Family farm
Ontario
We have openings right now for April/May to clean up after all the snow and rain. If you feel you want to contribute with some heavier lifting (light chainsaw work, lots of trees down, fence repair, raking etc.) you are very welcome.
Welcome to our Farm!
Our little piece of paradise is tucked away in a sheltered valley, bordered by a winding river to the west, and rolling wooded hills and pastureland to the east. Although we’re just 15 minutes from the lakeside town of Port Elgin on beautiful Lake Huron, life here feels peaceful, remote, and deeply connected to nature.
About the Farm:
Our 800 acres is divided into two parts:
Non-Commercial:
Diverse gardens: vegetables, berries, flowers and fruit trees
A flock of 200–300 sheep, who help enrich our compost with winter manure and graze freely in summer
Livestock guardians: our dogs Mama Bear (Maremma) and Sirius (Great Pyrenees), protecting sheep and cats from coyotes
Commercial (Organic Agriculture):
We grow a variety of organic crops including spelt, sunflowers, soybeans, peas, oats, buckwheat, black beans, and hay.
Our practices include:
Crop rotation (with a strong focus on hay cycles)
Underseeding
Composting using our own farm inputs
Soil monitoring inspired by Elaine Ingham’s soil food web approach
We are certified organic through Ecocert and continually strive to improve soil health using organic, biodynamic, and sustainable methods.
Who you’ll be working with:
We are a small, dedicated team of four:
Two full-time farmers (that’s us!)
our daughter joining us as full time help this season.
A seasonal mechanic wizard who keeps everything running
The WWOOF Experience:
Farm life is deeply rewarding, but it’s also hands-on and physically active.
You’ll be a great fit if you:
Enjoy working outdoors and don’t mind getting dirty
Are eager to learn but also comfortable working independently
Bring practical skills (e.g., chainsaw use, power tool experience, machinery experience, construction, plumbing, electrical etc.)
Typical Tasks:
No two days are the same! You might help with:
Tree and vine clearing
Fence checks
Feeding chickens
Splitting and stacking firewood
Building compost piles
Garden care (weeding, watering)
Landscaping (mowing, trimming, edging)
Various seasonal or creative farm projects
Life on the Farm:
We believe in sharing knowledge, experiences, and a sense of belonging. Our goal is for you to feel at home while discovering a meaningful, nature-connected lifestyle.
Please note: we maintain a drug-free environment!
Food & Meals:
Good food plays a central role to our lives on the farm. We eat well and value wholesome, organic food. Our cooking and baking is strongly influenced by Austrian and German cuisine as that is where we are originally from.
Breakfast & Lunch: DIY with plenty of options (oats, eggs, fruit, bread, cereals, baked goods, etc.)
Dinner: Shared meals. (if you enjoy cooking, we’d love to try your dishes!)
Foods we often enjoy:
On farm-raised grass-fed lamb and chicken
Fresh baking using our own grain mill (spelt flour, honey, natural sweeteners)
We happily accommodate vegetarians and dietary needs (including gluten-free and dairy-free).
Free Time & Exploration:
There’s plenty to enjoy when the workday ends:
Canoe, kayaks, and paddleboards for the adjacent river or the nearby Lake Huron
Bikes for exploring the local country roads
Trails for hiking and running right on the farm
Sandy beaches along Lake Huron within cycling distance
Nearby:
Port Elgin (12 km): vibrant lakeside town
Paisley (8 km): charming arts village
Toronto (~3 hours by bus)
Accommodation:
Private room in the farmhouse or
Cozy off-grid cabin (insulated, no electricity)
Shared bathroom in the house.
Wi-Fi is available, though rural connection can be spotty.
This is more than a stay. It’s an immersion into a lifestyle rooted in hard work, simplicity, and connection to the land. If you’re curious, motivated, and ready to experience farm life in a meaningful way, we’d love to hear from you!
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Grain farming
Poultry farming
Sheep or goat farming
Wild foraging
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Methods or systems
Holistic management
Host type
Production farm
Certified organic
121.4
Hectares
|
300
Acres
Irene
Member since 2022
Languages spoken:
English, German
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 75%
Response time: typically within 1 day
Ontario
Bus Station Port Elgin
Reviews
Amanda
Canada
•
April 2026
I had a wonderful day helping at Riverbend Farms. I worked along side Irene, Fiete, and Anna clearing overgrown lilac bushes and wild grapevine. Irene showed me an edible plant growing in that area (ipomoea) and her amazing shiitake mushroom logs. Before leaving the farm, I had the chance to meet Mama Bear and Sirius (their dogs), along with their eight adorable puppies! This was my first time WWOOFing and it was such a fantastic experience - the warmest welcome to this community. Thank you!
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Ron
Germany
•
July 2025
I enjoyed every single day of my stay with them. They genuinely go out of their way to make you feel at home, and I’d absolutely stay with them again on my next trip.
Ruby
United Kingdom
•
October 2024
We had an excellent experience at Fiete and Irene's farm! Whilst unfortunately Irene was away, Fiete and his nephew Henrik were so welcoming, friendly and made us feel comfortable and at home.
The work took up around 5 hours a day, after which we had lots of time to relax or explore. The work consisted of some landscape gardening (paving and mowing), raspberry picking and bringing in wood for the winter. We learned how to drive some of the tractors which was great fun.
Free time was incredible, Fiete was very generous allowing us to use kayaks, paddle boards, bikes and even a vehicle. We saw the Bruce Peninsula, pumpkin fest and gorgeous nature.
The food was always excellent and mostly from the farm or surrounding farms! The vegetarian amongst us was well catered for and loved contributing to the cooking.
Thank you for our lovely experience!
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