ll share a guest bathroom inside the main home.
We host one WWOOFer at a time to ensure a more personal, immersive experience. WiFi is available, but this is not a suitable environment for remote work or online classes—your focus should be the farm.
_______________________________________
Location & Free Time
The farm is remote—20 minutes to the nearest town and about 45 minutes to the nearest bus/train station (we’re happy to arrange pickup). In your free time, enjoy:
• Hiking the surrounding hills
• Swimming in the pool (in season)
• Reading from our well-stocked library
• Drawing, writing, crafts, or hiking with the goats
• Learning fiber arts like rug weaving or quilting
_______________________________________
What We’re Looking For
We value hard work, a positive attitude, and genuine curiosity. The ideal candidate is:
• Physically fit and enjoys hands-on work
• Open-minded, respectful, and eager to learn
• Able to work alongside others or independently and follow directions
• Comfortable with animals and all aspects of farm life—including butchering
• Fluent in English
• Interested in sustainable living, real food, and traditional skills
_______________________________________
Important Guidelines
Before applying, please make sure this experience is a good fit for you.
Requirements:
• Minimum stay: 2 weeks, (longer stays preferred; we often host for months or even a year!)
• Must provide: at least two reviews or references
• Must have: travel or medical insurance (wwoof has a policy)
• No smoking, drugs, children, pets, or couples
• Must be fully committed to your stay—this is not a part-time or casual placement.
_______________________________________
Ready to Apply?
We’d love to hear from you! Please include the following in your message:
1. Why you want to join us and what you hope to learn
2. Any relevant experience (farm, kitchen, crafts, etc.)
3. What you can contribute
4. Your availability (and which dates/season you’re applying for)
5. Any dietary needs or allergies
6. Confirmation you meet the requirements (insurance, references, no remote work, etc.)
We aim to reply within 24 hours. Once accepted, we’ll stay in touch regularly to prepare for your arrival. We take our commitment to you seriously and ask that you do the same in return.
_______________________________________
Thank You!
We’ve hosted WWOOFers for over 12 years and are grateful for helpers who have enriched life on our farm—and left with new skills, confidence, and memories. Whether you're curious about farm-to-table living, animal husbandry, or rural simplicity, this is your chance to dive in.
We hope to welcome you to our farm soon!
_______________________________________
Read more
Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Poultry farming
Sheep or goat farming
Dairy farming
Beekeeping
Cheesemaking
Meat processing
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Natural cosmetics fabrication
Traditional crafts
Methods or systems
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Rotational grazing
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
2.4
Hectares
|
6
Acres
Janet
Member since 2013
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 1 day
California
Gilroy Bus/Train Station
Reviews
Tanya
United States
•
April 2026
The two weeks I spent with Janet and John were amazing. I felt like I had structure and a purpose here. I helped Janet with the everyday chores like milking the goats, feeding the baby goats (my favorite), feeding poultry, collecting eggs, delivering hay to all livestock, and watering plants. I also learned how to make cheese and cream. Janet is very patience and understanding. She is open to teaching you everything if you are interested in learning but also respects boundaries. Janet is such an interesting person! I encourage you to ask her all the questions and be openminded. Some highlights for me were hiking with Janet and goats, playing with the baby goats, and going to the farmer's market with John in his jeep that has no doors (beautiful drive). One last thing, the food is incredible! You will eat good everyday and not go hungry. I can't wait to go back!
Read more
Alyssa
United States
•
February 2026
Staying at this farm felt like visiting with old friends! John and Janet were very welcoming and made me feel at home during my awesome stay! The food was incredible, the views and weather were gorgeous and the camper was comfy with goats right outside the door! Janet is a generous and very knowledgeable host with lots of experience and stories about everything she is doing or has done. I learned how to process a lamb, rug weaving and was able to go down my own rabbit hole of tallow making! The farm has lots of projects going on in the garden, greenhouse and with the animals so there is never a dull moment. My stay was fun and relaxing and I will definitely be back in the summer for the milk and cheese!
Read more
Renee
United States
•
October 2025
Janet has been hosting for almost 10 years, and she truly embodies the mission of the WWOOF program. Janet is extremely knowledgeable about animals, gardening, cooking, crafts and sustainable practices. Through my stay here, Janet has inspired me to make changes in my life such as healthier eating practices and taking up creative hobbies again. Time feels different at this farm - it is a refuge away from the business of city life, and connects you back to nature. It is such a treat to enjoy farm-to-table meals -- homemade bread, cheese from goats and vegetables grown from the garden! Janet is communicative, and she listens to what each WWOOFer hopes to learn. She respects boundaries in terms of the work schedule. She is so fun to be around, and has great stories to share. Her family made me feel at home during my stay. Janet strives to make sure each WWOOFer enjoys their stay, and she truly cares about their experience. This was my first WWOOF experience and Janet was very patient as I learned the ropes! I will definitely be coming back to stay. The goats are lovely, Janet also has 4 amazing dogs as well!
Read more
Catherine
United States
•
August 2024
Janet is an awesome hostess!!! I had a wonderful learning experience on her farm. She was patient with my rate of progress with milking goats, and very appreciative of other ways that I was able to contribute. She always has a lot of activities going on, so there is never a dull moment. I enjoyed the variety of activities that she offered, and she is a fabulous cook, using many home grown ingredients. I highly recommend woofing on Janet's farm. I felt very welcome there, and there are activities that many new and experienced woofers will be able to contribute to.
Read more
Rachel
United States
•
September 2022
I am so thankful that I chose Bell Hill Farms for my first WWOOF experience, I couldn’t have asked for a better time! Janet and John are both so welcoming, and ready to teach you anything you’re interested in. My stay was only for a month, but I learned so much and felt so supported the whole time. Janet is a wonderful teacher, super encouraging and grateful for everything you do on the farm. Anyone would be lucky to get a chance to work alongside Janet at Bell Hill, I can’t wait to come back and help out myself!
Read more
Nadia
United States
•
August 2022
I’m thankful for my stay at Bell Hill Farm, Janet and John were very welcoming and daily dinners with them were always great.
The work is structured and flows well, and the routine on the farm provides predictability. I enjoyed working with all the goats and taking them on hikes, there are definitely opportunities to learn a lot about them, as well as cheese making, soap making, butchering and more.
Overall my three week stay was great, and a good balance of rejuvenation and chores.
Janet is very passionate about what she does and the experience she provides.
I’d definitely recommend!
Read more
