Homestead, Hobby Farm, Fruit tree nursery, Orchard, Farm, Woodlot, Diversified farm

Ontario

33 reviews • Updated 20 days ago

Hello! NOVEMBER update: 1 space is available for fall or winter which is moreso harvesting. preserving, organizing. or winter where it will be more indoor food and construction work around the house. I (Ivan) have been establishing the property since 2014. Learn how permaculture (ecological design) is being incorporated into our farm and house build: * growing our forest garden (2ac or 0.8ha) for harvests and for the diversity in the 90 edible perennial species * cultivating shiitake and oyster mushrooms, plant and graft trees (April-May) * picking berries and plums and grafting trees (July-August) * harvesting pears, apples, preserving foods (September-November) * optimizing our energy, water, and fertility systems * harvest and table at occasional farmers' markets * participate in workshops and community projects I have a permaculture design certificate and specialize in forest gardening, wild and edible plants, mushroom cultivation, site design, water systems, social permaculture, and many more. I consider every guest as a member of my extended 'farmily.' Many guests appreciate my personal attention in incorporating variety into their experiences, or just having someone around to chat if they wish. In addition to the many projects on the farm and house build, I am involved in a number of projects throughout the area so you will have a chance to learn about more permaculturizing places. We are blessed with natural beauty and opportunities for hiking, swimming, and kayaking. We have a trailer with beds or summer tenting, and in an insulated tiny cabin in the winter is a possibility. Accommodations inside the house are available as house interior construction progresses. Wifi is available. We are very close to town and have get-togethers with community-minded folks. We share in food prep duties, eat mostly vegan and are happy to be eating more of the food that originates from our farm. There are always multiple ferments happening. More information and pics on our website. In your reply, do highlight something specific that interests you about coming. Thanks for visiting and look forward to connecting! I can still get by speaking Cantonese, but my French and Spanish are basic. International applicants: I no longer issue letters of invitations or help with visa applications. Please ensure you have clearance to enter Canada and health insurance before contacting me. Ivan

Learning opportunities

Vegetable farming

Fruit or nut farming

Forestry

Beekeeping

Wild foraging

Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas

Vegetable or fruit preservation

Beer, cider, wine, or juice making

Bakery

Methods or systems

No-till farming

Permaculture

Regenerative agriculture

Mentoring opportunities

BIPOC-operated

Host type

Self-sufficiency property

Former WWOOFer

57 Hectares | 140.8 Acres

Accommodation

3 WWOOFers

Bedroom

Camper / RV

Campsite

Cabin / Mobile-home

Children accepted

Pets accepted

Meals

Omnivore

Vegetarian

Vegan

Length of stay

1 day (local)

Weekend

Less than a week

1-2 weeks

3-4 weeks

Over a month

Ivan

Member since 2016

Languages spoken: English Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 1 day

December 2025

Open

Planned visit

Closed

MapLibre | Protomaps | © OpenStreetMap

Ontario

Flix Bus now runs conveniently from Toronto downtown and airport to Meaford. Toronto carpools may be possible if arranged in advance.

Reviews

Nikita

Germany • November 2025

I had a wonderful stay at Ivans farm! He was very welcoming and made me feel like home from the first moment on. I learned so much about permaculture, all kinds of fruits and herbs. My favourite part was prepping fresh dishes full of variety from the just harvested goods. But the acitivites outdoors were diverse and fun as well. Overall, I had an amazing first experience wwoofing!

Oleksandr

Canada • October 2025

I have spent an amazing week at the Garden of Eating . Ivan is a very knowledgeable and creative grower, as well as a very open and interesting person. His farm is not just about growing food, it’s about how a person can live in harmony with nature, enjoying the great variety of fruits, vegetables and berries that are generously offered by nature. It is not job, it’s a way of living. At Ivan’s farm you can learn a lot of skills related to gardening and foraging, as well as to construction and design. Ivan has a lot of knowledge about all sorts of plants, and he will willingly share all that knowledge with his guests. Definitely a unique experience, that farm is great example how we can cooperate with nature rather than aggressively exploit it

Devora

Israel • August 2025

Our 10 days at Ivan's farm set a very high WWOOFing standard! We stayed in the camper, with our two kids (5, 8), and got our hands dirty with a very, very wide range of tasks: picking, weeding, building, panelling, cooking. In addition, we got to visit & harvest from another farm, and learn about honeybees up close. Ivan is an inspiration for how to live responsibility on this earth, and he gathers and welcomes an amazing community of WWOOFers, friends, visitors, and locals around his farm. In terms of daily/weekly schedule, Ivan is very easygoing and flexible. In terms of food & meals, we were on our own for some (due to dietary/schedule) while others were communal. It totally worked for us. Thank you! Todah! Shukran!

Alice

Canada • July 2025

Ivan is incredibly kind, patient, and welcoming - he takes care of all the WWOOFers like friends. He’s passionate about what he does and generously shared his knowledge and wisdom. He was also very flexible with work hours and took me on some amazing local outings like caving and visiting the beach. I had the chance to meet some of Ivan’s friends and saw firsthand the strength of the tight-knit local community. During my stay at the end of June, I helped with a variety of tasks including weeding, cardboard mulching, garlic scape picking, and assisting on a nearby friend’s farm. I also got to experiment with silk printing and try some of his homemade jun! Before I left, he gave me a tour of the food forest and shared some insights on mushroom inoculation and fruit tree grafting. The house is currently under construction and has no AC, so if you're visiting in the summer, be prepared for the heat. The fridge mostly holds freshly harvested produce from the week, so bringing your own snacks or extras is a good idea if you have specific dietary needs or preferences. If you value meaningful connection and don’t mind a bit of rustic charm, you’ll find this a truly rewarding experience. Thank you, Ivan, for everything!

Clémentine

Canada • March 2025

A very nice week with Ivan, other wwooffers and his network of friends in the region. We did mostly wood work and fruit trees pruning ! Great learning and discussions as well , Ivan is easy to live with and work with Beautiful region around for hiking !

Maxime

France • December 2024

Ivan is a really nice guy full of idea every time! The farm was nice with loads of various activities. I've learned some skills and had lots of fun here. It was really interesting to be part of his business and community for a month, and showed me various things that I wouldn't have seen as a tourist! I definitely recommend to people that have energy!