Welcome to Back To The Earth – our directory of farm vacations, rural holidays, bed and breakfasts, homesteads and working farms. Please stay tuned as we build a great resource for those of you who seek to get off the beaten path and live, work and/or vacation on a farm or homestead.
Use the Categories on the right column to find rural accommodation by type, or use the search box to find off-the-beaten-path places to stay by city, state or country.
Brave Travelers
If you’re the type of person who likes to get off the beaten path and actually ENJOY your vacations and holidays instead of being stressed out about all the activities you have planned we welcome you to our online resource. We hope it helps you find a vacation, internship or volunteer opportunity where you can enjoy yourself, get “back to the earth” and maybe even learn a thing or two along the way. These types of vacations are great not only for people looking to get their nails dirty, but for families who want to give their children (and themselves!) a special experience on their next vacation.
Business Owners
Please comment below if you have a rural accommodation resource that you would like to have included on this website. It will speed up the process if you have already linked to this website, but is not necessary for inclusion. Your comment will be seen by us but not published.
Please comment below if you would like information on advertising opportunities and rates. Your comment will be seen by us but not published.
Weatherbury Farm is a sustainable working grass-fed beef and sheep farm and raises certified organic grains. Weatherbury works to reconnect people with the farm and the source of their food. Our mission as a farm vacation is to educate our guests about farming and agriculture, with an emphasis on organic.
We own a subtropical arm in the rain forest completely self sustaining in Ecuador and would like to reiceve guests. Please let us know if we can work together. We look forward to your reply.
Thank you.
We are a small, private, family owned horse ranch in the Caribbean working on becoming self-sustaining. We practice organic farming and promote responsible and healthy lifstyle living in harmony with our natural environment.
Guests are welcomed at our farm throughout the year to participate in the programs we offer.
For more information about what we do and how to become a part of it please contact us!
Happy Holiday’s!
The Genitrini Family at Eden Ranch
Stillwaters Farm, located in the heart of West Tennessee, offers a 1000 square foot 2-bedroom 1-bath farm stay cottage on property. The Cottage at Stillwaters Farm lends itself to a bygone era—a time when life was slow and simple. Horns and sirens, traffic and commerce are a rarity around here.
The Cottage provides our guests with an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life as well as from busy, attractions-based vacations. Because The Cottage is located in a rural area at the front edge of our 131-acre farm, wildlife abounds. Wild birds, butterflies, turkey, and deer are common sights. Occasionally, coyotes’ calls drift on the night air, and at any moment the comfort sounds of the country can be heard—a donkey’s bray, a dog’s bark, a horse’s whinny, the thrum of a distant tractor… All that’s needed is a good book and a nice hot cup of tea!
Birdwatchers are in for a real treat, as well, with a wide variety of local birds and migratory flocks, in season, picking our feeders clean. Hummingbirds joust for position at the nectar feeders the majority of the year. Our visitors participate in agritourism, learning the “rural” way of life, and leave the stresses of job and normal life behind.
In short, we allow our guests the opportunity to rest, relax, and participate in activities that they would otherwise never experience. At the farm, our guests can learn about gardening, livestock grooming, horse and dog training, facilities modifications, animal husbandry, crop harvesting, or any number of activities going on at the farm during their stay.
Bold Point Farmstay, Quadra Island British Columbia has been offering international guests a Farm Experience since 1995. Guests, children to adults help feed our sheep, ducks, chickens.
In season, guests help to plant the vegetable seeds, weed, pick and process the seasonal bounty!
Optional activities include professional heritage interpreter explorations of our inter-tidal beaches or 2 mile / 4 km. walks though Bold Point Forest, in search of the Edible Wild!
I own a 10ac Permaculture Site in Big Sur, Ca.which has been under development for last 15 years. There are several cabins I rent and also several private campsites. We are a WWOOF farm and have over 100 fruit trees/vines mostly Avocado and Citrus.
Please let me know about your services
Thanks in Advance,
Jaime Morton
Gecko Villa is a spacious, rural villa with a private swimming pool, set on a working rice and cattle farm in Udon Thani province of Northeast Thailand.
Guests can try out their hand in the rice paddies, help with the sugar cane harvest, try ploughing with a water buffalo, and go field mouse hunting..or simply relax with a free cold beer or freshly squeezed mango or lime juice by the gurgling private pool – prior to indulging in a traditional Thai massage.
This Thai villa is fully catered: we grow our own rice as well as organic herbs, vegetables and tropical fruits. The Thai villa sleeps up to 6 and is fully serviced.
We would be very grateful for a listing in your innovative directory and look forward to hearing from you!
Located in the beautiful red river valley, on the P2 homestead. A working all natural sustainable family farm. Specializing in farm vacations and relaxing getaway weekends. Stay in the Texas Farm house, a fully furnished cabin. Relax. Birdwatch. Stargaze. Join in farm activities or just enjoy the view! Only 90 minutes from the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex.
We own a small farm in a rural community just outside of Concord NH. We have an organic herb and vegetable garden and sell our produce at a stand in front our house and at the local Farmers Market. We are also starting up a line of organic baked beans and getting ready to sell them locally.
Rustic Cabins with Playground and Lake
On our 400 acres in Mt.Holly, Vermont we have walking trails, two ponds, canoes, a playground, and three cabins for rent. Cabins sleep 4+ people. Each cabin has beautiful forest views and lots of privacy. There is no electricity at Forest Echo Farm, all cabins are powered by propane. However each cabin has a full kitchen and two have indoor bathrooms. Dogs welcome.
Can you share this information with others on your web site? I am interested in advertising opportunities and can link to your site as needed.
Thank you.
Greetings,
My wife and I are Peace Corps volunteers in Ecuador supporting our community with a Volunteer project related to Organic, Award Winning Coffee.
What can we do to get posted on your website?
The project website is: http://www.volunteerecuadorcoffeeworks.com.
Below is information regarding the project. Thank you for your consideration
Santiago Proano
Description: CoffeeWorks is an association of community members in the village of El Airo (Ecuador) committed to promoting economic development through organic coffee while conserving the environment and cultural traditions.
CoffeeWorks aims to achieve this goal by: commercializing and marketing the organic specialty coffee of it members; promoting coffee tourism; improving coffee quality through organic agricultural training; hosting volunteers to assist in the below projects and others.
The primary assignment for volunteers will be to assist an organic coffee farmer with his or her day to day farming tasks. Farmers can’t harvest and process coffee beans quick enough during harvest and as a result often lose part of their harvest or must hire outsiders to assist them. Volunteers will help them and as you do learn the entire process of harvesting, washing, de-pulping, fermenting, drying and sorting the coffee beans.
If you visit outside the harvest season (September – March) you will learn and help with other coffee-related tasks including selecting coffee seeds (beans), pruning, clearing land, de-weeding, creating organic pesticides and distinguishing between coffee varietals.
Although every volunteers primary project is to assist an organic farmer with his or her day to day tasks there will be some time available for secondary projects if the volunteer so desires.
Secondary projects require self-initiative and may include: teaching English in the primary school; giving workshops on health/nutrition; contributing to the coffee association’s goal of commercializing their own packaged coffee; contributing to CoffeeWorks’ goal of researching and potentially developing Coffee Tourism in El Airo.
Free time activities may include hikes to lakes and waterfalls and participation in cultural festivals.
This volunteer opportunity is ideal for those who: really enjoy coffee and want to discover how it’s grown, harvested and processed; want to get off the beaten path and off the ‘gringo trail’ within Ecuador; want to contribute directly to development through a community-initiated organization while enjoying a cross-cultural experience.
Organization: CoffeeWorks
Contact: Rigoberto Jimenez
Email: coffeeworksecuador@gmail.com; santiagomproano@gmail.com
Website: http://www.volunteerecuadorcoffeeworks.com
Project Location: Loja
Period: For 2011 they will begin accepting volunteers in May
Languages: Intermediate Spanish
Who can volunteer? Adults of both sexes 18+
Commitment: 2 weeks minimum, 3 months maximum
Cost: The project costs US$335 for the first month, US$295 for the second month, and US$275 for the third month. If you want to volunteer for less than 1 month the price is adjusted down. The fee includes: a personal CoffeeWorks guide dedicated to integrating volunteers into the community through community events and excursions with daily availability to answer questions or concerns; daily education in organic farming practices with a focus on coffee production (excluding Friday through Sunday); a private room with lock; access to a bathroom and shower; 3 meals per day; transportation to and from the Loja bus terminal or Loja (Catamayo) airport upon arrival to and departure from the program; lunch in Cariamanga on the day of arrival to El Airo from Loja
Location: San Pedro De Poas , costa rica central America
Accommodations: One Bedroom Octagon Bamboo Bungalow with views of Poas volcano and the central valley. This is a one of a kind structure with soaring bamboo ceilings leading up to a central skylight to let in the moonlight and windows on every side to view the hummingbirds, banana trees and natural surroundings. The casa is set in the center of a five acre working organic coffee farm. Very private and peaceful you’ll be the only guests. The bungalow is solar powered.
You will find the following:
· Queen size bed
· Private bathroom with hot water and shower
· Wood deck surrounding house with views of poas volcano
· Stone patio for outdoor dining
· Small kitchen with gas oven/stove and small refrigerator. Kitchen is stocked with essentials for cooking.
· Tropical wood floors
· River on property
Location:
· 5000 ft elevation, very comfortable temperatures , typically in the 70’s during the day and 60’s in the evening.
· 40 minutes from the San Jose airport
· 30 minutes from Poas volcano
· 20 minutes from Alajuela
· 20 minutes from Grecia
We are excited to announce the continuation of our Wanipigow Garden and Trail Project in Hollow Water, Manitoba. Consider this an open invitation to join us while we tend to gardens, swim in the Wanipigow river and enjoy the land with great company.
Our goals for this summer are to work with our community partners at the Adam Hardisty Health Center and Raven’s Creek ecotourism to support gardening on three large plots and over a dozen raised beds for community elders. The gardens will be the location for educational workshops on starting a garden, pickling and preserving, fall planting and cooking in season. We also plan to work with local youth and wilderness experts to build trails which showcase places of particular beauty, ecological and cultural significance.
Hollow Water’s traditional lands are located in the Heart of the Boreal, the worlds largest remaining intact Boreal forest. This makes it all the more important for our planet that development in this community puts the health of community members and the ecosystem first. Our gardens and trails will help to demonstrate that opportunities can be created without damaging this global ecological treasure.
If you are interested in volunteering please contact: Robin Bryan robin@wildernesscommittee.org (204) 942-9292
We support our volunteers by providing transportation to and from the project are provided as well as food and comfortable camping accommodations. Good times are guaranteed! Let us know when you are available to join us and we will do our best to give you the opportunity to experience the Heart of the Boreal and contribute to our work in this unique way.
Hi we have a beautiful 140 acre equine facility / working farm with hayfields, vegetable gardens and perennial beds. We are offering a 2 bedroom apartment by the week or by the month. Please let us know how we can market it.
Hello ,
My name is Betina I currently live in Sebastopol, CA .
I have been a school teacher in NY and now a poet/writer. I have done wwoofing in different countries and now I am seeking a farm that offers a longer term stay in exchange for work on the farm. I have three cats and they will be coming with me so if this is not possible there is no need to write back . In light of this I am looking for a place that can offer me a private cottage , apt ,or cabin for trade for my hours there . I am also open to paying full or partial rent for the right place . If any of this sounds like you , feel free to write me back and we can speak further. I have attached some of my references for some of what I do .
Thanks
Betina
NGOMA FARMERS TRUST is coordinating and training farmers in eldoret area and can connect to home stays in the area and to other areas in rift valley where farming in maize, wheat, tea,horticulture and modern dairy is practiced. Please vwork with our association to connect travers in north rift tourism circuit also.
Hi! I would like to include my website http://en.lanticafornace.com. L’Antica Fornace is a farmhouse in Tuscany. I hope you would enjoy us.
Thank you,
Benedetta
We are a hobby farm North of Raleigh, North Carolina with sheep, chickens, turkey, llama, miniature donkey and we have a 1 bedroom, 1 bath 700 sqft cabin on the back of the farm on a beautiful spring fed pond. We are listed on http://www.vrbo.com/372508 with up-to-date calendar and inquiry information, along with pictures! Come see us!
Islands voluntourism center is a people to people project initiative focused on voluntourists i.e. students and professionals involvement and participation through community interaction and working together in a catholic of interests in community projects within the islands of lake Victoria and Peri-urban (slums) along lake Victoria and within the district (Suba and Mbita).
The objectives of the center focuses on working with Eco-volunteers and voluntourists coming to Kenya on a visit visa for days, weeks or months and have the opportunity to offer their talents, skills, expertise, experience, knowledge, professional input. Living and working in the community projects.
The center coordinates series of activities depending on volunteer’s interest and designs and develop a package on immersion .The activities of the center will include:
• Community based tourism (CBT)
• Education adventure
• Living with the rural community
• Family outreach/ support programmes
Islands voluntourism center is situated in Sindo on Lake Victoria shore on Western Kenya, at about 70km from the Equator. Islands voluntourism center is a community Based project which comprises 25 members from the islands of Lake Victoria and mainland bordering Lake Victoria within Mbita and Suba Districts with series of projects and working in collaboration with the local communities. Lake Victoria has a surface area of 69000km2 and in the second largest fresh water body in the world, number two to Lake Superior in size. The lake region has several attractions and the community is very friendly and welcoming.Come and have a real taste of life in a poor remote lakeside rural.If you are interested please contact us on islandsvoluntourism@gmail.com
Good afternoon! I’m currently living in Santa Cruz, CA, US
I would love to learn about worktrade possibilities especially on organic farms
Thank you!
Welcome to Damri Safari Eco-Lodge! Damri Safari Eco-Lodge Nature Reserve (named from Damri Village, Da Huoai District) lies at the bottom of Bao Loc Pass, nestled in the green valley of tropical forests Madagui in Viet Nam. Damri Safari welcomes tourists from around the world.
With an area of 500 hectares, Damri Safari is bounded by two branches of ?a Mre River likes a warm and sweet mother’s arms between immense mountains and forests. Damri Safari is also a rich land where gathers not only springs and waterfalls but also many kinds of floras live and develop. With charming and neglected figure, Damri Safari Eco-Lodge has good conditions to bring visitors exciting and unexpected period during convalescence.
Damri Safari is run and based on family-run. It also shows the typical organic farm in Viet Nam because you will join in many interesting activities that link with natural environment in here.
Besides, camping aground will create opportunities to take a walk outdoor and enjoy natural landscape. Visitors will be introduced about ethnic minority’s villages and discover Tay Nguyen’s houses on stitls which impress national culture’s characters.
Together with the wide and abundant terrain and a system of material facilities that make many advantages help Damri Safari supplement visitors’ needs and desires when taking part in big activities like summer camp, training program, team building, customer conference and here is a ideal place for family and friend’s vacations or clubs’ activities…
Moreover, visitors will join in many entertainment services and adventure games as camping training, fishing, swimming, rowing, jogging, climbing or some enjoy in soft-skill training, useful courses about taking care of health, tea ceremony, Zen, Yoga and simply resting after pressures in job and life.
Let bring your heart to the nature.
Let mix yourself with the charming landscape.
Let enjoy the peaceful time and discover yourself after ups and downs in your life.
Tourism Ecology Damri Safari is really an ideal destination for visitors to enjoy exciting moment and discover interesting itineraries during the period of convalescence.
If you have unresolved issues, please contact us via the address: phihuyenq@gmail.com
Tel: (+84)906432098
Greetings from Minerva! Situated in the rolling hills of northeastern Ohio, Minerva is a small village with brick streets and friendly folk. We recently moved to the area to become stewards of a secluded 18-acre farm complete with a pond, a wide and peaceful stream and woods just outside of town. We are spending this first year transforming the land from a monocrop to an organic biodynamic system, working toward organic certification over the next four years. We have hopes of shiitake mushroom cultivation and an orchard on our hillside in the coming months. Beehives are in production with of an acre in perennials and annuals to be distributed in a small CSA in North Canton, Ohio. Length of stay for interns is a 1 month minimum, 4 month maximum (negotiable). We have many a construction project to work on including a walk-in cooler, chicken coop and fencing. So, construction experience and know-how are very much desired. The ideal guest will bring a willingness to work, ability to work independently and an eagerness to learn. We are very willing to teach and no experience is necessary. 20-30 hours of work a week. Accommodations are a private room in our cute old farmhouse (one room available), a shared bathroom and shared living space. All meals included. We are willing to pick you up at the airport or bus stop in Akron/Cleveland/Canton and are accepting Interns year-round except for December and January. We only speak English, will accommodate all diets and are not accepting pets (we already have a dog!). As for nightlife and crazy fun activities, there are some local barsmost of which we have not been to yet. It is definitely small town life, but we love meeting new people and will do our best to entertain you with lively conversation! Canton has some fun stuff to do and is about forty minutes away. If you feel like a hike, Pittsburgh is 1.5 hours to the east. If you like a young atmosphere run by two friends who were recent WWOOFers, Minerva may be the place for you.
We are looking for interns! Here is a write up on our farm! Email is: Creekviewridge@gmail.com
Greetings from Minerva! Situated in the rolling hills of northeastern Ohio, Minerva is a small village with brick streets and friendly folk. We recently moved to the area to become stewards of a secluded 18-acre farm complete with a pond, a wide and peaceful stream and woods just outside of town. We are spending this first year transforming the land from a monocrop to an organic biodynamic system, working toward organic certification over the next four years. We have hopes of shiitake mushroom cultivation and an orchard on our hillside in the coming months. Beehives are in production with of an acre in perennials and annuals to be distributed in a small CSA in North Canton, Ohio. Length of stay for interns is a 1 month minimum, 4 month maximum (negotiable). We have many a construction project to work on including a walk-in cooler, chicken coop and fencing. So, construction experience and know-how are very much desired. The ideal guest will bring a willingness to work, ability to work independently and an eagerness to learn. We are very willing to teach and no experience is necessary. 20-30 hours of work a week. Accommodations are a private room in our cute old farmhouse (one room available), a shared bathroom and shared living space. All meals included. We are willing to pick you up at the airport or bus stop in Akron/Cleveland/Canton and are accepting Interns year-round except for December and January. We only speak English, will accommodate all diets and are not accepting pets (we already have a dog!). As for nightlife and crazy fun activities, there are some local barsmost of which we have not been to yet. It is definitely small town life, but we love meeting new people and will do our best to entertain you with lively conversation! Canton has some fun stuff to do and is about forty minutes away. If you feel like a hike, Pittsburgh is 1.5 hours to the east. If you like a young atmosphere run by two friends who were recent WWOOFers, Minerva may be the place for you.