Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
11 Jun 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
23
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
We are starting an organic farm and research center from scratch to grow vegetables, herbs & gluten free grains etc, while also experimenting with permaculture, algae culture, and zero carbon farming. We also harvest wild growing foods from the desert on and around our farm. Our long term goal is that we intend demonstrate a system in which foods can be produced using ingredients grown on site with no petrochemicals consumed in any step of the process (other than equipment procurement) . In addition we are currently developing irrigation control and other systems based on solar powered microcomputer systems.
We intend to start construction on sunken greenhouses soon.
The intention is that this farm will provide food for the inhabitants of the land while acting as a facility to research and demonstrate methods and systems of permaculture, algaeculture and zero carbon farming which are usable by others with similar sustainable & organic local food enterprises. Our goal is to demonstrate zero carbon food production by growing sorghum along with other crops and using those as ingredients. We will also be installing a solar power system to provide needed electrical energy for all of the processes involved.
We currently have two of the vegetable plots finished and we are now bringing in our second wild food harvest. We are currently installing solar power to create an off grid system for our farm and some of our housing. We are also in the planning and beginning stages of our rainwater harvesting project and our greywater harvesting.
You can see above that these are all grand intentions, and we are in the process of building all of the above taking many steps at a time but not quite ready for prime time so to speak. This means that any helpers that come to us now have a chance to develop all of the above from the ground up. Although we are growing some of our own vegetables and have planted a small orchard we are not yet a working farm, more of a work in progress.
Our current resources include:
10 acres of fenced land with existing garden plots and a small orchard.
Many wild growing bean trees. (Palo Verde, Ironwood and Mesquite).
Occupied house, available trailer and RV and camper and available RV hookups and tent sites.
Lots of equipment and supplies and tools.
Workshop with various machines and equipment.
Electronics hardware & software development workshop.
Fully equipped mobile commercial kitchen onsite. (not in current use)
3000 watts of solar panels
Our location is in a VERY rural Sonoran desert location 25 minutes from the city of Maricopa (stores and restaurants etc available) and 45 minutes from the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. No public transportation is available. This is ideal for someone who loves the desert, there are thousands of square miles of wilderness desert adjacent to our location. We can provide occasional rides into town if needed, but not necessarily very often. We do have satellite internet and wifi and cell coverage depending on the carrier.
Sorry but we cannot host any workawayers who are accompanied with minor children.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
There are plenty of opportunities to learn about gardening, construction, water harvesting and numerous other fields. We are also be developing solar powered computer controlled irrigation & cooking systems so there will be electrical, electronics and computer hardware and software work available as well.
We are located in a very rural desert wilderness location in central Arizona which is a unique and beautiful environment.
Help
We need help with construction projects, fencing, gardening, planting, harvesting, cooking, baking, administrative and general maintenance.
We would also love help with our internet and social media presence.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
We have a two bedrooms in the house and also a large travel trailer and a RV motorhome and a Bus available for lodging,
What else ...
There is no public transportation available. If you need to make money from local work it is not possible without your own transportation. We offer rides to Maricopa (the local town) or the Phoenix metro area on an irregular basis. There is hiking available on site in a sonoran desert wilderness, its very quiet, the stars are super bright and the coyotes sing for us often! There is unlimited hiking, camping and all other opportunities available around arizona but you will need to provide your own transportation to most of those. We do have internet, wifi and cell phone (depending on the carrier) available.
Time off is available nearly any time its requested. Normal work hours expected are 20 hours per week.
Sorry but we cannot host workawayers with minor children.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have satellite internet which is good for general internet work however not for continuous video. In other words if you do online work such as web development or other things requiring general internet connections we can do that however if you need zoom or other continuous video connection our system would not support that well.
Space for parking camper vans
We have several RV parking spots some with hookups available.
Can possibly accept pets
Pets are welcome but cats are in danger from predators so an outdoor cat would be in danger here.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Feedback (14)
The location is in the Sonoran desert,
about a 25 minute drive from the nearest town. There is an abundance of hiking opportunities on mountains very close to the home.
We worked 4-5 hours a day, and I almost always was helping build a sunken greenhouse, which I enjoyed. I… read more
Mike drove to Phoenix airport in the middle of the night to give me a ride back home. At the ranch, I was given a furnished camper van for myself. The pantry and farm store always had plenty of food for everyone. There were 4-5 other… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.6)
Cultural exchange:
(4.6)
Communication:
(4.9)
The location is in the Sonoran desert,
about a 25 minute drive from the nearest town. There is an abundance of hiking opportunities on mountains very close to the home.
We worked 4-5 hours a day, and I almost always was helping build a sunken greenhouse, which I enjoyed. I… read more
Mike drove to Phoenix airport in the middle of the night to give me a ride back home. At the ranch, I was given a furnished camper van for myself. The pantry and farm store always had plenty of food for everyone. There were 4-5 other… read more
was my first time experiencing the desert at night and it was magical.
I enjoyed helping in the garden and making little upgrades to it.
we worked on construction, a pool project, and moving lots of stored food from one place to another.
I happily slept… read more
Adrianna is a self starter and always looks at any situation as an opportunity to learn and grow and even help develop improvements in the… read more
It's a rare thing on work away these days to actually only have to work 4 hours a day. (we all know when they say 4 or 5 that… read more
In… read more
Words that describe Rae are gracious, warm, steady, wise and knowledgeable. Her sweet dog bella is delightful to be around as well.
Rae's business background and her initiative were very much in evidence as she helped us organize… read more
Because of the number of projects going on there is always a diverse range of opportunities for… read more
In regards to the work, we were hoping for more gardening/ herb learning, however projects in priority at… read more
They both have an absolutely great positive attitude about work and fun and their enthusiasm is infectious and fun to be around. They are also very punctual and reliable with an excellent work ethic. In addition to all of this they also… read more
They were involved in a variety of projects here from roofing to garden construction to… read more
They are hard working and experienced in many useful areas including gardening, use of tools, cooking and many other areas. Alex's engineering background is a real plus as well. They will be a real asset to any host. In addition… read more
It was a pleasure to host PA and we wish him the best in his upcoming adventures!
The only bad point is… read more
