New-to-me homestead with airbnbs
Massachusetts
Hello! I'm Kate, the new owner of this property in Southbridge, MA. My goal is to practice the principles of permaculture and become self-sufficient. It's all completely new to me but the property has been expertly managed and promoted by the previous owner. I hope to continue her legacy as a steward of the land and to keep sharing the beauty of the site with others through Airbnb and WWOOF.
I don't have a 'typical' schedule yet, as I'm just taking over this summer. Some projects I'd love to have help on are:
-starting out with chickens, a dog, and a few goats
-rainwater collection setup
-transforming yard to garden and prairie
I have worked on many other farms as a WWOOF guest but am new to being on the other side. I'm no guru, not sure how much I can teach you...but I'm hoping we can work together to learn as we go!
WWOOFers will stay with me in the 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom main house. I will provide groceries and we can share whatever we get from the farm, I hope we can take turns cooking and also do some meals on our own.
I have been a WWOOFer and digital nomad for the last 3 and a half years. I enjoy hiking and camping, playing boardgames and sports, sing-a-longs and live music!
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Horse or donkey farming
Sheep or goat farming
Methods or systems
No-till farming
Rotational grazing
Mentoring opportunities
LGBTQ+-operated
Woman-operated
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
Former WWOOFer
1.3
Hectares
|
3.3
Acres
Kate
Member since 2022
Languages spoken:
English, Spanish
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 95%
Response time: typically within 2 days
Massachusetts
Worcester Regional Airport, Boston Airport
Reviews
Grimley
United States
•
December 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed my time here at Kate's farm. Kate is a younger farmer, just beginning her journey of growing her space and daily routine. She is very generous and is creating opportunities for new WWOOFers while taking on the tradition of organic farming for the next generation. This farm is an ideal space for WWOOFers who have accumulated some skills and are looking for the opportunity to see how to grow and maintain a new operation from the ground up. As there is not yet a set schedule, but rather a list of tasks to help build up the farm, this is a great location for folks who are good at working independently and are very self motivated. There are lots of chances to learn new skills as well, any where from tiling to winterizing garden beds, working on puppy training to clearing pastures. There are WWOOFers coming and going so you are likely to have company, and Kate is a social host who is good at giving you space and time to yourself while also offering to hang out, play games, or see local attractions. There was always good organic food and cooking and cleaning up after meals is shared amongst all. There are currently chickens, goats, cats, and a puppy--so you will definitely have the opportunity to be a part of animal care, feeding, mucking, etc. The nearest town is about a half hour walk and public transportation is sparse, but Kate is very conscious of this and is very helpful getting you to and from nearby areas should you like to explore. Enjoy! Thanks Kate!
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Shreya
United States
•
September 2025
This is a gorgeous farm, with a large garden, chickens, a puppy, kittens, and goats are soon-to-come. We were lucky to visit for a weekend in the summer when everything was in bloom. Kate is a sweet and flexible host, who gave us a tour of the property upon arrival. As she recently purchased this farm, there were many options for projects from outdoor to indoor. We harvested berries, did weeding on the property, and painted a bathroom. Unfortunately, the lack of structure and at times, knowledge, around projects made it challenging as our first wwoofing experience. One of us got a severe poison ivy rash, which affected our experience. We sanded paint without proper respiratory protections. While we were prepared to live on a farm, our expectations of cleanliness were misaligned. Without clear organization, our experience was mixed. We would be grateful to return when this is addressed. And ultimately, Kate was a kind host, who made us feel comfortable, and we are thankful for her time and effort.
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Reply from Kate
Hi again Shreya. I'm very surprised to see this review and I'm sorry you didn't have the experience you were hoping for. I felt I extended myself generously to transport you to and from Boston for such a short visit and also gave you grace after you slept in until 10 am when we had agreed on a 9 am start time, which is already later than any start time from my WWOOFing days.
I'll address your concerns below:
Structure - I am doing my best to let WWOOFers choose their own hours and projects and also empower them to lead themselves. I make it clear in my profile that I'm hoping to learn alongside you, rather than work under a hierarchy. This may not align with everyone's preferences. I will consider how I can improve for future visitors.
Poison ivy - I am so sorry you got a rash. I feel this is out of my control but I did warn you there might be poison ivy in the area you weeded.
Sanding - I am surprised you didn't say anything to me directly about this but waited until the review to bring it up. I made it clear you didn't have to sand before painting and left it to your best judgement. Had you spoken up about not feeling protected we certainly wouldn't have done that.
Cleanliness - I'm surprised on this one too. I would be interested to hear more about what was not satisfactory to you. It's definitely tricky to keep things perfect during workdays with 2 kittens and a puppy in the house, but I cleaned the whole house the day before you arrived.
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