Join life on a self-sufficient permaculture farm in beautiful Norwegian nature
Viken
Welcome to Bøensætre – a living, breathing farm rooted in permaculture, self-sufficiency, and resilience.
We, Hedda and Egil, warmly invite you to share life with us in a truly nature-rich and peaceful setting. Our vision is to cultivate a place that nurtures people, animals, and the land, while building knowledge and practice around sustainable living and preparedness.
We have been WWOOF hosts since 2015 and have welcomed many wonderful helpers from around the world. Their experiences speak for themselves—feel free to read our reviews to get a sense of life here.
We are looking for dedicated and responsible WWOOFers who enjoy meaningful work, can take initiative, and are comfortable carrying responsibility—even when we are not present. Curiosity, willingness to learn, and a desire to grow are essential.
Life and work on the farm
Daily life at Bøensætre is varied and seasonal. Your main responsibilities will include:
Caring for animals
Working in our permaculture garden and developing food forest garden
Supporting courses, gatherings, and farm activities
Everything we do is guided by ecological principles, traditional knowledge, and permaculture design. Through this, we actively explore self-sufficiency, food production, and practical preparedness in uncertain times.
Living conditions
You will stay in a simple but charming cabin, shared with other WWOOFers. Life here is rustic and grounded. You should be comfortable with:
Preparing most of your own meals (ingredients are mainly from the farm)
Living close to nature, without WiFi
Being part of a small, cooperative community
Nature & surroundings
Bøensætre is surrounded by beautiful forests, lakes, and quiet landscapes. In your free time, you can:
Borrow bicycles and canoes
Go fishing (bring your own equipment)
Explore the area and enjoy the stillness of nature
Please note: we are located 20 km from the nearest town, with limited public transport. This is a place for those who truly appreciate nature and a slower pace of life.
Practical information
You must communicate well in English or a Scandinavian language
Bring durable work clothes, boots, and rainwear
Norway can be cold—bring warm layers, especially in spring and autumn
Minimum stay: 30 days
Non-smokers only
Not suitable if you have allergies to animals or grass
Learning & inspiration
If you are interested in permaculture, sustainability, and resilient living, this is a place to deepen your understanding. Hedda is a permaculture teacher, and learning is a natural part of everyday life here.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Pig farming
Sheep or goat farming
Raising of other farm animals
Forestry
Seed saving or production
Meat processing
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Methods or systems
Animal drafting
Holistic management
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
Certified organic
8.1
Hectares
|
20
Acres
Accommodation
Hedda and Egil
Member since 2015
Languages spoken:
English, Norwegian
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 100%
Response time: typically within 2 days
Viken
Gardermoen airport. Train from Oslo to Halden. Bus from Halden to Aremark
Reviews
Ida
Germany
•
March 2026
I had my first wwoofing experience on Boensaetre a few years ago and it was great! For my first stay I was on the farm from Juli til January and came right back in April to also experience the springtime. Since then I just keep coming back whenever I have free time.
Hedda and Egil are lovely hosts! They are welcoming and warm and you can always have a good laugh with them. And the food Hedda cooks is absolutely amazing!
They also always try to make sure that the work on the farm is interesting and varying. As a Wwoofer you mostly take care of the animals, work in the garden and help out when there are groups visiting the place. There’s always something new to learn and Hedda and Egil are happy to share their knowledge.
The farm is located deep in the forest, so it is perfect for you, if you like going out in the forest, cycling or canoing.
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Hannah
Germany
•
March 2026
Big big recommendation to stay here for wwoofing!
I've been to Bøensætre for the first time in 2023, and have been coming back several times since. Hedda and Egil welcomed me warmly and made me feel like at home from the first day on. It's hard to say what's the best thing about coming here: The surroundings are beautiful - the woods are great for taking a walk, and the lake for swimming. There have been a LOT of different tasks in the garden, around the animals, with building projects, painting... so work never gets boring and I got to learn so many new things. The weekends are free and nice for biking, hiking, or simply reading at the lakeside. And the dogs and cats are the best companions! :) If you're looking for a place to try new things, eat good food every day and cuddle some sheep, this is perfect for you.
Thanks for everything (Tusen takk!),
Hannah
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Juliet
Ireland
•
August 2024
I had an amazing stay at Bøensætre for my first wwoofing experience! I was only able to stay for three weeks and wish it could have been longer. Hedda and Egil are lovely hosts, always looking to teach you something new. The work was really enjoyable and always different which I liked! Hope to see them again🥰
Antonia
Germany
•
November 2023
I stayed in August for 2 1/2 weeks at Bøensætre and it was really amazing. Although it was a short stay I really enjoyed it and I also learned a lot. In the time I was at the farm the Nordic Permaculture Festival took place at Bøensætre. That’s why I guess my stay was not that much filled with the „normal summer work“, instead of, me and the other Wwoofers spent quite a lot time preparing the farm and also some food for the festival. And when the festival started we helped in the kitchen and anywhere help was needed. For me this time was filled with meeting a lot of very kind, interesting and likeminded people and learning a lot about permaculture. And apart of the festival we helped taking care of all the sweet animals and did some work in the garden. Besides the work time the other Wwoofers and me enjoyed our time at this beautiful place with going swimming everyday, going canoeing, knitting in the old barn….
From day one I felt very welcomed at the farm and everybody was very kind. Especially Hedda and Egil created a very welcoming atmosphere at the farm! Thank you both for everything!
Looking back I am a little bit sad, that my stay was that short. I am definitely thinking about coming back another time to Bøensætre and staying longer!
All in all I can really recommend staying at Bøensætre!
Greetings to Norway!
Antonia
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Alexandra
Germany
•
July 2023
I spent 7 weeks from April to June on the farm and it was one of the best experiences in my life. It was great to see how the farm changes during the season from spring to summer, when the animals can be outside on the field. The work was quite varied and I learned a lot about permaculture, gardening, about wild herbs and how to bake my own bread, make vanilla sauce and rhubarb soup. I spent a lot of time in the permaculture garden and also got an better understanding how it is all connected. To feed the animals, see how the lambs were born and watch them growing was a great experience too. The food Hedda cooks and lunchtime is really delicious! I also enjoyed the interesting discussions at lunchtime about different topics. I absolutely recommend going there! Thank's a lot Hedda and Egil for this nice time!
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Marie
Germany
•
March 2023
I stayed at Bøensætre for three weeks in January and Februray and absolutely loved my time there. It's a beautiful place in the middle of the forest right next to a lake and you can feel that it is being treated with great care and love. The tasks included taking care of the animals in the morning and evening, making firewood, preparing the garden and seedlings for spring, but also helping out during a day for families that was hosted at the farm. So, the tasks were quite varied which I liked a lot, but the tasks in summer probably differ from the ones in winter. Hedda and Egil make you feel super welcome, take very good care of their wwoofers and are in general very friendly, considerate and share their knowledge on permaculture and living in harmony with nature. Thanks a lot for everything and I will definitely try to be back at some point!
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