Ranch on California's Central Coast

California
Ranch on California's Central Coast
Houdini helping  collect eggs Chickens foraging
17 Updated 5 months ago
Our 80 acre hobby ranch is our happy place, where no two days are alike. WWOOF'ers help with all the different tasks on the ranch, but tasks depend on the season, what skills you have, current projects etc. We have cows, horses (experienced riders may be able to exercise the horses), sheep, chickens and pigs, and are basically self- sufficient in terms of meat and eggs. At the same time grazing animals play a crucial role in mitigating the wildfire risk. We used to run a small egg production, at this point we only produce eggs for our own consumption, but will be happy to teach WWOOFers everything we know. We also have 2 livestock guarding dogs, 2 pet dogs, and several barn cats. We have plans of starting a vegetable garden, pumpkin patch and reviving the 5 acres of ornamental eucalyptus, that was planted on the ranch many years ago. Our ranch is truly a magical place with the most beautiful views of the hills, valleys, and ocean and the most amazing sunsets. Located on the beautiful Central Coast of California, about half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, on top of a hill, with close to perfect climate year round -- rarely really hot or cold. Please note that even if the calendar shows a "Planned visit" feel free to contact us as we may still be able to accommodate you. To avoid wasting our time or your time, please read our entire description before sending a stay request. We strive to respond to all stay requests within 24 hours, and expect the same courtesy from you. PRIORITY PROJECTS: Improve existing fencing and establish new fencing Fix arena fencing Paint house/hay shed Organize and clean out the workshop and other storage Establish a vegetable garden Renovation of older camper Revitalizing the ornamental eucalyptus grove (trim and clean out dead parts of the bushes) Run water to new parts of the Ranch ROUTINE TASKS: Feeding and caring for animals Pick up food scraps for chickens/pigs in town Clean stalls/chicken coup etc. Check on animals water Building maintenance and repairs Chop wood with electric wood splitter Clear invasive plants Weed whacking Mow/clear hiking trails and other areas Exercising/interacting with the horses/dogs/cats WHAT CAN WWOOFers EXPECT: * WWOOFers will be house in a large RV with 3 beds, or if they prefer to setup their own tent that is also possible. We only host 2 WWOOF'ers at a time, unless it is a group that already knows each other. * We prefer stays of minimum 2 weeks. * WWOOFers who like their own company and are able to work independently will fit right in. If you are looking to work in a large team or prefer a lot of people around you this is probably not the place for you. * We produce most of our own meat. Meals are varied and we like to experiment with new things. Breakfast and lunch: Everyone makes their own. Dinner: Some days we will eat together, but most days you will cook for yourself in the RV, we will supply the groceries you prefer. * We meet at 8am in the morning and volunteer hours are about 5 hours per day, so most afternoons/evenings will be free to enjoy the ranch and explore the area, and you will generally be off on the weekends. * Cleaning up after yourself, participating in cooking meals, and keeping your living quarters tidy and clean is not considered part of your volunteering hours. * A car is recommended, if you want the freedom to get around on your own. The Ranch is about 10 min. drive from the closest town and there is no public transportation to the Ranch. You are welcome to get a ride with us when we go to town for errands, but that does not happen every day. * We ask that all WOOFers are ID-Verified WWOOFers, The process is fast, easy, and free, for more information visit: https://info.wwoofusa.org/blog/2023/12/16/id-verified/ * We only accept WWOOFers who has health insurance or travel insurance (for international visitors) NO PETS!
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Poultry farming
Pig farming
Cattle farming
Sheep or goat farming
Raising of other farm animals
Food justice / sovereignty
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Biodynamic agriculture
Holistic management
Mentoring opportunities
Woman-operated
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
32.4 Hectares | 80 Acres
Accommodation
2 WWOOFers
Camper / RV
Children not accepted
Pets not accepted
Meals
Omnivore
Vegetarian
Length of stay
3-4 weeks
Over a month
Mette
Mette
Member since 2023
Languages spoken: Danish, English
Sun
Mon
Tue
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Sat
Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 2 days
California
San Luis Obispo Airport/Santa Maria Airport/Grover Beach Train Station
Feedback
Henry
Henry
United States • August 2026
Mette's 'hobby ranch' is quite the spot. Nestled in the mountains above the charming small town of Arroyo Grande with a beach view, you're also 25 minutes away from a small wonderful city: San Luis Obispo. Mette is down-to-earth and funny and she always lead with care and support. Her ranch is filled with friendly animals, gorgeous views, and fulfilling tasks to do during work hours. Mette and her family occasionally invited us to eat dinner with her and was very communicative with the other wwoofers and I while she was away from the ranch. We all learned a great deal about livestock care, mowing machinery, and Central California. The accommodation was perfect for a group of 3 friends and we loved the time we spent cooking, watching TV and exploring the area on our downtime. All in all, Mette's guidance allowed us to learn, work, and have fun for the month we spent at Dania Ranch. We miss it already!
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Sitota
Sitota
United States • August 2026
Working on Mette’s Ranch was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. I was able to go with two of my college friends for a month in the summer. The RV is a very cozy space to come back to after working or going for an adventure in the area. Mette and Ken were really great hosts. It was always really fun to talk with them over meals and learn so much from them. The Ranch itself is really gorgeous and we recommend exploring it in your free time. Thank you so much such an amazing summer!!
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Kealoha
Kealoha
United States • June 2026
We had the BEST Time WWOOFing here. It was our very first one and we cannot recommend it enough. Mette and Kenneth are amazing. The ranch is beautiful and has so much to offer. Mette is awesome and taught us so much. Between the different animals, farming, and taking care of daily life on the ranch our time here was amazing. All of the animals on the ranch are so sweet, cute, and great to be around. We were lucky to be there during “baby season” where there were lots of baby’ kittens, deers and soon a little calf. The “work” is actually quite enjoyable and no day is the same. It gets mixed up and Mette is great at showing/explaining exactly what needs to be done. It is so rewarding. It was so fun living on the ranch and also getting to know Mette and her family, having dinner and spending time with them. The location is amazing. You will be very close to the beach, San Luis Obispo, and cool winery’s and farmland. The trailer is awesome. It’s very cozy-so many good meals and amazing evenings were spent in the trailer. The bed is very comfy too!!!! We seriously cannot recommend this WWOOFing experience more. It was so hard to leave. There is so much opportunity to learn, and be outside and get to meet such amazing people/friends. It’s great too if you like to work “on your own”. We would talk about what needed to be done for the day/week and then finish it on our own. It was a great setup and you have plenty of free time to go explore and enjoy down time! Have fun!!!
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Christopher
Christopher
United States • March 2026
This 80-acre ranch on the Central Coast offers a beautiful setting with ocean views and a peaceful atmosphere. The highlight of the stay was the opportunity to spend time with the animals, especially the nine cats on the property. The Work: The daily schedule is consistently 8am to 1pm (5 hours per day). The environment is high-energy and very fluid; tasks change frequently, which results in many ongoing projects. It is a good fit for someone who is highly flexible and comfortable with a fast-paced, shifting workflow. On two occasions, the work involved traveling several hours away to an off-site location. Accommodations: The living situation is a rustic, hands-on experience. The RV setup requires the volunteer to manage all essential systems. This includes filling the fresh water tank and frequently managing the grey water and camping toilet. Prospective volunteers should be prepared for a camping-style arrangement that requires self-reliance and active maintenance to keep the quarters functional. Overall, this is a unique location for those who enjoy a high-intensity ranch lifestyle and independent living.
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Steve
Steve
United States • March 2026
I had a very pleasant few weeks with Mette and Kenneth! The work was a nice mix of routine animal care and varied daily tasks -- being a hobby farm, there's always something to attend to and Mette & Kenneth are always looking to dive even deeper into their personal projects! I especially enjoyed the morning routine with the chickens, horses, sheep (and sheepdogs <3), and of course the rowdy crew of barn cats. Mette is very attentive and patient, getting folks up to speed on of ranch life and outlining the priority of projects. She has a great eye for planning and making sure everyone's on the same page before breaking out into more independent work. Kenneth is a dreamer, the second property in KC is quite an undertaking but he seems to really enjoy the challenge - that energy is palpable. If you enjoy independent work and living, this may be the place for you! It was nice to share a few meals with the M&K and Sebastian, they're funny and interesting folks. Wishing them all the best!
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Yousef
Yousef
United States • February 2026
This was our first wwoofing experience and we couldn’t have started anywhere better. Mette and Kenneth were such wonderful hosts, and were very organized with tasks that needed to be completed. We learned so much about taking care of animals and thoroughly enjoyed driving the Daihatsu mini truck! They take such great care of their property and animals which taught us some great sustainable tools. We highly recommend!
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