Regenerative Farmstead near Santa Fe

New Mexico

6 reviews • Updated 12 days ago

For 2026, we are full through April 1st. As we look at Spring and Summer, we are exploring hosting longer stays-so reach out if you are interested in a deeper dive into farmstead life. FLOWER FARM CO-LEARNER We are looking to set up a 1/4 acre Flower mini-farm. Starting in January Tobie will take the F***ret Flower course. If you have this dream, consider reaching out to stay the season (eg winter-summer)! You learn alongside her and join in the fun, work, & frustration . This would ideally be an energetic person who wants to stay for several months and co-explore from planning, to implementation (including set-up, marketing, farm stand, all the things). Come make marvelous mistakes and learn with us, gaining experience for your own dream. We will offer preference to anyone who is interested in this path. We ask each WWOOFer to complete an intake form and we set up a zoom call to chat prior to finalizing a visit. We prefer stays of 3-4 weeks when using casita (and we welcome shorter stays for camping). To stay in the casita, we usually look for a minimum of three weeks. We may be open to a VISIT exchange for 2-4 days if you are from e.g. Denver/Moab/ABQ/ and want to visit (and host a visit for us). We can host van-lifers! We also take camping requests. OUR FARM We are caretakers of an established farmstead outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico (25 minutes away). Surrounded by flowers, vines, and orchards, we are using a combination of New Mexican traditional, regenerative, and permaculture principles to create an updated working farmstead. We are a bustling family juggling school, work, and the joys of living on the land. We are excited to be stewards of this land and look forward to sharing the experience. We look forward to help, good company, and cheer. We value diversity and request you do the same. LGBTQ+ welcome. Please be ID verified. The days are filled with pruning grapes, picking (or pickling) pears and apples, weeding, building new beds, fixing fences, caring for chickens, preserving the harvest and a myriad of other farmsteading tasks. We are grounded and relaxed people and seek harmony in our home. We do have some chaos with work, school, children--but we try to keep this positive. We offer personal engagement as well as space to be/explore--and hope you like that balance. We also try to match your experience and background with projects when possible. We had positive stays in our first years as Workaway hosts, where we have a 100% rating. We are starting our 7th year with fine people and good land. Feel free to bring ideas, flexibility, and good energy. In our early traveling days, we met many wonderful people. Now that we have settled, we hope to continue to meet adventurous spirits; instead of guests, we are now hosts. EL TRABAJO/THE WORK Examples of our homesteading tasks over the course of the year: FALL--harvesting apples, making cider, clearing fields, building compost, seed shed and root cellar maintenance, weeding, establishing new beds, cutting back perennials, planting cover crops, food preservation, irrigation using our traditional acequia system. WINTER--Updating seed shed, cleaning/building beds, building soil, weeding, pruning orchard, and vineyard, caring for chickens, inside projects like house/cooking help, website building, etc. This is a slow time on the farm, so projects vary depending on the skills of the WWOOFer. Winter visits are for people who like things low and slow, don't mind cleaning tools, sheds, etc. , organizing, and indoor projects, and want to ski, explore Santa Fe and the area, write, and enjoy a hygge time by the fire. You should be a low-key person if winter is of interest. We also eat organic chicken stock in soups in the winter and do not prep separate meals. Vegans should apply for summer and fall! SPRING--Prepping beds, irrigation, planting, weeding, fixing fences, animal care/baby chicks, seed starting, transplanting, other projects. Spring in pruning time, so you could learn how to prune and prepare an orchard for natural management or work in the vineyard. We are also improving our seed shed and other buildings, so constructions is often on the menu. SUMMER--Weeding, thinning fruit, eating fruit, fixing fences, seed starting for succession planting, preserving, animal care, acequia irrigation, vegetable gardening (home use), flower gardening (for farmstand), weeding. We also project movies in the garden. Tobie is experimenting with ferments and Korean Natural Farming methods, so if you are interested in geeking out on soil microbiomes, you will be in good company. ALL SEASONS–Being home so we can sneak away for an occasional weekend-priceless! We learn through work (and in the winter). In addition, we have a library of books and courses to extend our knowledge (and yours, while you visit). Please ask! UN DIA/A DAY It helps to know what you enjoy doing so we can aim for projects that touch on your skills, talents, or passions. We encourage a balanced work diet (i.e. mixing your day up) with different tasks and create a clear schedule each week with your input. Our default schedule is below--however if you would like different days or hours, please share these with us on Sunday night and update during the family meeting . We ask that you contribute ~28 hours per week, but we are flexible in scheduling (so you can explore too!). SUMMER: It is getting hot, so we do a first work shift early, then again in the afternoon after the heat of the day. Welcome to farmsteading in the desert! We have a pool to cool off and a wood heated cowboy soak tub for the day's end. Summer is more structured with cultivating, harvesting, succession planting, thinning of fruit, making compost tea, etc. WINTER: We work when it heats up around 10. CASITA/THE HOUSING Accommodation is in our attached casita. It is a large, one-room, simple and clean--with a small kitchenette. It has a king bed--something to know for friends traveling together. It is heated by a fireplace in the winter. The main house has the bathroom, bathing, and laundry--a short walk from the casita. We are in a desert, so those who are used to heavy water use or long showers might enjoy a different placement. We reserve the casita for longer stays (e.g. a month). We do need to store food in the casita fridge, but can have you carrier it if privacy is key. The casita is heated by the sun and a not so much on autumn/winter evenings. It can get chilly in the winter, so be prepared to snuggle up under blankets at night. We keep a fire lit during cold days in the main house, and you can bring your book/writing/etc. there. We do not have firewood to heat the casita 24/7, so be prepared to be a bit flexible-wearing sweaters and slippers, reading and spending time in the main house, etc. The casita would accommodate a working pair or a small family. We have a pool, so toddlers or small children would not be safe. Many tasks are easier with two people and we give preference to pairs. If you come as an individual, we are a bit outside of town. A car will help you explore and feel connected. CAMPING If you are interested in shorter stays, or would like to visit when the casista is occupied, then camping is an option. We can host additional WWOOFers if you are interested in camping in the orchard. MEALS For meals, we offer shared weekday dinners, basic healthy breakfasts, and shared prep/cleanup. We can cook vegetarian and vegan meals but we do cook meat and use gluten, so if you need a space completely free of those items, we cannot accommodate (e.g. some folks are super-sensitive to gluten and we don't want to accidentally make you ill). We want you to be safe and feel comfortable, so make sure we touch-base if you have special needs. Dinner is usually an event: this is where we sit, talk, discuss farming (and current events, books, thoughts, and philosophy, etc.). You make your own lunch (you have a small kitchen) with homemade jam and peanut butter or we eat leftovers for lunch. In the summer, lunch has lots of fruit and garden fixings. Winter may offer up a pot of soup or beans. We eat healthy, in-season, with lots of plants and grains and occasional meats. We are omnivores but cook vegetable-centered ways. On weekends, we make more elaborate breakfasts and dinners. And cakes. We love cakes. Overall, we eat pretty darn good. During the spring, summer and fall, we have tons of fruit to eat. We cook many different types of food (spicy, New Mexican, Thai, Indian, Japanese) so you should be prepared for adventures in eating. LEARNING We have books, stories, and online courses EXPLORING We are close to Santa Fe, local pueblos, Ojo Caliente mineral springs, forests and mesas to explore. We can share information on hikes, museums, restaurants, and other adventures. There is a public bus outside of our house that can provide some public transportation--it runs twice a day, so rural living is more convenient if you have a car. Summer there is music most nights in the plaza and festival after festival. From hot springs to museums, hikes to restaurants, there are many things to do from Taos to Santa Fe. We can share hikes, hot springs, and other adventures for those who are interested. Also, there is a cheap movie theater up on the corner. Like 6-8$ movies--It’s like a throwback to the 90’s. Weekend and Day Trips from the Casita (times approximate) Meow Wolf: 30 min Tsankawi Prehistoric Sites: 20 min Chimayo: 20 mins. Puye Cliff Dwellings: 25 mins. Ojo Caliente: 30 mins. Bandelier National Monument: 45 mins. Ski Santa Fe/Santa Fe National Forest: 1 hour Ghost Ranch: 1 hour Valles Caldera: 1 hour Taos (longer if you take the high road): 1 hour Earthships: 1 hour 15 mins. Tent Rocks: 1 hour 15 mins. Petroglyph National Monument: 1 hour 30 mins. Acoma Pueblo: 2 hours 15 mins. Chaco Canyon: 3-3.5 hours Mesa Verde National Park: 4 hours

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Viticulture

Flower farming

Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas

Seed saving or production

Vegetable or fruit preservation

Beer, cider, wine, or juice making

Bakery

Food justice / sovereignty

Methods or systems

Biological pest control

Holistic management

No-till farming

Permaculture

Regenerative agriculture

Mentoring opportunities

Woman-operated

BIPOC-operated

Host type

Self-sufficiency property

Accommodation

2 WWOOFers

Bedroom

Children accepted

Pets accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Vegetarian

Vegan

Length of stay

1 day (local)

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Tobie

Member since 2023

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Response rate: 97% Response time: typically within 4 days

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New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico (SFA) (25 min) or ABQ is 1.5 hours away.

Reviews

Forrest

United States • February 2026

Nice place, no privacy and no groceries

Reply from Tobie

Hello, We offer three meals, but do not purchase separate groceries for WWOOFERS. Breakfasts, WWOOFERs have the options of eggs, toast, homemade jam, fruit, oatmeal, etc. which is set out in the main kitchen. Lunch is usually sandwiches or soups/leftovers from the prior evening meal, which WWOOFERS prep themselves in the main kitchen or casita kitchen. We make a shared dinner meal, which is clear in our description. WWOOFERs generally share meals, but can also grab and go on nights when they are not feeling social. Forrest has many skills to share and will be a great WWOOFER with the right host. We encourage him to ask questions to clarify situation and to carefully read information the hosts provides, which can help determine if it will be a good fit. Also, some items could have been addressed with discussion (privacy, for example. The biggest issue is we use a second fridge in the casita for storage. WWOOFERs can bring in any items needed for dinner during cooking-when people request we just text them what is needed and they bring it to the main kitchen). This response is to clarify for others. Carefully read our description, I think most things are there. Ask questions during the Zoom. We want everyone to be comfortable. We wish Forest and Drey well on their next adventure.

Hannah

United States • May 2025

Tobie and her family are incredibly kind and welcoming. I immediately felt at home. The tasks are varied which keeps things interesting. And they are all amazing chefs! So you will never go hungry. I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to explore the Santa Fe area. There are numerous hikes, museums, and cultural experiences (which they kindly compile on a document for volunteers!) to do while you are there. I hope to come back to this farm -- love yall!

Lisa

United States • March 2025

We had a very enjoyable few weeks at Tobie and Joseph's farm. We spent our days independently pruning mature fruit trees, covering garlic fields, preparing garden beds and helping the farm get ready for springtime growing. They explained the projects well, and everything is well organized so we could successfully do our projects while they were at work. The casita where we stayed is roomy and comfortable. It was unheated and chilly, but we bundled up and were fine. There were great opportunities for amazing hikes and exploring, as their farm is in a fantastic location near the Rio Grande, Taos, Santa Fe and local pueblos. This was one of our best WWOOFing experiences, with amazing farm-fresh food and eggs every day, and we learned so much in our brief stay.

Reply from Tobie

It was lovely to have you both! Sorry for missing the review window. Our WWOOF membership experienced and I +just+ renewed it. Let the record show you were both wonderful guests. We appreciated your experience, stories, energy, and contributions. Hope you have a lovely spring!

Hilary

United States • October 2024

Such a warm and welcoming place! I instantly felt included and became part of the family. There is so much to do here. I really appreciated the variety in tasks while also having some consistency with projects day-to-day. Flexibility to work weekends is a plus, since Tobie and Joseph are both away at work most week days. If you end up helping Tobie in the kitchen with processing farm fresh fruits and veggies, be prepared for anything! You will become her extra set of hands. If you're lucky, try to remember what she is doing so you can try the recipes yourself in the future! Be prepared to eat delicious meals every day, and have engaging dinner conversations with the family. I got the chance to get to know a couple Workawayers who came towards the end of my stay too. They were lovely to spend time with and work with. The Santa Fe area has so much to offer! Get out and explore on your off days. There is a lot of hiking, a few hot springs, as well as great museums, art galleries, theater productions (check out Exodus Ensemble!) and live music. Lots of cultural and seasonal events too, and an incredible farmers' market. I tried, but couldn't do it all. Taos is also not too far, and has its own scene with lots to check out. Work hard, eat well, and play hard!

Brigitte

United States • May 2024

Although Maxm and I showed up at Tobie 's farm at the end of October 2023 with the intention to stay for three months, we felt so much at ease in the casita that we ended up leaving at the end of April 2024. Tobie and her husband Joseph were very flexible with us, and they are very open-minded in general. Those six months passed by in the blink of an eye, well, almost, as there was a lot of work on the farm. Cutting off all the dead weeds/plants from the last season was a super-mega job. Then, we spent much time pruning the vineyard and the fruit trees. Maxim built a 2nd chicken coop. Meals were made with lots of love and often sweet and spicy if you like the Mexican and Asian cuisines. Once every 3 or 4 weeks, there is homemade pizza night. I had a bite here and there as I am on Keto but Maxim always ate 4 or 5 slices. The property is very green during the warm season, so if you're interested in woofing there between May and October, you will find it welcoming and peaceful.

Meredith

United States • May 2023

I volunteered here for a week and had a wonderful experience! While I was there I helped create and prep beds for planting, planted raspberry cuttings, installed drip tape, cleared out some invasive small trees and plants, created soil blocks, and helped take care of the establish gardens and the chickens. I worked mainly with Joseph, Tobie’s husband, and he was very kind and easy to talk to and work with. They both know a lot and have a lot of cool systems in place on their farm which were interesting to learn about. Tobie is a wonderful cook and the dinners were impressively put together. Lovely place and lovely people, I would definitely recommend volunteering here!