A unique WWOOF experience: Suburban, woman-operated food forest outside Chicago

Illinois

19 reviews • Updated 1 month ago

Heading into our fourth year at this location, we offer a unique WWOOF experience - a suburban food forest project. Along with many other remedies, we feel it's critical we enhance the biodiversity of suburban communities and reduce our reliance on long distance supply chains. With that goal in mind, we've planted apple, peach, cherry, mulberry, plum, pawpaw trees, as well as blueberry, black and red raspberry, blackberry, honeyberry, currant, elderberry, hazelnut and aronia bushes. We've also planted herbs, rhubarb, 200 strawberry plants, asparagus, and a diverse array of flowers, dynamic accumulators and mushrooms. We have included many native plants, including both a white oak and native black cherry to establish a significant native habitat. We are part of the homegrownnationalpark.com. We particularly need help in May and June. Our property sits on the cusp of 5b and 6a USDA zones and is capable of growing a wide range of fruits, nuts and vegetables. To retain the rain that falls on our property on the property we have dug a rain garden with a swale system in addition to rain barrels. We are located quite close to O’Hare airport, within walking distance to a bus service to downtown Chicago and not far from a Metra train if you wish to explore the city. (I'd be glad to give you a lift to the train.) I don't mind playing tour guide once in a while when the day’s work is done. We will primarily be working early in the day. Of course, your meals are provided and you're welcome to cook as well, if you wish. We have a 10.5' x 14' room which now has a ‘bunk bed’ - full on the bottom, twin on top which should comfortably accommodate two or three volunteers. We welcome volunteers from overseas, but, alas, we really only speak English. How embarrassing... Volunteers wishing to stay 3-4 weeks get priority. We are somewhat open to dogs, but Craig is allergic to cats. WE ALSO WELCOME LOCAL FOLKS WHO JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT WE'RE UP TO AND HELP OUT FOR A FEW HOURS. Happy people with strong backs, willing hands and cheerful hearts are invited to spend time with us. Additional welcome skills would be carpentry and computer skills. (Thinking about doing a vlog). Organic methods: I do not use any herbicides or pesticides on the property. We do have a compost system set up and I occasionally use naturally based fertilizer while we get the 'forest' established. Certifications: This will be a permaculture property. As I am not setting up 'row crops' becoming 'certified' as I'm not planning on selling what we produce. Current projects: Planting fruit tree guilds. Establishing an annual vegetable garden. Providing perennial and vegetable plants for a local garden club sale. Hoping to provide local food pantries with fresh vegetables. Preserving fruits and vegetables. Internet access available

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Flower farming

Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas

Seed saving or production

Vegetable or fruit preservation

Traditional crafts

Methods or systems

Permaculture

Regenerative agriculture

Mentoring opportunities

Woman-operated

Host type

Self-sufficiency property

Accommodation

2 WWOOFers

Bedroom

Children not accepted

Pets accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Length of stay

1 day (local)

Weekend

Less than a week

1-2 weeks

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Cate

Member since 2022

Languages spoken: English Response rate: 95% Response time: typically within 3 days

November 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Illinois

O'hare Airport, Metra train or bus service to Chicago

Reviews

Christophe

France • October 2025

I spent ten wonderful days at Cate's house, surrounded by a beautiful garden in the suburbs of Chicago. Cate is an incredibly welcoming host, passionate about gardening and with an impressive knowledge of plants. I enjoyed discovering and learning about plants. Every day was a new discovery shared around nature. Cate picked flowers to create beautiful bouquets, which we sold at the local market. It was an authentic, enriching experience full of wonderful encounters! If you love gardening, sharing, and simplicity, I highly recommend woofing with Cate. Thank you so much for these unforgettable memories! I hope to come back again cate’s home.

Bartlomiej

Poland • October 2025

It was a short visit, but I liked that lovely place ! Cate is a very good person and I appreciate that she helped me with driving me from and to a station. Thank you and hope to see you again!

Simeon

Belize • August 2025

I could not ask for more for my first Wwoofing experience. Cate and Craig are remarkable hosts and I would recommend them if you wish to learn and grow beautiful flowers, fruit trees and plants. Cate has incredible knowledge which she shared during my time with them. I learn so much inspiring me to start my own floral gardens more so, about putting bouquets together which are so beautiful full with variety of flowers. Her garden is fully organic not using any kind of chemicals which I like very much keeping growth natural. I will surely be back to volunteer as they made my time worthwhile which Wwoofing is all about...Cheers to Cate and Craig..you are the best!!!!

Reply from Cate

Thank you, Simeon. It was a pleasure having you stay with us. We got a great deal accomplished. I am very grateful for your time and hard work.

Agnes

Austria • July 2025

I had a great time with Cate and her husband and would recommend this place to anyone wanting to learn more about gardening, or if they just want to escape into a calm and beautiful garden. Cate has vast knowledge of native plants and great experience in caring for a garden. She taught me many things, starting from basic gardening and harvesting tricks to knowledge about the plants and how to care for them. I even know how to arrange bouquets now, since we went to a farmers' market together. She is really kind and friendly person and very easy to talk to and I wish I could have stayed longer.

Reply from Cate

Thank you. Agnes. We really enjoyed your stay with us. You were a joy to have at our place. Good Luck with studies this autumn.

Floor

Netherlands • June 2025

I had a nice time with Cate at her garden. I barely had any experience or knowledge in gardening, but Cate was able to teach me a lot. Perfect place for someone who wants to see how a food forest starts up in a small setting. Definitely gave me some inspiration for my own garden!

Reply from Cate

Thank you, Floor. Really enjoyed having you here. You're welcome back anytime! Hope you continue to enjoy you're WWOOfing experience.

Mari

United States • May 2025

Cate is a wonderful person to work for and learn from. She is warm, knowledgeable, and has a great sense of humor. I learned a ton about food forests, trees, perennials, swales, rain gardens, transplanting, direct seeding, dividing, and much more. I am particularly appreciative of Cate's efforts to find supplementary videos and content creators to help me along my permaculture and micro-farming learning journey. Deeply enjoyed this experience, the engaging conversations, and highly recommend wwoofing here.

Reply from Cate

Mari is very interested in learning all she can about the 'Food Forest' concept and was eager to help and learn. I wish her well as she continues her journey.