GW128-en-(Gangwon-do)

✔️ Registered 2025

✔️ Host Gender Male

✔️ About us

This is a forest-based healing farm that produces, processes, and sells various forest products such as birch sap, wild garlic, shiitake mushrooms, and zelkova trees, as well as agricultural products like tomatoes. It is also a multifaceted forestry operation offering various experiences and educational programs, forest therapy guidance, and ecological forest tours.

The host worked in banking for 33 years before retiring. After a period of exploration, at the age of 63, they decided to start a business in the forestry industry. The co-manager, who is also the host’s spouse, has over 20 years of experience in running their own business while managing household responsibilities. While their age may seem advanced, they believe that with the average life expectancy in Korea, there are at least 20 more years to dedicate to meaningful pursuits. They chose forestry, a field based on their love for the mountains.

After settling here in 2015, they have now spent 9 years cultivating this land. Their plan is to continue developing it as a forest healing garden for at least the next 11 years.

The mission of the host couple is to create a beautiful and enriching space where weary, tired, and lonely people can come to find comfort, recharge, and fill themselves with positive energy. This place will grow into more than just a farm or forestry site; it will become a healing sanctuary offering peace and tranquility to all who visit.

✔️ Farming Experience 2013

✔️ Farm Type Experience/Educational Farm

✔️ Main Crop Wild Garlic (Myeonginamul), Shiitake Mushrooms, Other Mountain Vegetables, and Tomatoes

✔️ Farming Method

We do not use any pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

✔️ Organic Lifestyle

Whenever possible, we use soap instead of shampoo and cups or tumblers instead of paper cups.

✔️ Family / Member

Host’s wife and the part-time lady who comes to work every day.

✔️ Animal

Meoru (Sapsal dog) and Yeondu (cat)

✔️ English

basic

✔️ Other Language

Basic Japanese.

✔️ Works

January: Rest and preparation period.

February: Applying organic fertilizer, tidying up around the nursery/greenhouse, preparing for sap collection, collecting sap from Goroso (Korean fir) and Shinnamu (Korean pine).

March: Collecting sap from Shinnamu (Korean pine) and Birch, sterilizing, packaging, and shipping, late March wild garlic harvesting and experience activity, flowerbed maintenance, starting seedling cultivation for various flowers and wild herbs (in seedling trays).

April: Harvesting and packaging various wild herbs besides wild garlic, experiencing making Jindallae(azalea) flower pancakes; flowerbed maintenance, caring for the nursery, transplanting wildflower and wild herb seedlings; creating small gardens; experiencing making Ssuk Gaetdeok(mugwort rice cakes).

May: Harvesting wild herbs and making tea/fermented liquids; starting the Forest Michelin Picnic Program, planting tomato seedlings in the greenhouse, creating small gardens, experiencing making Ssuk Gaetdeok(mugwort rice cakes).

June: Executing the Forest Michelin Picnic Program, creating small gardens; first mowing.

July: Executing the Forest Michelin Picnic Program and creating small gardens.

August: Executing the Forest Michelin Picnic Program and creating small gardens.

September: Executing the Forest Michelin Picnic Program and creating small gardens, making Gujulcho(chrysanthemum) flower tea.

October: Executing the Forest Michelin Picnic Program and creating small gardens, making Gujulcho flower tea, second mowing.

November: Forest path maintenance, thinning trees and gathering bark for wood sculptures.

December: Year-end wrap-up and rest period.

*Forest ecology interpretation and experiences are available year-round, except during rest periods, and will help WWOOFers gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the forest.

✔️ Working Hours

30 hours a week

✔️ WWOOFing Season

Dec.-Jan.

✔️ Knowledge / Skills WWOOFers can learn

Share knowledge and skills on how to use a brush cutter, chainsaw, and how to harvest and use tree sap. Additionally, we can teach methods for cultivating and utilizing forest products such as wild garlic and shiitake mushrooms.

✔️ Experiences WWOOFers can expect

Harvesting and utilizing forest products, making organic fertilizers and natural pesticides, creating gardens in the forest: basic concepts, sowing and growing wildflowers, transplanting and planting, and cultivating agricultural products such as tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, and cantaloupes.

✔️ Preferred WWOOFer

One who enjoy living in nature, have a strong interest in organic and eco-friendly farming, are particularly interested in forestry, especially in the areas of forest recreation and healing, and those who can appreciate the universe contained in a handful of soil.

✔️ Message to WWOOFers

The forest-based multi-use management site requires a significant amount of physical labor as a basic condition. Please keep this in mind when choosing our farm, and we would appreciate your understanding and consideration.

✔️ Type

seperated room (may share with other same-gender WWOOFer)

✔️ Room Sharing

shared bathroom and living room

✔️ Internet Possible Yes

✔️ Drink & Smoke No smoking / occasional drink

✔️ Distance from house to farm

Within a 5-minute walk.

✔️ Sharing a Meal

1-2 meals provided and cook by yourself if needed

✔️ Organic Ingredients Farm and Garden

Over 80% of the ingredients are naturally sourced or organic produce grown here.

✔️ Vegetarian Impossible

vegetarian options available

✔️ Preferred Length of Stay More than 1 month

✔️ Capacity 3

✔️ Accept Short Stay possible

✔️ WWOOFers with Children(under 15 yrs) No

✔️ inor(16~18 yrs) No