Labishire is a working homestead in Oregon's Willamette Valley where people live and work together. We grow most of our own food. We build and maintain our own structures. We do this with minimal fossil fuel use and maximum physical effort.
Labishire is a place where your skills directly translate to security. Work 25+ hours/week on the farm or build crew, and you earn: housing, food, community, and a path to becoming a trust beneficiary with lifetime tenure rights.
We are 80% food self-sufficient. Solar-powered. Water-independent. The infrastructure is real, not aspirational. The founder has built it mostly by himself with Wwoofers' help over the last 9 years. Now, he wants to turn his home into a farming community. What we need now are people who can help us close the remaining gaps—and eventually, build income-generating co-ops together.
| What You Bring | What You Get |
| ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| Farming, building, or craft skills | Room, board, land access immediately |
| 25+ hrs/week of physical labor | Voting rights after 90 days |
| Commitment to the work | Path to beneficiary status (private room, lifetime tenure) |
| Clean financial disclosure | Transparent, merit-based advancement |
The Daily Reality
Morning: Wake early. Breakfast is at 7. Tasks start at 8.
Work: 5 hours of physical labor, 5 days per week, and rotational weekend work. This includes:
Weather: We work in rain, heat, and cold. "Uncomfortable" is not a reason to stop.
Seasons: Winter means fewer crops but more construction and maintenance. There is no season without hard work.
The Land
16 acres. 10 acres of mostly south-facing pasture for hay production. 1 acre of intensive vegetable and tree crop production. 5 acres of wetland. The founder has been here since 2016. He has built a greenhouse, two goat pens, a duck coop, 20 raised beds, and an orchard. We grow annual and perennial vegetables, beans, corn, wheat, rye, squashes, and a wide variety of fruit and nut trees. We raise chicken, ducks, and goats, with plans for geese, and perhaps other farm animals. We are nearly self-sufficient in solar power, water, fruits, vegetables, and grains, and are working on producing more meat, herbal medicine, and additional grains (rice, buckwheat, millet, etc.)
What we still need to build:
What we are still figuring out:
The Economics
Labishire operates on labor and minimal cash. Members do not earn salaries, but will earn income if, together, we succeed in building a profitable co-op. The land provides housing and food. Members contribute $50 monthly for supplies we cannot produce (salt, oil, tools, medicine, etc.)
Current reality:
If we reach 5+ committed members, we can collectively design and launch income-generating projects (value-added food products, workshops, etc.). This is not guaranteed. Do not join counting on this income.
What this means:
You need a plan for external income or savings to cover personal expenses, debts, and emergencies.
The Social Reality
We live in close proximity. We share meals, work, and decision-making. Conflict happens. We address it directly, or it festers.
Current constraints: Our dog is not safe around young children. For now, we cannot accept families with children under 12. This may change as the dog ages.
What works here:
What does not work here:
See For Yourself:
Before committing to a 90-day trial, you should know what you're getting into.
What the dormitory looks like:
Why We Do This
Not because we think we will save the world. Not because we have the right answers. Because:
Who Should Apply
Who Should Not Apply
Next Step
Read the Values page. If you still want this, read the How we are setup page. If the trial period and labor requirements seem reasonable, apply.
Labishire is a place where your skills directly translate to security. Work 25+ hours/week on the farm or build crew, and you earn: housing, food, community, and a path to becoming a trust beneficiary with lifetime tenure rights.
We are 80% food self-sufficient. Solar-powered. Water-independent. The infrastructure is real, not aspirational. The founder has built it mostly by himself with Wwoofers' help over the last 9 years. Now, he wants to turn his home into a farming community. What we need now are people who can help us close the remaining gaps—and eventually, build income-generating co-ops together.
| What You Bring | What You Get |
| ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| Farming, building, or craft skills | Room, board, land access immediately |
| 25+ hrs/week of physical labor | Voting rights after 90 days |
| Commitment to the work | Path to beneficiary status (private room, lifetime tenure) |
| Clean financial disclosure | Transparent, merit-based advancement |
The Daily Reality
Morning: Wake early. Breakfast is at 7. Tasks start at 8.
Work: 5 hours of physical labor, 5 days per week, and rotational weekend work. This includes:
- Farming (planting, weeding, harvesting, preserving)
- Animal care (feeding, cleaning, processing)
- Building and maintenance
- Cooking and cleaning for the group
- Infrastructure projects (water, power, waste systems)
Weather: We work in rain, heat, and cold. "Uncomfortable" is not a reason to stop.
Seasons: Winter means fewer crops but more construction and maintenance. There is no season without hard work.
The Land
16 acres. 10 acres of mostly south-facing pasture for hay production. 1 acre of intensive vegetable and tree crop production. 5 acres of wetland. The founder has been here since 2016. He has built a greenhouse, two goat pens, a duck coop, 20 raised beds, and an orchard. We grow annual and perennial vegetables, beans, corn, wheat, rye, squashes, and a wide variety of fruit and nut trees. We raise chicken, ducks, and goats, with plans for geese, and perhaps other farm animals. We are nearly self-sufficient in solar power, water, fruits, vegetables, and grains, and are working on producing more meat, herbal medicine, and additional grains (rice, buckwheat, millet, etc.)
What we still need to build:
- Goose pen
- Barn repair
- A farm-based co-op that can generate income for residents
What we are still figuring out:
- Finding a suitable rice variety that can grow in this climate
- Do we want to produce more meat with pigs or other livestock?
- Building a core team: We've had visitors and short-term members, but we're now focused on finding 5 long-term members to establish our culture
The Economics
Labishire operates on labor and minimal cash. Members do not earn salaries, but will earn income if, together, we succeed in building a profitable co-op. The land provides housing and food. Members contribute $50 monthly for supplies we cannot produce (salt, oil, tools, medicine, etc.)
Current reality:
- No salaries
- No co-op income yet (this requires critical mass and collective decision-making)
- You can work off-site after fulfilling your 25+ hours/week
- You keep what you earn externally
If we reach 5+ committed members, we can collectively design and launch income-generating projects (value-added food products, workshops, etc.). This is not guaranteed. Do not join counting on this income.
What this means:
You need a plan for external income or savings to cover personal expenses, debts, and emergencies.
- You will not get rich here
- You will not build retirement savings here
- You will work hard and have basic needs met
- You will live a life rich in personal connections, holistic health practices, and art
- You will age in place, surrounded by the community you've built
- If you have debts, dependents, or financial obligations, consider how you will meet them. We do not subsidize outside financial lives.
The Social Reality
We live in close proximity. We share meals, work, and decision-making. Conflict happens. We address it directly, or it festers.
Current constraints: Our dog is not safe around young children. For now, we cannot accept families with children under 12. This may change as the dog ages.
What works here:
- Doing your work without being reminded
- Cleaning up after yourself
- Being kind and considerate to others
- Saying when something is wrong
- Letting small annoyances go
- Leaving when it stops working for you
What does not work here:
- Waiting for others to notice your needs
- Discussing problems at length without action
- Expecting others to accommodate your preferences
- Entitled and self-serving attitudes
- Staying out of obligation when you want to leave
See For Yourself:
Before committing to a 90-day trial, you should know what you're getting into.
- WWOOF profile: https://wwoofusa.org/en/host/22612 (reviews from past visitors)
- Photo gallery
- Visit first (optional): Serious applicants can arrange a 2-3 day visit before applying. Email to schedule.
What the dormitory looks like:
- Two rooms that can hold 4 beds each
- Shared bathroom
- Basic but functional
- You provide: personal items
- We provide: bed, sheets, blankets, towels, storage, heat, electricity, and wifi
Why We Do This
Not because we think we will save the world. Not because we have the right answers. Because:
- Growing food is satisfying and necessary (the alternative is to eat giant-corporate-controlled toxic food)
- Building things with your hands is empowering
- Living without constant advertising and consumption is more peaceful
- Knowing the people you depend on is grounding
- Doing hard work and seeing results is validating
- Stewarding the Earth is meaningful
Who Should Apply
- You have done physical labor before and did not hate it
- You can live without constant bars, restaurants, and mindless entertainment
- You handle discomfort without complaining excessively
- You prefer direct communication to hinting or manipulating
- You can commit to at least one year
Who Should Not Apply
- You are looking for "healing" or "transformation"
- You want to write about community living more than live it
- You need extensive medical or mental health support
- You cannot tolerate being told what to do
- You are primarily motivated by opposition to capitalism rather than attraction to farming
Next Step
Read the Values page. If you still want this, read the How we are setup page. If the trial period and labor requirements seem reasonable, apply.
