Permaculture learning farm near North Cascades Mountains

Washington
Terri sharing : )
Permaculture learning farm near North Cascades Mountains Permaculture learning farm near North Cascades Mountains
20 • Updated 7 months ago
We are a permaculture learning farm in the beautiful Skagit River Valley near the North Cascade Mountains in Western WA state. We are on 12 acres of stunning land, at the base of Sauk Mountain. The property has a creek, annual and perennial gardens, poultry, beginning food forests, woods, ponds and fields. We are looking for independent, hard working people interested in permaculture and ecological stewardship. Activities here include continuing to plant and maintain a food forest, care of animals and gardens, mulching and weeding, berry picking, harvesting, foraging, preservation of food including drying, canning and freezing, splitting and moving firewood, invasive plant abatement, researching and planning, assisting in classes and gatherings, cooking with weeds and locally sourced food, alternative building projects, working on a nearby organic vegetable farm, making music and collectively learning how to be better strands of the earth web. Woofers are expected to work 4.0 real hours a day, 5 days a week (or 20 hours/week) and are encouraged to take their days off traveling this beautiful area.  Much of the work will be with a knowledgeable botanist, forager, gardener, herbalist, mycologist and permaculturalist who loves to share her knowledge. Projects will be varied.  We do expect good self motivation and work ethic, proactively coordinating and tracking your own work times (usually between 10am-6pm). Woofers are also expected to clean-up after themselves and help in meal prep and clean-up in addition to the work hours.  We take our time sharing our knowledge with wwoofers seriously and prefer folks who have embarked on active earth relationship (have you grown a tomato plant on your porch?, do you compost?) and who intend to use the knowledge they gain here for future earth repair. If you are mostly hoping to have a working vacation in a nice place, and sustainable agriculture is not your passion, this is not a good fit. Housing would be you camping on the property, in your own tent or vehicle. (Indoor rooms may be available in winter time). There is a small roofed bed hut that might be available as well. We poop in outdoor composting pooping facilities.  Woofers will have access to an outdoor kitchen and solar showers on sunny days. We provide meals or food for 3 meals a day, including many locally grown organic and foraged ingredients. We usually have a dinner meal together, sometimes lunch together, but breakfasts are often prepared independently. We can accommodate vegetarians, vegans and gluten free with some help from you. The farm is near a mossy old growth forest at a State Park, the blue watered Skagit River and hiking in the rugged North Cascade Mountains. There are many opportunities for outdoor adventures; backpacking, rafting, fishing, foraging, hiking, birding. We are 4 miles from a small town. A bus runs to it, Concrete, and we could pick you up from there. We appreciate sharing knowledge, stories, music and living in community. The land here has a hiking trail and a beautiful view of Sauk Mountain.  We are interested in the skills and wisdom you bring. Pets are negotiable if they are good with people, cats, dogs and poultry. Please no excessive drinking, tobacco smoking or drug use. Occasional pot smoking is fine.  Come help launch another branch of our collective permaculture experiment and enjoy living in a most beautiful place.   Organic methods: We are big on mulching. We compost and use cardboard, manure, leaves, duff and woodchips to build fertility. We strive to create "guilds" that provide for various needs of the biological community. We are developing water slowing features on the land and have 2 small ponds and swales. We favor diversity. We try to learn from the natural processes that are constantly unfolding. We practice soil building and water flowing and are creative with conservation practices. Certifications: We follow organic practices. We don't use chemical chemical fertilizers or pesticides. *We are conscious of avoiding toxic chemicals in our home and personal products as well as on the land. We have people sensitive to fragrances and toxic chemicals in body products and laundry and ask that you refrain from using those while here (and we will share info to convince you to not use them anywhere : ). ) You may be able to check the toxicity of your products; laundry soaps, shampoos etc. on www.ewg.org. We have alternative products available. Internet access available
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Wild foraging
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Traditional crafts
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
Former WWOOFer
4.9 Hectares | 12 Acres
Accommodation
3 WWOOFers
Campsite
Children not accepted
Pets accepted
Meals
Vegetarian
Vegan
Length of stay
1-2 weeks
3-4 weeks
Over a month
Terri
Terri
Member since 2019
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 1 day
Washington
There are buses to Concrete WA and we can pick you up there.
Feedback
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
United States • September 2026
Hazelnut Hearth is a true nature immersion. There is great care for our lands and water in practice on the beautiful little farm. Terri is a knowledgeable steward and visionary who was careful to provide good meals, and clear guidance. We harvested potatoes, beans, tomatoes, corn, carrots among other things. Mushroom foraging and identification was a highlight. We preserved food by dehydration and canning. Seed collection was also a focus. The accommodation was a little hut in the garden which was splendid so long as it was not that cold or rainy. There is an outhouse. I didn’t use the shower at all while there so I can’t speak to it . The little town of Concrete was wonderful. Several times I used the library and enjoyed the amazing gluten free bakery . For fun, Terri led us in astrological jewelry making. At the end of the week there was live music by Terri’s group at The Hub, and a mini artisan fair. I left inspired and aware. Thanks to my teacher Terri!
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Sophia
Sophia
United States • September 2026
I had a great first time WWOOF-ing at Terri's homestead! She was so willing to focus on my areas of interest including food preservation, seed saving, herbal plant medicine, foraging, and permaculture. I was able to help harvest potatoes, tomatoes, beans, tomatillos, onions, and carrots, and we made salsa, tomato sauce, jam, and fermented carrots. I am very grateful for my time here and can't wait to apply many of the concepts I've learned!
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Terri
Reply from Terri
Awh, thanks for the kind words. It was such a lovely time with you. Come visit if you are ever near : ). and yeah keep on with connecting to food and earth!
Josephine
Josephine
United States • June 2026
Terri was a wonderful host! I enjoyed my time on the farm, it is absolutely beautiful. A typical day included working in the garden both on the farm and at another garden located on a different property- weeding, planting, watering, and mulching. Terri has a great knowledge of plants and is willing to share all that she has learned. I learned a lot during my time here, and I hope to return someday!
Sydney
Sydney
United States • August 2025
I had such a great time at Terri's beautiful little farm! Everyday brought new adventures and learning moments. Terri was a fantastic host and teacher whose love of the environment shines through in her land and ways of life. If you want a little slice of paradise in the north cascades/Skagit valley, and are wanting to learn about permaculture from a real expert, I highly suggest giving Hazelnut Hearth a visit! Thank you again Terri, I seriously had the best time with you and your many friends on the farm! (:
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Sable
Sable
United States • August 2025
Terri herself is a force of nature. Her knowledge, activism, and immersive teaching make for a very memorable WWOOF experience. Even as she was preoccupied with important matters, she still welcomed me into her space and shared all that she could in my short visit there. I hope to come back one day, and learn even more from such a skilled mentor.
Brooklyne
Brooklyne
United States • May 2025
Our time here was oh so fun!! We learned a TON about native plants, especially edible ones, as well as innovative ways to do perennial and annual gardening. The ducks & chickens were so cute too! Terri is a natural teacher, was so willing to share all of her knowledge and skills with us, and overall a party all the time. We got to do a nature walk/forest experience with her through the old growth forest at the state park down the road from her farm, we also were able to help out her friend that farms as well as do some work on the land that she rents from a local organic vegetable farm. We cooked foraged things on the daily, got to do lots of hiking and exploring in the north cascades area, and participated in her community with things like sing along Sundays. It was such a wonderful 2 weeks full of learning and fun, we will miss her lots!
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