Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
29 Jul 2025
Reply rate
74.1 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
16
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Badges (4)
Details
Description
We are a small family farm. We are situated in a beautiful small valley in Northern California, Mendocino County. Currently, we have 9 ducks, 30 chickens, 4 sheep, 2 horses, 3 dogs, 3cats, and 4 people on our 4.5 acre property. My husband and I live in the main house and our daughter and son in law live in the little house in back. We grow most of our food, organically, and we are conscientious of how we use the land and water. There’s always one project or another keeping us busy. We would love to share our lovely home with people who are happy working outdoors helping things to grow and thrive. And who might be able to participate in some repair, renovation, and cleanup projects.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You could learn about basic small family farm practices, relating to both animal care and raising vegetables. We, freeze, can, preserve and dehydrate all sorts of foods. We press apple, pear and grape juice from our garden. We raise most of the food we eat, and make a point of preparing things ourselves. And through other projects, you could gain skills in repair, carpentry, and other useful endeavors.
We have all lived in other countries and have traveled extensively. We welcome opportunities to interact and trade stories with interesting people.
Help
We are retired school teachers in our 80ties. My husband, Mike has had a stroke and is wheel chair dependent. I am healthy and able. And wecould use help on our 4.5-acre property and with caring for gardens and animals..
Spring is a rush with everything bursting out in new growth, including blackberries trying to get a foothold. There is planting, weeding, pruning and general cleaning up.
Summer is hot and lazy necessitating early starts and perhaps some evening work, with time in the afternoon to explore, laze on the river, read, play games, or take a siesta.
August through October there are fruits and vegetables to care for, harvest and cook, can, freeze.
We have a flock of about 30 laying hens, and you might help with their daily care, collecting, cleaning, and boxing eggs, cleaning out coops. Also there are tasks to clean, trim and remove weeds (blackberries) on the property, feed ducks and generally help out. In turn you will appreciate having fresh organic food to eat.
I always appreciate anyone who is an organizer and willing to do some house cleaning, as I would rather be outdoors. I love to cook and make good food, and love to see how others cook and am ready to appreciate the results.
We always have one or another projects underway, repairs, renovations, cleanup. Any expertise you bring will be much appreciated, however it can always be a good learning opportunity as well.
My husband has had a stroke and is wheelchair dependent. He needs regular care and help, though not constantly. His care is not an expected part of the work trade, however, any assistance or even conversation would be appreciated.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
My husband learned Spainish while in the Peace Corps in Bolivia in his twenties. In addition, we as a family spent two years teaching in Santa Cruz Bolivia. Then we spent nine years teaching in Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Thailand. We always appreciated the opportunity to learn new customs and languages and the many local people’s help and patience while we learned.
Accommodation
You would have your own bedroom with a shared bathroom. All meals are included. We eat wholesomely, and as much as possible, we eat what we raise. At our home you will eat well!
What else ...
Potter Valley is 15 minutes from Ukiah, CA and 2 hours north of San Francisco. There is no local public transportation in Potter Valley. Ukiah, 20 minutes away has public transit north and south.
We are in a beautiful rural setting and close to many camping and hiking places. We are surrounded by vineyards and mountains, and the Russian River runs through the valley. There are nearby places to hike, and swim. And the Pacific Coastline is a beautiful hour and a half drive away.
Some Workaway guests have been able to avail themselves of paid work in their off hours.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We are rural and the internet here is basic. It is generally dependable, but isn’t extremely fast, although we have no issues with streaming videos and zooming. Others have successfully worked digitally from here.
Space for parking camper vans
Camper-vans are fine, but we don’t have space or hookups for an RV.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Feedback (10)
The property is full of life - fruits, vegetables, flowers, a range of trees big and small, ducks,… read more
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Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(5.0)
The property is full of life - fruits, vegetables, flowers, a range of trees big and small, ducks,… read more
It's a beautiful little family farm in a beautiful area. A little paradise in Northern California.
Halle is wonderful, she (and also her Family) gave me the feeling of being home and not a guest from the very beginning. I never felt like a stranger but rather accepted in the family… read more
Halle is a really awesome cook! She and the family have lived all over the world… read more
I had the opportunity to help care for (feed, milk, clean stalls) a plethora of animals - chickens, goats, sheep, pigs (piglets too!), turkeys and… read more
She is a so nice and sweet person. She opened us the doors for her house and her heart from the first day. She trusted us for help you in all the works on the farm. We learned so much from her. She is a excellent teacher!
We live three months in the farm, we shared many… read more
I enjoyed her bright cheerful attitude every day. She was an eager and speedy learner and willing to try new things. She took on responsibilities readily and was consistent in maintaining them.
She was always… read more
