Our center located in Jemez Springs New Mexico, enjoys a beautiful riverfront property with six main buildings to house its residents and guests as well as spaces for ceremonies, meditation, education, cooking and dining. The village is located in a beautiful canyon surrounded by the Jemez National Recreational Area and the Sante Fe National Forest, near Albuquerque and Santa Fe. For many centuries, people have been drawn to the natural beauty, the blending of cultures, the developed and natural hot springs (one of the nicest is at the Bodhi), and the spiritual and recreational pursuits.
We would LOVE to host a furture farmer interested in the intersection of farming and spiritual service to community. A future farmer would have their own room and be given the opportunity to participate in daily meditation and other Zen practices.
We have a large production garden, with a master gardener here one day a week and an onsite garden manager. The produce is used in our kitchen, which feeds many people, residents and those passing through on one retreat or another. We also participate in the Jemez Springs Farmers Market, where we sell produce, homemade yoghurt, granola, and other prepared foods. From about March to September the garden is a happening place. We also have 20+ chickens that need daily care and complement our diet with eggs. The garden is watered via an acequia, a historic community operated irrigation ditch that channels water to local properties all the way through the Jemez valley. There are fruit trees and raised beds that also need tending.
The Center was established in the 1970’s in the structured, monastic, style of its founder who was among the early masters who brought Zen from Japan to the west. Just as Zen evolved as it branched out from India to China then to Japan, it continues to evolve as it influences and is influenced by the culture of its American practitioners. With a new generation of leadership, life and practice here is less monastic, more open to the public and part of the surrounding communities. Students continue to reside for extended periods in order to be immersed in formal Zen practice. Other residents contribute their experience and skills—cooking, baking, gardening, assisting with laundry, maintenance, administration, etc.—to the community and participate in the practice to varying degrees.
Non-residents with varying levels of experience attend monthly weekend silent retreats and several 7-10 day silent retreats a year. A number of yoga, spirit journey, and buddhist groups utilize the facilities for their compatible practices. Individuals come for their own personal contemplative retreats.
WWOOFers are an integral part of the Bodhi community - not only for their work contributions but their spiritual quests and journeys. Service is varied but most likely will include tending the garden and chickens, assisting with cooking, cleaning, laundry and general work around the Center taking the Zen practice into the world. An interest in Zen is welcome but not required and folks participate to varying degrees depending on availability and interest.
Accommodations are gender specific bunk rooms (3 bunks to a room) and private room for couples. WiFi is available but can be spotty at times. There is a local bus that goes to Albuquerque on a regular basis. We can do airport pickups.
If this sounds good to you - check out additional information on our website and let us know if you're interested in WWOOFing with our team.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Methods or systems
Biodynamic agriculture
Holistic management
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
Host type
Nonprofit / Community
