Vegetable, fruit farm and animal rescue ranch on 10 acres in FL
Florida
Welcome to Marando Farms and Ranch 🌿
Our family farm sits on 10 acres of nature, surrounded by a lake that wraps around the property. We grow a variety of tropical fruits on part of the land (mangoes, avocados, bananas, papayas, guavas), and we also sell many kinds of plants in our nursery. A large part of the farm is dedicated to our organic and local farm market.
We share this space with our educational farm, where horses, chickens, and other rescued animals live. Families can visit the farm and feed the animals, which makes this place lively and welcoming.
The farm is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM, and on weekends from 9 AM to 5 PM. We are closed on Wednesdays.
We also host events in our barn on some evenings or weekends (weddings, birthdays...). Every other Sunday, we offer a free yoga session in a peaceful natural setting. We enjoy creating a family-style atmosphere where everyone takes part in farm life with a spirit of teamwork and sharing.
On site, you will also find an organic juice and smoothie bar open to the public six days a week (closed on Wednesdays).
We are ideally located about 20 minutes from Fort Lauderdale Beach and about 20 minutes from the beautiful Florida Everglades. Public transportation is available, with a bus stop located right in front of the farm.
🌱 Life on the Farm
We are looking for motivated volunteers to take part in the daily life of the farm: seeding, planting, harvesting, some weeding, building and improving soil, as well as various small maintenance and repair projects.
Animals are also an important part of the farm: daily feeding, care, collecting eggs, cleaning stalls, and maintaining fences.
Depending on the needs of the moment, help in the kitchen with food preparation is also greatly appreciated.
We only use organic and natural methods: cow, horse, and chicken manure; compost made from fruit and vegetable scraps; Integrated Pest Management (IPM); vermiculture; diatomaceous earth; fish emulsion; bat guano; and compost teas.
For more than 10 years, we have welcomed many volunteers and we truly appreciate people who are motivated and involved. Of course, if you do not enjoy animals or if you are allergic, this place may not be the best fit for you.
⏰ Organization
We start our days early to take advantage of the cooler morning hours. Volunteers contribute about 30 hours per week, usually from 7:00 AM to 1:30 PM with a 30-minute lunch break.
Meals are provided. You are welcome to use products from the farm market, and sometimes we cook and share meals together. Ideally, lunch should be planned ahead so that the afternoon work can continue smoothly.
🏡 Accommodation and Life on the Farm
We offer several accommodation options:
• two mobile trailers with air conditioning
• tent camping spaces
You will have access to:
• a heated outdoor shower
• two outdoor restrooms and one indoor restroom
• a fully equipped indoor kitchen
• internet access inside the building
• our organic market and gardens to enjoy fresh farm products.
🌞 Free Time
Once your workday is finished, your time is yours! You can enjoy the farm, go horseback riding in our arena or in nearby parks, fish in the lake, or explore the area. Downtown is easily accessible by Uber, Lyft, or bus.
We love welcoming curious people who respect nature and enjoy sharing the simple life of a farm. If you want to learn, get your hands in the soil, and experience life close to nature, you are very welcome here.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Pig farming
Cattle farming
Horse or donkey farming
Sheep or goat farming
Flower farming
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Methods or systems
Holistic management
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Production farm
4.1
Hectares
|
10
Acres
Accommodation
Chelsea
Member since 2019
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 53%
Response time: typically within 7 days
Florida
FLL Airport
Reviews
Chanel Laura
United States
•
April 2026
I had such a wonderful time staying here!! You can tell the owners of this farm are genuinely kind and passionate people, and they ensured that I felt truly welcomed and were willing to accommodate me even though I was staying for a short period of time. The farm itself is a beautiful little gem nestled in South Florida that's very fun to explore with lots of interesting plants and animals that are all visibly loved and cared for. The location is another big plus because it's far out from the main Miami metro area, but it's not completely rural/isolated so you're free to explore on your off time if that interests you. The work itself is enriching and provides a fun challenge without being too overwhelming; completely approachable for anyone especially if you're not super experienced with farm work. My favorite part was tending to the horses and rescue animals. 10/10, would definitely recommend and hope to return soon!
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SHANA
France
•
March 2026
I will never find the right words to describe the incredible experience I had here. Here, time seems to slow down, making room for serenity, simplicity, and true inner peace.
Fred, Chelsea, and their children, Samy and Max, welcomed me as a full member of their family. You immediately feel the love that binds them. They are a deeply close and authentic family, who genuinely enjoy sharing their daily life with generosity. Simple things are celebrated: meals together, golf cart rides at sunset, or long conversations about the horses. Nothing is superficial, everything is sincere.
During my two months here, I was never bored. Every day brought something new and meaningful. The family is always there when you need them, while respecting your independence. The atmosphere on the farm is warm and lively, especially on weekends when many young people come to help. Mornings begin with the smell of cookies baked by the wonderful Anthea. Throughout the day, I loved taking care of the farm’s animals, each moment a little joy to savor. I helped in the shop alongside Casey, whose contagious laughter brightens the day. Working here never felt like a burden, but a true pleasure.
I am especially grateful to David, the farm manager. He inspires you to grow, understands your strengths, and truly listens. His determination to improve this place makes every day unique.
This is a place that stays with you long after you leave. Safe, welcoming, and deeply human! Highly rec.
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Micah
United States
•
December 2025
I had a lovely time WWOOFing with David (Manager), Fred (Owner), Chelsea (Owner), and Yvan (Long time WWOOFer). Virtually unlimited supply of eggs for anyone trying to hit their protein goals, along with a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The outdoor kitchen is pretty nice with a big Blackstone grill, personal fridge, and couch which made it into a nice hangout.
The work environment was lovely, and once you get into the routine you can easily be self sufficient unless there's a bigger project that you'll be helping David with. You probably won't have enough time to take the bus anywhere in the middle of the week since you finish working around 2pm and then have to feed the horses around 4pm.
If there is something that you want from a store, David makes weekly Walmart orders, or you can walk down the street where there is THE BEST Asian grocery store along with multiple Vietnamese restaurants and gas stations. The farm is also very conveniently located two minutes away from the bus stop, and there’s a direct bus ride to the beach that takes about an hour.
Overall, it was a great experience with an amazing, easygoing but productive atmosphere. Thank you Fred for cooking some amazing dinners.
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Sarah
United States
•
July 2025
This farm was an incredible experience! The community in the store/farm that surrounds the place creates a very welcoming environment. The main part of my wwoof job was to work with many animals like horses, Patagonian calves, emu, pigs, chickens, quail, goats, a sheep, cows, tortoises and mule. It was definitely a highlight to feed and spend time with many different animals and learn their personalities. There are also fruit trees that have been planted, and I got to help mulch them along with enjoy a small taste of some of the mango varieties. Other things I enjoyed was delicious food, the beach, checking out the everglades, a couple yoga classes, working at the juice bar and making some new connections with awesome people. I'm going to miss this place and will definitely be back for a second round of fun and hard work. Chelsea, Fred and David are great host and will make you feel right at home! I highly recommend going here if you enjoy community, working with animals and the occasional beach trip.
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Giulia
Italy
•
June 2025
I will never find a better place than this! I enjoyed spending my time on the farm with the people working there and the animals. I am very grateful to David, Chealsea and Fred for helped me a lot with everything, they are such beautiful people. I felt part of this family. You can feel the true love they have for this place.
The work was not too difficult, mainly you have to feed the animals and take care of the plants, there is an incredible fruit tree nursery and a petting zoo.
Thanks for everything!! I can’t wait to come back again
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Dréanna
United States
•
December 2024
I loved my experience at this farm. Chelsea and Fred are very helpful and offered me so much information about farming. They were very accommodating, welcoming and I felt very comfortable staying there. I loved my time with the animals too !
