Produce and Flower Farm
Oregon
*Current Availability* now accepting wwoofers for the 2026 season February-October
In 2023 the business has transitioned to new ownership. The founder, Bill has been farming for over 40 years and has decided it was time to retire from this line of work passing the torch on to Melissa.
About Mel:
In 2018, I started my farming journey as a wwoofer here. This is where I quickly discovered farming was a passion of mine. From there I spent time wwoofing on many different farms learning what I could about growing produce, flowers, and medicinal herbs. Along with, taking care of animals, soil, and trees. Soon after I put this new found knowledge to use, where I was hired to grow a garden for a local restaurant in Silverton. This experience brought great reward, encouraging me to start my own business in the year of 2021. This is when I leased a piece of Bill's land and started growing flowers and herbs. I then sold bouquets, plant starts, and herbal products at our local farmers market. Towards the end of the 2021 growing season Bill offered me the opportunity to take on Gardenripe. We have spent the year of 2022 growing together where I have continued to learn and apply Bill's successful system to farming and business management.
About the farm:
This beautiful property sits on 137 acres in the Willamette Valley, which is famous for its fertile soil. The farm is located about 8 miles outside of small town, Silverton. Within a short drive big cities, waterfalls, volcanoes, deserts, hotsprings, and ocean are near. This piece of land has been is Bills family for almost 150 years. For the last 20 years the ground has been farmed with only organic compost and ground limestone producing premium quality produce for the surrounding area.
This is a production farm where we sell produce, flowers, & herbs weekly to the Silverton Farmers Market and to local restaurants in town.
The 2026 season:
This year the first seeds will be planted at the beginning of February. Work will transition into more outside work as weather allows but we will spend much of our early season sowing seeds and growing inside our six greenhouses. These greenhouses are large measuring from 26' X 50' to 20' X 202'. As the season progresses and temperatures heat up more work related to soil prep, planting, weeding, and harvesting will come strongly into play. Some task will be worked on independently while others will be worked on as a team. Wwoofers are expected to work a minimum of 20 hrs a week Monday-Friday typically from 8am-12pm. With the exception some weeks we may work up to 25 hrs in exchange for food and accommodations. An alternative schedule is available for one wwoofer interested in working markets.
Accommodations:
Wwoofers share a communal kitchen, a shower room, laundry facilities, and a composting toilet. All the produce grown on the farm is available for consumption along with fresh eggs from our pasture raised hens. A weekly grocery run is made to purchase staples not available at the farm. For sleeping arrangements there is currently two yurts available which can comfortably sleep 1 person in each and a travel trailer that can comfortably sleep 2. During warmer months camping is an option. Parking space is available for those with their own travel trailers/vans. To those interested in bringing their own accommodations hookups are not available. There is wifi on the property but can be spotty. Pets are welcome as long as the chickens, cats, and dogs on the property are not bothered by them. Visits of 2 weeks or longer are preferred. Longer stays are welcomed, but there will be a one month trial period to assure we work well together.
Things to know:
Please bring with you comfortable work clothes and shoes. All season we do a lot of field work on our knees so pants are a must. I recommend bringing water proof attire. We try not to work out in the rain, but some days there's no way around it. Those days the mud builds up fast on shoes so bring a pair you dont mind getting dirty. I wear rain boots and coveralls in the field for easy clean up and a rain suit when it's wet. Typically around July, the rain stops and we enter our dry hot season. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat are advised.
Wwoofers are expected to make their best effort to do quality work and to be productive. We are not a hobby garden, but rather a viable business and all wwoofers need to treat it as such. I strive to provide high quality food and flowers for our local community at a price that's affordable to those who need it most. I am able to do so by everyone working efficiently. Any job given is needed to be done and done well. Working the land is not an easy job...but its oh so rewarding! I hope to hear from you soon!
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Wild foraging
Flower farming
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Natural cosmetics fabrication
Methods or systems
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Production farm
55.4
Hectares
|
137
Acres
Melissa
Member since 2015
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 85%
Response time: typically within 5 days
Oregon
Reviews
Melissa
United States
•
December 2025
Mel is one of the hardest workers I've ever met. Her knowledge and passion for farming and community connection was truly inspiring. Mel's work ethic and dedication to preserving the land challenged me in the best way possible. Volunteering here exceeded my expectations and I would encourage anyone who wants a fulfilling experience to visit
Sunny
United States
•
November 2025
My experience here was phenomenal! Melissa is an absolute badass and a great teacher. I learned how to harvest different types of crops: potatoes, arugula, spinach, cabbage, leeks, and more. Mel's work ethic and generosity are truly inspiring, which taught me a lot also! I also cannot get over the food we ate - SO GOOD. If you want to learn a lot about farming, eat well, and have fun while you're doing it, this is the place. Thank you Mel for an awesome, time! I can't wait to come back.
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Emilia
United States
•
September 2025
My time here was amazing!! I learned so much from Mel, she is an incredible person and teacher. Each morning we worked on the farm seeding, planting, composting, etc., and in the afternoon we relaxed, went on walks, shared meals together, and went on excursions around the area. I am so grateful for this experience and for the time I got to spend with these kind and inspiring women. <3
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Kaylen
United States
•
September 2025
Where do I begin?? I spent 6 weeks this past summer WWOOFing for Mel with my best friend Kaylen and the farm exceeded our expectations tenfold. Your mornings are spend getting your hands dirty and your afternoons are relaxing as can be. Mel does not just make you feel comfortable at the farm, she brings you into her life and shows you around Silverton and Portland; camping, music, creek spots, bars, festivals, you name it! She is an amazing woman to work for and learn from so if you are having doubts about where to wwoof, let this be your sign to spend some time here, you’ll never want to leave!
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Bailey
United States
•
September 2025
I LOVED my experience here. This being my first WWOOF experience I came in a little nervous and unsure of what to except as while I work with plants for a living (landscaper) I haven’t ever farmed, but Mel was so kind and welcoming. She is incredibly knowledgeable and will so readily extend that to you, explaining the how and why of everything we’re doing (+ is so kind & patient too while you’re learning!!!!). The best way I could describe the farm is a girls hippie heaven hosted by your cooler older sister - it’s a truly special place. You can tell Mel genuinely cares for what she does and the people she invites onto the farm whether it be offering snacks, local recommendations, or just a good chat/hang. I would highly recommend this farm to anyone interested and will absolutely be coming back again!
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Amanda
United States
•
June 2025
As my first WWOOF experience I spent a month here after leaving an 8-5 office job, seeking some restorative time in nature and wanting to learn a little about farming and gardening, and I 100% came to the right place! Mel was immediately a very welcoming host and has cultivated such a special sense of community for all the WWOOFers that stay there. The farm is incredibly peaceful and humbly beautiful. I loved going for walks after working, sharing community meals, doing group yoga sessions and so much more. I didn’t have a car during my stay there, but Mel and the other WWOOFers still made sure I got to thoroughly experience Oregon with excursions including a day at the coast, hikes, a concert in Portland, and a tulip festival.
I stayed in one of the yurts and really enjoyed it. It could be a little chilly and loud at night with the ceiling flapping from wind, but those aren’t things I let impact my experience – the constant fresh air and sounds of nature make up for it :) I also adored the farm cats, dogs, and chickens. I even got to meet and learn a little from Bill, who has had the farm in his family forever. The farm work could be challenging but was rewarding.
My stay was exactly what I’d hoped for and more. I gained so many beautiful memories, and I will always look back on my time there with so much fondness and gratitude. As long as you’re open to new experiences and interested in connecting with nature, I’d absolutely recommend this stay!
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