Alaskan Native woman-operated family peony farm and wedding venue

Alaska

18 reviews • Updated 1 year ago

Hello WWOOFers! We have opportunities here during October and potentially into November if you are interested in visiting us! We are creating several new flower borders and working on a couple of landscaping projects this Fall before freeze up. We also have seeds to collect and save for next year and will be making jams and jellies from the berries we harvested and froze. It can be chilly this time of year, but it's still a beautiful and there might be opportunities to see Aurora Borealis displays. Let me know if you are interested. Barbara ABOUT US -We have a 39-acre peony farm in Palmer, Alaska, nestled between Lazy Mountain and the Matanuska River and surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains, forests, and glaciers that Alaska has to offer. Our farm is an Alaska Native, female-owned family business, located 45 miles from Anchorage. Our peonies are available for sale to wholesalers and florists in locations served by Alaska Air Cargo direct flights, online sale to individuals, and at pick-your-own events. The 2023 season will be our first commercial harvest season. The property includes a large home, the peony fields, and is being transformed into a rustic event venue with three outdoor wedding sites and a 40' x 60' wedding tent. There are two residences attached to the main house, available for wedding party and vacation rentals. We host beautiful weddings here from June through September. Our fields are planted with 2,500 peony roots of 14 different varieties. WWOOFers will have the opportunity to learn all activities associated with growing, maintaining, harvesting, and processing peonies for sale and shipment. Work in the fields begins in late April or May and includes weeding, fertilizing, and removing side shoots. Harvest of the early varieties begins mid- to late-June. Peonies are cut in the field while still in the bud stage, extra leaves are removed and then sorted by size and refrigerated. The peonies are packaged and delivered to the airport for shipment. We also grow organic vegetables and flowers on our farm. Other job duties and learning opportunities for WWOOFers include tending to the vegetable gardens, tending to chickens, seed collection, food preservation, jam and jelly making, cleaning/repairing tools and equipment, and processing logs into benches, fence materials, and firewood. We offer transportation to and from Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage. WWOOFers will stay in our three-bedroom, two-bathroom guest house. Two bedrooms can accommodate up to two WWOOFers each, and the third room is reserved for our caretaker. You can also camp on the property in personal tents, or in an RV parked on the property if that is your preference. The guest house is stocked with groceries so WWOOFers can prepare their own meals. We will also get together occasionally for family-style dinners and BBQs. Expectations for our volunteers include: • Being able to work 20-30 hours per week, depending on the workload of the farm. • Good physical health and ability to lift 40 pounds. • Able to use hand tools (shovel, rake, hammer, drill) or power tools (lawn mower, weed whacker). • We use 4-wheelers, riding mowers, and a backhoe on the farm. While not required, ability to drive/operate some equipment would be helpful or could be part of the learning experience. • WWOOFers must bring adequate, season-appropriate clothing. Temperatures in southcentral Alaska can range from hot to cold, can be very windy and rainy at times. There are many wilderness areas in Alaska to visit and explore and we will do what we can to provide opportunities for our WWOOFers to have fun! Right here in our area, the Matanuska Susitna Valley offers a wide variety of recreational activities to explore on your days off. There are many awesome mountains to hike including Lazy Mountain, Matanuska Peak, and Pioneer Peak. Explore the old mines in Hatcher pass and hike its many different trails or travel north to the famous Denali National Park. Four-wheelers tours are available in Palmer, good fishing can be found nearby, and there are great places to go camping almost anywhere free of charge. August is a great month for berry picking! We schedule our workers to have three days off in a row whenever possible, to take advantage of these activities. Organic methods: Only organic fertilizers and compost are used. We hand weed, use barrier cloth, and do not use pesticides or herbicides. Certifications: We are not certified organic but employ organic practices as much as possible.

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Poultry farming

Wild foraging

Flower farming

Seed saving or production

Vegetable or fruit preservation

Traditional crafts

Mentoring opportunities

Woman-operated

BIPOC-operated

Host type

Production farm

15.8 Hectares | 39 Acres

Accommodation

4+ WWOOFers

Bedroom

Campsite

Cabin / Mobile-home

Children not accepted

Pets not accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Vegetarian

Vegan

Length of stay

1-2 weeks

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Barbara

Member since 2021

Languages spoken: English Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 4 days

November 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Alaska

Ted Stevens International Airport

Reviews

Danica

United States • October 2025

My stay at the farm was a great time! Barbra and everyone else on the farm were super nice and friendly people. The farm is an absolutely beautiful places, beautiful views all around. I really enjoyed my stay!

Eden

United States • October 2025

So kind and welcoming here! Barbara was very hospitable and understanding. This was my first wwoofing adventure and it was definitely better than expected!

Elizabeth

United States • September 2025

I had a great time! Work was manageable as it was generally off-season for peonies in August, and Barbara and her family are friendly and accommodating. The surrounding area is gorgeous-- my morning walks next to the mountains and hayfields were a highlight. Special thank yous to Barbara, Pat and Kaylynn for working with me to make my trip so fulfilling and special!

Edward

United States • August 2025

Barbara was a wonderful host and extremely accommodating to my partner and I! She did her best to provide us with relevant tasks despite the fact that it was nearing the end of the season, and gave us great recommendations for ways to spend time in the Palmer area.

Reply from Barbara

Hi Edward - Sorry I missed the time period to write a review. I loved hosting you guys and would love to have you come back again! Barbara

Lorenzo

United States • July 2025

Barbara is such an incredible host and truly has a heart of gold. She is so welcoming, patient, and caring for all that she accepts into her home. We were able to balance helping around on the farm with adventures in the surrounding area and explorations of other areas of Alaska. Truly such a gift to be a part of the community she has built!

Will

United States • July 2025

Barbara is a very kind and generous host. Work at her farm was very laid-back and allowed you to go at your own pace. There were a variety of gardening activities and wedding preparations to be done, so responsibilities were different day by day. I would water every day, weed, deadhead, make beds, clean bathrooms, move chairs and tables, etc. Since there are so many hours of daylight, you can easily get a hike in after working for about half the day. The hikes were some of my favorites I've ever been on. Matanuska and Hatcher's Pass are particularly beautiful. I enjoyed being in Palmer, which is just an hour from Anchorage, but has a lot of charm in itself. Barbara has a big family, and there was always someone cooking something delicious in the kitchen to eat after work, and cats and dogs around to pet while you do it. I fell into a nice routine during my month here, and it makes me consider coming back to Alaska!