We live in a peaceful area in the highlands of Michoacán, Mexico, supporting a small regenerative farm and community space surrounded by forest. The main family’s property combines gardening, tree planting, natural building, and caring for animals, giving volunteers a chance to connect with the land and learn practical skills for rural living.
The community is on a 70-hectare property divided into 13 sustainable off-grid plots. Currently, two families live here, with more homes completed and families gradually moving in. Several charming, climate-adaptive adobe houses are built, with others in progress. The forest is full of native plants and wildlife — armadillos, coyotes, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, eagles, and many small birds. In the evenings, crickets fill the air, and tall oaks host seasonal orchids.
Before the pandemic, the main house ran a small farm supplying organic tomatoes and lettuce to nearby restaurants. Today, two greenhouses and outdoor garden areas provide hands-on learning in gardening and small-scale food production.
A special part of the project is the ongoing construction of traditional adobe homes. WWOOFers can participate in different stages of natural building, from preparing materials to seeing these beautiful, climate-adaptive houses come together.
Volunteers live and work alongside two families: one with a couple and their two adult children, and another with a single woman. Both homes share the land with friendly dogs, cats, and ducks.
At the heart of the project is a vision to develop the land in harmony with nature through gardens, trees, animals, and simple rural living. We welcome curious, self-motivated volunteers who want to experience everyday life on a working property while contributing to the ongoing development of the land.
Please write and tell a little about yourself, your interests, and what you hope to learn during your stay. Volunteers who are genuinely excited to be part of the land and community are always welcome.
A typical day begins with a relaxed breakfast before heading out for the morning’s shared projects: natural building, organic gardening, and general maintenance of the property. Work varies with the season and the land’s needs. Volunteers may plant, weed, mulch, and harvest vegetables in the gardens, care for orchard and forest trees, or participate in forest stewardship activities such as trail building, clearing brush, gathering firewood, and restoring native habitat. Small building or maintenance projects — light carpentry, fence repairs, or work on property structures — are often underway as well.
Volunteers also have the opportunity to participate in constructing traditional adobe homes, gaining hands-on experience with time-honored techniques under the guidance of master builders. Depending on the season, activities may include food preservation (fermenting, drying, freezing, or canning), composting, seed saving, and general farm chores.
Most days include about 5–6 hours of shared work, typically in the morning and early afternoon (adjusted for heat), 5–6 days per week, leaving time to relax, explore the forest, or enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Every day is slightly different — some tasks more physical, others more creative — but the goal is always the same: working with nature while learning the skills of sustainable, off-grid living. This program is ideal for volunteers who enjoy hands-on outdoor work, connecting with nature, and experiencing life in a traditional Mexican community.
Accommodations:
WWOOFers will be hosted inside one of two large homes on the property. Each volunteer has a comfortable bed, private space, and access to basic amenities. Both houses have two bathrooms, allowing for shared living while maintaining personal privacy. Because we host only a small number of volunteers at a time, the environment is relaxed, respectful, and welcoming. Evenings often wind down quietly, offering time to relax, read, enjoy the surrounding countryside, or catch up online with reliable internet available in both houses.
Meals:
Meals are usually prepared and shared together, reflecting local cuisine in the Mexican-style house and a wide range of foods in the Canadian-style home. Volunteers are welcome to help plan and prepare meals, which is also a time to share stories, cultures, and experiences around the table. We typically shop for groceries about once every two weeks and accommodate dietary preferences.
We appreciate volunteers who enjoy communal living, are comfortable sharing spaces, and are happy to contribute to daily life, including helping with meals and keeping shared areas tidy.
Additional Note on Families with Children:
I am happy to host families with children, drawing on my experience as a Montessori and Waldorf teacher in Canada. This ensures that young visitors can enjoy their stay safely while engaging with the farm and surroundings.
Hobbies & Nearby Activities:
In addition to managing the house and garden work, I enjoy hiking, yoga, exercise, meditation, Spanish study, and my online work. I am actively training my two young, active farm dogs. Although they are full of energy sometimes, they also love to cuddle up on the couch with anyone who’s willing. I also enjoy spending time around campfires and having fun playing board games and cards.
Nearby Activities & Experiences (Mexican Family Ranch side):
At the Mexican family ranch, volunteers can participate in horse care and possibly riding, and immerse themselves in Spanish language practice. The surrounding area is a ranching community, producing much of the region’s meat, so you’ll have the chance to explore rich regional cuisine, learn about natural cultivation, and discover how local ingredients are grown and used. Star-gazing and nighttime nature observation are spectacular here because the ranch sits on the side of a hill in a valley basin, creating an enormous night sky.
Cultural trips nearby include Pátzcuaro — famous for Day of the Dead in November — and Morelia, which offers a wide range of restaurants and cultural experiences. Occasional short trips to beaches such as Troncones, Zihuatanejo, and Ixtapa provide opportunities for surfing, bodyboarding, and relaxing by the sea. There is also an expat community in Pátzcuaro with regular monthly meetups, so volunteers can see how others live and connect with people in the area.
Vivimos en una tranquila zona en las tierras altas de Michoacán, México, apoyando una pequeña granja regenerativa y un espacio comunitario rodeado de bosque. La propiedad principal combina jardinería, plantación de árboles, construcción natural y cuidado de animales, ofreciendo a los voluntarios la oportunidad de conectarse con la tierra y aprender habilidades prácticas para la vida rural.
La comunidad está en una propiedad de 70 hectáreas dividida en 13 parcelas sostenibles fuera de la red. Actualmente, dos familias viven aquí, con más casas ya construidas y familias que se mudan gradualmente. Varias casas de adobe adaptadas al clima ya están terminadas y otras están en construcción. El bosque está lleno de plantas y fauna nativa: armadillos, coyotes, conejos, mapaches, zorrillos, águilas y muchas aves pequeñas. Por la noche, los grillos llenan el aire y los altos robles albergan orquídeas estacionales.
Antes de la pandemia, la casa principal gestionaba una pequeña granja que suministraba tomates y lechugas orgánicas a restaurantes cercanos. Hoy, dos invernaderos y áreas de jardín al aire libre ofrecen aprendizaje práctico en jardinería y producción de alimentos a pequeña escala.
Una parte especial del proyecto es la construcción en curso de casas tradicionales de adobe. Los voluntarios pueden participar en diferentes etapas de la construcción natural, desde la preparación de materiales hasta ver cómo se ensamblan estas hermosas casas adaptadas al clima.
Los voluntarios viven y trabajan junto a dos familias: una con una pareja y sus dos hijos adultos, y otra con una mujer soltera. Ambas casas comparten la tierra con perros, gatos y patos amistosos.
En el corazón del proyecto está la visión de desarrollar la tierra en armonía con la naturaleza mediante jardines, árboles, animales y una vida rural sencilla. Damos la bienvenida a voluntarios curiosos y motivados que quieran experimentar la vida cotidiana en una propiedad en funcionamiento mientras contribuyen al desarrollo continuo de la tierra.
Por favor, escríbenos y cuéntanos un poco sobre ti, tus intereses y lo que esperas aprender durante tu estancia. Siempre recibimos con gusto a voluntarios que estén genuinamente entusiasmados por formar parte de la tierra y la comunidad.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Grain farming
Forestry
Beekeeping
Wild foraging
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Seed saving or production
Bakery
Traditional crafts
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
No-till farming
Permaculture
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
70
Hectares
|
173
Acres
