Golden Rocks Permaculture Farm

AMAZING!!!! I feel reenergized and could not be any happier. An experience that was a mix of relaxation, pampering and also educational. The farm is peaceful with beautiful Mountain Views, lush gardens and the most gorgeous night starry skies. I stayed in the Art studio. Which was super cozy, with a comfortable bed and a great little walkout porch, to enjoy both my morning tea and stargazing. Taking full advantage of all the possible add ons, that the host offered. I ate delicious farm to fork meals, had the best massage of my life and went on a very informative herb/garden tour. And as if it couldn’t get any better, my visit coincided with a natural building workshop on the farm. This experience made me realize the importance of good food, self care and quiet reflection time. I left Golden Rocks not only with fond memories, but with several farm made purchases. Such as fresh veggies, herbal tinctures and lovely teas. I could go on and on, but I think my point is made. I 150% recommend this stay and hope many others too have the privilege. Thank you Brenda and I will be back for sure!!!

Olivia C.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Magical Farm Stay Near Harbin

Site 5 - Golden Rocks Permaculture Farm #1

Brenda was absolutely amazing—so sweet and accommodating. I felt at home the moment I arrived on her breathtaking farm. The land offers million-dollar views, and the balcony of the art studio overlooks a serene valley, with neighboring horses, goats in the distance, and mountains all around. At night, the sky is incredible for stargazing right from the deck. Brenda also offers a $12 farm breakfast, which I sadly missed—but I highly recommend taking advantage of it. The farm cats were adorable and so friendly. The art studio itself was clean, cozy, and incredibly comfortable, with a kitchenette, fridge, and AC. Waking up to views of horses and mountains from the kitchen was magical. As someone who studied sustainable environmental design, I appreciated the creativity and function of the compost toilet—it felt like the Wild West meets eco-innovation. Brenda’s other handmade structures, built from recycled materials, look like charming adobe cottages. It’s also just a short hop to Harbin Hot Springs. If you’re looking for a peaceful, beautiful stay with a kitchen and stunning views, this is it. The moonlight across the farm was pure magic. I loved walking under the stars, listening to the night sounds, and greeting the horses. I’m 100% coming back. Please book with Brenda—she’s truly lovely, and you will absolutely enjoy your stay. It’s a peaceful, magical place you won’t want to leave.

Aaliyah Aal Ya L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2025

Peaceful getaway in Middletown

Bunk Room in Farmhouse

Had the best stay with Brenda! Note: this property is in Middletown, not Lower Lake like the app says. I wanted to find a quiet place for a weekend getaway near Harbin Hot Springs, and I’m so lucky I found Brenda’s property. She’s so lovely and welcoming, and had excellent communication throughout my stay, from calling me before I got there to give me local directions (you should follow her directions, sometimes Google Maps will lead you astray) to giving me tips for local hikes, hot springs, things to do in town, etc. She offers a bunch of services to her guests for a fee: I personally bought a tincture made from wild-harvested herbs from her farm, which she thoughtfully prepared a homemade tea to go along with, and also ordered a farm-fresh breakfast that she prepared with vegetables harvested from her garden/the local farmer’s market. It was truly one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had. Brenda herself is a well spring of knowledge about permaculture, the land, and knows so many people in town; I found her interesting to talk to and easygoing. I would highly recommend staying in the farmhouse as it’s more of a cozy house vibe, with access to the kitchen and the bathroom right next door, but I will definitely be back to check out the Art Studio and camping grounds. She has two kitties that are the sweetest, and the neighbors own a variety of animals like horses, goats, dogs that you’ll see when you drive in. Thank you Brenda!

Lydia Y.

2 reviews

Recommends

· June 2025

Queen Room in Farmhouse

I had an excellent stay at Brenda’s farm. Brenda is a great host, and I’d love to visit again. I specifically visited for an astrophotography imaging session. I was blessed with 2 cloudless nights and a great escape from light polluted cities. Bortle class 3.

Pranav S.

7 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2024

Permaculture farm immersion

Tent ·

I was really excited that Brenda opens her property to people, since I’m working on developing my own land using permaculture ideas. She also offered an add-on option in the booking for an herb walk, which is exactly what I needed, I wanted a chance to interface and see how she does it! Even this late in the summer, the gardens were still thriving. I learned so much about how she does it, and about the permaculture community/ethos. I was able to buy some seeds, plants veggies and tincture! She ended up going way above and beyond the herb walk with me, and we spent hours together with her, showing me how she makes the tinctures and telling me her story. I appreciated the generosity of her time, and also happily ended up paying a bit more towards what ended up being way more than an herb walk and more of a personal workshop. I would highly recommend this place to anyone like me, a female traveling alone, interested in alternative lifestyle, permaculture , and self sufficiency. Next time I’m in the area I hope to stop at the Hot spring nearby as well!!

Megan G.

1 year on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· June 2023

Fair price

Queen Room in Farmhouse

It wasn't what we expected, which doesn't mean that we weren't happy in the end. In our case, we were looking for a getaway last minute on memorial day, my girlfriend and i. We live in sebastopol, so the location was great. And we had a wonderful time overall, and discovered an area of California that we weren't familiar with. This place popped up, and the price was right and there was availability. Our expectations were raised by the website which posited a "farmhouse", and a "barn". But a single level manufactured home is not commonly referred to as refer to as a farmhouse. And a two-story garage is not commonly referred to as a barn. In short: rustic, neglected, and a stretch as a property one could rent. However it was quiet, remote, with friendly fellow guests and lots to explore. I loved being able to poke around, and enjoy the bumblebees building their homes in the cob. We stayed in the main house, in the "Queen suite" which we enjoyed, although the experience resembled more closely crashing at a friend's house (a mattress with a fold in the middle is not a queen), than staying in a permaculture retreat. Not much was growing around, in the garden plots, which was surprising, as I expected to learn something about gardening and growth and permaculture, On the upside, there were plenty of cooking implements, salt and pepper, good clean water, lots of lovely wildlife, Guys, if you bring your lady here, be prepared for some initial shock and pushback.

Alexander M.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2023

Pretty place in the wild

Tent ·

Tree Swing Campsite - GRPF #5

Brenda has a great set-up. Lots of different animals on the way in. I woke up to turkeys running around one morning. She's very hospitable and communicative. The outdoor kitchen works for one's camping needs. There are some good wineries nearby as well. Good scenery!

Samuel D.

2 years on Hipcamp

Mixed feelings

· June 2023

Tent ·

Golden Rocks Permaculture Farm

I enjoyed my stay at Golden Rocks, but I would've liked to have been able to buy some fresh eggs and produce as was advertised in the listing. Seems that currently, there are no chickens on the farm and not much growing. It sounded like more of a homestead than any type of production farm anyway, so I didn't come expecting much. I'd suggest the host update this listing to reflect what's currently available; otherwise, the view from the campsites was beautiful and I did enjoy my stay!

Kayla W.

2 reviews

Recommends

· February 2023

13 ft RV ·

Westfalia Camper by Campfire

Such a sweet stay at Golden Rocks Farm! Brenda is so friendly and you feel more like part of the farm community than “just a guest.” Beautiful views, amazing outdoor shower and cozy communal farm house.

Laura M.

6 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· November 2022

Great Communicator

**Full disclosure** I wasn’t able to make my trip last minute and so this review is based purely off my communication with Brenda. Brenda was a great communicator with lots of understanding, patience, and kindness when dealing with my chaotic changes in schedule. I can’t speak obviously to the actual space, however if you’re looking for a host to make you feel at home (even over text), Brenda’s Westfalia is the place to be.

Samy V.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2022

With kids ·

We loved staying at Brenda's farm! She was very kind to show us her permaculture garden and her herbs and also the house built from mostly harvested material. The pizza in her new pizza oven was delicious. We saw and heard some wildlife.

Yassen D.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2022

Unreal nights, under ALL the stars!

Tent ·

Two of us had an amazing time on Brenda’s farm! From the warm welcome from Brenda and Buddy upon arrival, to the two dozen delicious, still-warm-from-being-in-the-chicken eggs that came home upon departure, everything was incredible. Brenda was a great host, while still shaking off the rust from being shuddered for the COVID era. She was generous with her time, knowledge of the area, and any resources needed during our three nights with her. Pros: The night sky was simply dazzling!! Horizon-to-horizon, nothing but stars! Buddy was such a sweet lil addition to the farm while diligently keeping us all safe. Two nights he slept outside my tent door at least until I fell asleep. Also, he has quite an exciting backstory! Proximity to Harbin Hot Springs (worth googling it). Plenty of delicious potable water and a fridge onsite. An entire menu of herbal remedies and tinctures available, lovingly crafted by Brenda herself. (Not exactly) Cons: Very rocky terrain. Footwear always needed to walk the property. Consider bringing maybe a rubber-backed rug or mat for outside the tent door Not the entire campground kitchen was functional when we were there, no working stove. Complete fire ban. Obviously, not Brenda’s fault and SUPER important, but would’ve been nice as the temp (thankfully) does drop over night. Overall, this was a fantastic experience that I recommend for anyone. PRO TIP: Ask Brenda about The Punchbowl

Steve M.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2021

Brenda's farm was relaxing and refreshing! Everyone was friendly, fun spots to hike / swim nearby, and her dog Buddy was a cutie.

Ethan H.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2021

Brenda and Buddy

My nephew and I had such a great time camping on Brenda's property. It has the feel of group camping with just enough privacy for it not to feel intrusive. My nephew and I hadn't camped together in about four years, so it was a real treat for both of us. Margie, Brenda, and the loving dog Buddy were wonderful hosts.

Brian S.

9 reviews

Recommends

· May 2021

Brenda was a great host! The sites aren’t super far apart but there are 5 sites total so it doesn’t get too loud or crowded. Very convenient to have the communal kitchen and outdoor shower.

Ashley S.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2021

The host was nice and everyone of the farm was friendly! It was awesome to buy fresh eggs and greens. The road leading up to the farm is a little rough, but any car will make it if you drive slow. The dog was very sweet, but he did bark a little at night which woke us. Overall it was a great experience!

Dallas L.

44 reviews

Recommends

· May 2021

Middletown fun!

Don’t just go to Napa, go a little bit north and experience Middletown and Hidden Valley! Easy and comfortable tent platforms for a level nights sleep. Listen to coyotes, turkeys, roosters and horses. See the stars and enjoy the Northern California farm stead.

John B.

19 reviews

Recommends

· May 2021

Brenda's place was really cool! Buddy, the watxh dog. Is so sweet and so loyal! The road on the way in is pretty bumpy and slow to get past, but its nice once you arrive. Hopefully you're a morning person, because the rooster will have you up before sunrise! The communal outdoor kitchen is pretty cool and its fun to cook outside during the day while hanging out with the chickens.

Tina M.

5 years on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· April 2021

Golden Rocks Permaculture Farm

Pros: inexpensive, hanging out with chickens was cool, buying farm fresh eggs from chickens you met, the folks around the farm were lovely and the host did her best Cons: had to wait several hours to access our campsite, dog was barking and growling outside our tent all night, wifi was not accessible, not proper campsites (more like one large group campsite) Longer version: The host was friendly, fairly responsive by email, and tried to make some accommodations for us. We had the bad luck of wanting to arrive on a Friday around 5pm, which ended up falling during the time of a farmers market in town, and so no one could be at the property to let us in from 4-6pm. We were told we couldn't go there without her because we needed to be "introduced to the dog" and given a tour. We worked it out that my friend and I would meet her at the market in Middletown around 5pm, and she would leave to take us to the site at 6:30. She was not ready to go at 6:30, and we finally got her to leave with us around 7pm, reminding her of our need to get set-up before dark. When we finally got there, we saw that there were not individual campsites. It's basically one large group campsite on a hill, with some run down platforms scattered around. There is nothing at all delineating the different sites. We set up, had dinner, and met the dog. We were told that we needed to be introduced to the dog as "friends" so that it knew not to attack us. It seemed sweet enough. However, when we headed to bed, the dog decided to stay right outside our tents the whole night, growling and barking (taking turns barking near us and running off an barking elsewhere). It gave me nightmares and my friend hardly slept. I was afraid to get out of my tent, except during the times it ran off. We decided then we couldn't stay another night. The next morning, we made breakfast in the outdoor kitchen. It was functional (and had lights, fridge, running water, etc), though we decided to use our own pots and plates, etc. The chickens were out and about as we cooked and ate, which was really the highlight. We were even able to buy eggs, and they were beautiful. We asked about the wifi, and were told it was maybe possible, but we'd have to go up on her porch to try to access it. We had reserved for 3 nights, but decided to stay only one night, and Brenda, the host, was nice enough to offer us suggestions on other places we could hike and possibly stay in the area.

Toran A.

3 reviews

Recommends

· April 2021

Great family friendly farm

This is a great farm for family camping. Unlimited outside space for kids to run around. Fresh eggs and vegetable are available to purchase on site. There are lots of other activities nearby for hiking and beach at Clear Lake. A very friendly dog Buddy is an added bonus making our weekend special. Highly recommend.

Gosei M.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2021

Very nice weekend, thank you Brenda

Group trip ·

Golden Rocks Permaculture Farm

We loved it. People are nice and welcoming, the valley is serene, there's a fire ring, fresh air, birds are singing a friendly doggy running around I mean what else do you want :)

Vlad S.

3 reviews

Recommends

· March 2021

This farm is such a little gem. Brenda is extremely friendly and accommodating. There's a lot of cool projects that she has going on at the farm. I'm excited to return once covid is over to check out some of the workshops she offers. The tent camping spots all have wooden raised platforms which I thought was a great feature. It's nice to not have to worry about finding a spot on the ground without rocks or deal with the extra chill that comes with sleeping on the ground. There's a common area outdoor kitchen which is accessible to guests to use during their visit. Brenda even said it would be ok for me to help myself to any of their spices! There's also an outhouse which is kept extremely clean. Seriously. I know it's just a bathroom, but this has to have been one of the cleanest that I've used at a campsite ever. The outhouse doesn't have running water (of course), but Brenda keeps a cooler of water along with soap right next to it so you can clean up after. Overall I'd highly recommend this spot to anyone looking to get away from the urban sprawl for a weekend.

John L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· February 2021

Peaceful retreat

Peaceful retreat, in the middle of nowhere. The valley in front of us, birds singing, and the sun. A dream. Plus Brenda (and Buddy!, her lovely dog) was very kind and helpful with us. We bought plenty of organic veggies, bread and eggs from the farm. I highly recommend this "low-key" place.

Tristan S.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2021

Tree Swing Campsite - GRPF #5

Was great to stay, serviceable outdoor kitchen which was totally great, campfires too. Lots of great hiking in the area.

Jonathan B.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2021

Great price and good location.

Great little get away, the site was close to some really good hiking spots. A couple of cute lakes nearby. The best thing about the place, is the price. Pretty affordable and easy to book.

Francisco M.

7 reviews

Recommends

· December 2020

Great Solo Camping Experience!

I had such a great time staying at Golden Rocks Farm! Brenda and the volunteers were so welcoming and sweet. The site was well-kept and the amenities were completely adequate for my stay (outhouse, outdoor shower, full outdoor kitchen, seating areas). The view of the ridge from the farm was unreal and I enjoyed every morning I got to wake up to that view. Getting there was effortless- Brenda's directions were right on the spot with the Google directions. I drive a Civic and got to the property fine- had to drive slow of course. The location couldn't be better! Right in the middle of plenty of hiking areas, local facilities, dining, grocery stores, wineries, and more! The farm was so fun to explore- a perfect get-away for open-minded and nature-loving individuals! Great location, people, and overall camping experience!

Claud H.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2020

Tree Swing Campsite - GRPF #5

maybe give a little more detail about the directions past middletown. got lost up and down the hill a few times when it was dark but other than that, a perfect stay with wonderful people and fun chickens (:

Imani P.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2020

Brenda and everyone there were very welcoming and we had a great time!

Andreas H.

3 reviews

Mixed feelings

· October 2020

Off the beaten path "rustic" vibes

We enjoyed staying here primarily for the location, amazing sunrises and general quietness. Brenda and her son were lovely hosts, and really went above and beyond when our rental car needed a jump start! Buddy was an excellent watch dog, very cute and sleeping near our tents to watch out for rogue coyotes and deer! Although it's great to have a fridge, stove and running water in the communal kitchen, it's overall definitely on the more rustic end of the camping scale compared to some other permaculture farms we've stayed at, and I think that is reflected in the price. Luckily we were the only ones here for most of our stay as the other pitches are quite close by. The compost toilet was really grim... We didn't use the outdoor shower opting to go to the hot springs nearby instead - which I'd highly recommend! But on the positive side, stargazing and clean air was great. FYI The road to get to this site is very rough with lots of potholes (and wild deer/turkeys roaming!) so would advise arriving before dark. We managed in our compact car fine, but you gotta take your time, and trust Brenda's directions (not GPS!)

Amy S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2020