Our volunteer application process takes approximately a week, so unfortunately, we cannot accept last minute WWOOFers. We require a questionnaire to be answered and submitted back to us to review so we can see if we are a good fit. The next step is a zoom call to discuss our expectations, as well as yours. We hope to hear from you! The questionnaire is now fully online and easy to complete!
WE HAVE A GREAT NEED FOR WWOOFERS IN JULY AND AUGUST!
We require all volunteers to have permanent residence.
While we do welcome children, they must be at least 9 years old so they can safely accompany you and participate in farm work.
Our biggest need for volunteers is from March to September, though we are available year-round. This is when we plant, maintain, harvest, and preserve garden produce; process alpaca fleece, and do general farm maintenance. We welcome those who are self-motivated, as we encourage volunteers to find their own working rhythm.
Smoking is strongly discouraged but will be permitted in designated smoking areas only. We are a drug-free and weapon-free zone. This farm is very LGBTQ friendly and open minded. You do not need to be religious to WWOOF here.
ABOUT US:
We are an 80-acre farm owned by the Dominican Sisters of Peace, located in the heart of Kansas: 13 miles from the nearest town. We are a community with a Catholic Dominican Sister (recently retired and now a volunteer), a part-time Sister (who makes soap, jelly and other homemade items), and 5 employees. We generally have a couple volunteers living on the property. On the property we have numerous buildings: Spruce House(where the Sisters live), Hedge House(our guest space), Elm House(the volunteer quarters), Beech House(guest or volunteer space), Cedar House(where the Farm Manager lives), Strawbale Hermitage(guest space), Office/Workshop, pole barn, chicken coop, barn, Strawbale Arts Center, chakra silo, a couple small cottages(non-livable spaces), and garden pavilion.
Accommodations: Lengths of volunteer stays are open to discussion based on available accommodation. We have 3 volunteer spaces: upstairs Elm house, downstairs Elm house, and Beech house. Upstairs Elm is a shared living space with 3 bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining room, and bathroom. Downstairs Elm has 2 apartments (currently occupied) with their own kitchens and a shared bathroom. Beech house is a small cottage that was once a wash house on the original property. It has a small kitchen (small fridge, microwave, hot plate and toaster oven), a shower and a composting toilet. It is similar to a tiny home. Internet access is available in living quarters.
We cannot accommodate the pets of WWOOFers for the safety of our cats and dogs on the property.
Community: We have shared meals for lunch Tuesday-Friday (meals are friendly to meat eaters and vegetarians). There is a weekly volunteer meeting to discuss the tasks for the week and share any additional tasks or concerns. We have group outings/parties regularly to allow us to enjoy time together outside of work and for team building.
Gardens: We have vegetable gardens, a perennial garden, a 48'x30' high tunnel, a small greenhouse, a solarium for seed starting, a small orchard, ornamental and dye garden, small fields and pastures. We are pesticide and herbicide free on the property. Though we are not certified organic due to drift from neighboring field, we employ organic gardening practices.
Animals: We currently have 13 Huacaya alpacas and 1 Suri alpaca. We use them for their manure in our gardens, and for their fleece. We have 90 chickens and 17 ducks. Our animals are humanely raised and use no antibiotics.
Outdoors: There is a network of walking trails, ponds and a seasonal creek. Along our trails we have a labyrinth, a tool for spiritual centeredness. We use no pesticides or herbicides on the property, so our land is a haven for all animals.
Spirituality: Whether you’re religious or not, you are welcome on our farm. We have the labyrinth on our trails to take a mindful walk, or just a peaceful walk along our trails. Our silo provides a prayer space, or a space to sing and play music. 13 miles into town is our cousin ministry, which can provide some spiritual guidance or a retreat space.
Programs: We host guests for retreats and other educational programs. We host programs about land justice, beer-making, stargazing, weaving, camp for kids, and so many more.
We do recommend everyone be vaccinated for COVID, but it is not required. We ask that you let us know if you are not, as we do have a staff member who is immuno-compromised.
We have hosted numerous WWOOFer's who have stayed with us from two weeks to 5 months, and we have had wonderful experiences with all of them. We are so happy to have this opportunity to meet people who are interested in sustainable living like we are!
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Poultry farming
Raising of other farm animals
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Beer, cider, wine, or juice making
Bakery
Green Building
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
32.4
Hectares
|
80
Acres
