Organic goat farm in the historical region of Zemgale, Latvia

Latvia

1 review • Updated 1 month ago

Welcome to our farm! 🌿🐐 Hello! We are Inga and Edgars, a family raising two young children on our organic farm in Zemgale, Latvia. Our 11-hectare farm is home to milk goats (with goatlings every second year), a horse, a vegetable garden, a greenhouse, fruit trees, and a scenic riverbank. We also share our space with a friendly dog and two curious cats (who try to sneak inside!). Though we both grew up in the city, at a certain point in life, we made the decision to move to the countryside, believing that being close to nature brings us closer to one another and aligns with our faith in God. We both have academic backgrounds—Inga has studied pedagogy and social sciences, while Edgars has studied culture, philosophy, and religion sciences. We integrate our education into rural life by organizing various events and camps for children and young people, combining education, spirituality, and hands-on experiences in nature. We are passionate about ecological education, sustainable living, and preserving the traditional Latvian rural lifestyle—all guided by our faith and values. As practicing Catholics and Europeans, we believe in the urgent need for a global ecological conversion and strive for a life of dignity, peaceful communities, social inclusion, and environmental responsibility. Faith plays an important role in our daily lives, and we welcome volunteers who respect our way of living. What You Can Expect as a WWOOFer? WWOOFers at farm engage in hands-on, meaningful activities that connect them with nature, sustainability, and local culture, including: ✅ Goat care, milking, and cheese-making 🥛 ✅ Gardening, growing vegetables, and working in the greenhouse 🌱 ✅ Traditional craftsmanship and farm maintenance 🔨 ✅ Helping with daily farm life and seasonal projects 🌾 ✅ Assisting in educational and cultural activities for children and youth 🎭 We offer a welcoming, family-friendly environment where you can learn new skills, experience Latvian rural traditions, and enjoy cultural exchange. If you love working with animals, being in nature, and living simply, we’d love to welcome you to our farm! Our daily activities depending on the season of the year include: Animal Keeping: Shepherding and caring for goats. Collecting hay and ensuring proper feeding. Milking goats and learning traditional dairy farming methods. Food Production: Gardening, planting, and harvesting crops Food canning and preservation Learning about organic farming Cheese-making from goat milk. Building & Craftsmanship: Engaging in traditional construction and repair work using upcycled materials Learning Latvian craftsmanship skills through farm projects. Sustainable Living: Learning about self-sufficiency and low-impact living. Participating in eco-conscious farming and food production. What We Teach WWOOFers Organic and Sustainable Farming: Understanding natural cycles, soil health, and pesticide-free agriculture. Traditional Goat Farming & Dairy Production: Hands-on experience with milking, cheese-making, and animal care. Traditional Craftsmanship: Construction skills, using local materials, and preserving rural architecture. Cultural Exchange: Learning about Latvian traditions, music, and values while contributing to community life. An Average Day at farm: 7:00 AM: (Optional) Goat milking & breakfast preparation. 8:30 AM: Breakfast. 10:00 AM: Farming tasks—gardening, goat care, or construction. 12:00 PM: Lunch preparation. 1:30 PM: Lunch. 3:00 PM: Coffee/tea break. 3:30 PM: Afternoon farm work (gardening, building, or caring for animals). 5:00 PM: Dinner preparation. 6:30 PM: Dinner. 7:30 PM: Free time—horse riding, music workshops, or relaxation. WWOOFers get a unique opportunity to engage in sustainable farming, experience Latvian rural culture, and develop practical skills while living in a supportive, family-focused environment. WWOOFers staying at Farm are accommodated in a separate room, which includes access to a small kitchen. There is also a shower room and toilet designated for farm guests, ensuring a comfortable and independent stay. When it comes to meals, usually we eat lunch and dinner together as a family, offering a chance to share food and conversations. Breakfast is more flexible, with a variety of products available for guests to prepare on their own schedule. Our meals are mostly homemade, using fresh ingredients from our garden, dairy from our goats, and other locally sourced products. Edgars enjoys cooking and is skilled in preparing meals from scratch, making use of seasonal farm ingredients to create simple yet nourishing dishes. We strive for a sustainable and resourceful approach to food, minimizing waste and embracing a self-sufficient lifestyle. WWOOFers can also take part in meal preparation, learning about traditional Latvian recipes, cheese-making, and sustainable cooking practices. Life at Farm is not just about work—we also enjoy spending time outdoors and engaging in creative activities. As a family, we love hiking, bicycle tours, and exploring nature with our children. Music is also a big part of our lives—we enjoy singing, playing, and improvising on musical instruments, and we invite WWOOFers to join in if they wish. In addition to farm activities, WWOOFers can enjoy various leisure options: Swimming in the nearby river during warm months. Excursions to Tērvete Nature Park, a well-known natural and cultural attraction. Visiting nearby historical manors and castles to explore Latvian heritage. Bicycle trips around the local village and countryside. We often enjoy sitting by the fireplace, watching the stars, and having philosophical conversations. Whether you prefer outdoor adventures or creative indoor activities, there are plenty of ways to relax and experience life in the Latvian countryside Willkommen auf unserem Bauernhof! 🌿🐐 Hallo! Wir sind Inga und Edgars, eine Familie mit zwei kleinen Kindern, die auf unserem Bio-Bauernhof in Zemgale, Lettland, lebt. Unser 11 Hektar großer Hof beherbergt Milchziegen (mit Zicklein jedes zweite Jahr), ein Pferd, einen Gemüsegarten, ein Gewächshaus, Obstbäume und eine malerische Flusslandschaft. Außerdem teilen wir unser Zuhause mit einem freundlichen Hund und zwei neugierigen Katzen (die versuchen, sich ins Haus zu schleichen!). Obwohl wir beide in der Stadt aufgewachsen sind, haben wir uns irgendwann entschieden, aufs Land zu ziehen. Wir glauben, dass die Nähe zur Natur uns einander näherbringt und mit unserem Glauben an Gott im Einklang steht. Wir haben beide akademische Hintergründe – Inga hat Pädagogik und Sozialwissenschaften studiert, während Edgars sich mit Kultur-, Philosophie- und Religionswissenschaften beschäftigt hat. Unser Wissen integrieren wir in unser Landleben, indem wir verschiedene Veranstaltungen und Camps für Kinder und Jugendliche organisieren, bei denen Bildung, Spiritualität und praktische Erfahrungen in der Natur kombiniert werden. Wir sind leidenschaftlich engagiert für ökologische Bildung, nachhaltiges Leben und den Erhalt des traditionellen lettischen Landlebens – alles geleitet von unserem Glauben und unseren Werten. Als praktizierende Katholiken und Europäer glauben wir an die dringende Notwendigkeit einer globalen ökologischen Umkehr und setzen uns für ein Leben in Würde, friedliche Gemeinschaften, soziale Inklusion und ökologische Verantwortung ein. Der Glaube spielt eine wichtige Rolle in unserem täglichen Leben, und wir freuen uns über Freiwillige, die unsere Lebensweise respektieren. Was kannst du als WWOOFer bei uns erwarten? WWOOFer auf unserem Hof nehmen an praktischen und sinnvollen Aktivitäten teil, die sie mit der Natur, Nachhaltigkeit und der lokalen Kultur verbinden, darunter: ✅ Pflege und Melken der Ziegen sowie Käseherstellung 🥛 ✅ Gartenarbeit, Gemüseanbau und Arbeiten im Gewächshaus 🌱 ✅ Traditionelles Handwerk und Hofinstandhaltung 🔨 ✅ Unterstützung im täglichen Hofleben und bei saisonalen Projekten 🌾 ✅ Mithilfe bei Bildungs- und Kulturaktivitäten für Kinder und Jugendliche 🎭 Wir bieten eine einladende, familienfreundliche Umgebung, in der du neue Fähigkeiten erlernen, lettische Traditionen erleben und kulturellen Austausch genießen kannst. Wenn du Tiere liebst, gerne in der Natur bist und einfach leben möchtest, heißen wir dich auf unserem Hof herzlich willkommen! Unsere täglichen Aktivitäten (je nach Jahreszeit): Tierpflege: Hüten und Versorgen der Ziegen Heu sammeln und für eine gute Fütterung sorgen Ziegen melken und traditionelle Methoden der Milchverarbeitung kennenlernen Lebensmittelproduktion: Gartenarbeit, Pflanzen und Ernten von Gemüse Lebensmittel einkochen und haltbar machen Einblick in die ökologische Landwirtschaft erhalten Käseherstellung aus Ziegenmilch Bauen & Handwerk: Arbeiten mit recycelten Materialien für Bau- und Reparaturprojekte Traditionelle lettische Handwerkskunst erlernen Nachhaltiges Leben: Selbstversorgung und umweltbewusstes Leben kennenlernen Teilnahme an ökologischer Landwirtschaft und nachhaltiger Lebensmittelproduktion Was wir unseren WWOOFern beibringen: 🌿 Bio- und nachhaltige Landwirtschaft: Verständnis für natürliche Kreisläufe, Bodenqualität und pestizidfreien Anbau. 🐐 Traditionelle Ziegenhaltung & Milchproduktion: Praktische Erfahrung mit Melken, Käseherstellung und Tierpflege. 🔨 Traditionelles Handwerk: Bau- und Reparaturarbeiten mit lokalen Materialien und Erhaltung ländlicher Architektur. 🎭 Kultureller Austausch: Lernen über lettische Traditionen, Musik und Werte und aktive Teilnahme am Gemeinschaftsleben.

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Horse or donkey farming

Sheep or goat farming

Dairy farming

Wild foraging

Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas

Cheesemaking

Vegetable or fruit preservation

Beer, cider, wine, or juice making

Methods or systems

Permaculture

Host type

Nonprofit / Community

Certified organic

11 Hectares | 27.2 Acres

Accommodation

3 WWOOFers

Bedroom

Camper / RV

Campsite

Children accepted

Pets not accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Vegetarian

Length of stay

1-2 weeks

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Inga

Member since 2025

Languages spoken: English, German, Latvian, Polish, Russian

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 3 days

Latvia

Ūziņi bus station (1.5 km from farm) and Riga Interational airport (70 km from farm)

Reviews

Françoise

France • August 2025

it was such a wonderful expérience !! Inga and Edgars are really welcoming, and so interesting i appreciated their views on life, their patience, their opening, their willingness to share what they know and what they do i was there when they were having a big group of scouts, the expérience was quite interesting i would say... I've bien wwoofing for ten years, and being at Dimzeni was one of my Best expériences, I hope I can see Inga and Edgars one day again thank you for everything !

Reply from Inga

Dear Françoise, you are always welcome, you know!🤗