Tierra Soul Urban Farm Guesthouse

Leaves so much to be desired to say the least. There is so much potential, yet it need LOTS of effort to be what it once was when they first opened. Hopefully they’ll be back up and running with a revived energy when they return from their sabbatical. Sincerely wishing them the best and hope to see this once thriving business succeed again!

My girlfriend and I stayed here for Valentine’s Day weekend and I must say, we loved it! Immediately we felt right at home like we were staying with old friends. The owner, Krista, was so sweet, even when we arrived while they were napping. We stayed in the blue room next to the front door and the bed was so comfortable. Usually I have a hard time sleeping away from home, but not here! The house, rooms, and bathroom were all clean and tidy. The décor of the house was really amazing and there were instruments everywhere. My girlfriend and I enjoyed playing piano one morning with Krista’s daughter which was quite fun. Another morning we got to try some of the honey they gathered from their own bees :) The location is fantastic, the longest we had to drive somewhere was only 10 min. Next time we are in Portland, we will definitely be staying there!

My husband and I recently stayed at Tierra Soul for our weekend trip to Portland. I give this place 3 stars.
Positives:
It is a clean, homey environment. The bathroom bedroom were neat and clean. The bed was very comfortable. The house is beautiful and has a cozy DIY/​vintage style.
Negatives:
The price for a stay here is far too high in comparison with other B&Bs in the area. We could have found a much quieter place with more amenities (including breakfast!!) than this place for the same price or less. We will be doing that next time for several reasons:
1. There are no locks on the doors. The front door is always unlocked. The bedroom doors don’t lock which made me feel uncomfortable as our room was right off the kitchen (more on that later!). The bathroom door doesn’t have a lock either! Soooo uncomfortable… there were several other people whom we hadn’t even met staying in the house and taking a shower was uncomfortable without the security of a locked door!
2. The bathroom is shared by ALL of the guests, so you could potentially have to share it with the occupants of 5 rooms. It is also located right off the kitchen which made me feel slightly uncomfortable, too. There is also limited hot water, so you might be in for a cold shower.
3. Morning noise! While they DO warn you on their website that the family gets up at 7am to do chores, we felt that they could have been much more respectful of people staying in the house. Quiet hours are listed as being from 10pm-​7am and they even ask that you try not to use water/​flush toilets during that time. Well, one morning at 6:20 someone was in the kitchen doing dished/​loading the dishwasher and woke me up! Our room was right off the kitchen (which was kind of awkward in the first place) and the noise was not hindered by the thin walls of the old house. I understand that this is a family’s home and that chores need to get done, but people are paying to stay there so you could at least follow your own rules.
Also, there is a difference between getting up and eating breakfast and letting your kids run around yelling and pounding on the walls. If I had guests staying in my house, I would ask my kids to stay quiet in the morning — not that they wouldn’t be allowed to play, but I would ask them to play quietly. Again, we were paying to stay here, so we felt that it was disrespectful to have kids yelling and being so loud at 7:00 in the morning when they could have been asked to be a little quieter since guests were sleeping.

I LOVE Tierra Soul. This was our first trip away from home with our ten-​week old baby, visiting family in Portland. We wanted to turn our trip into a little vacation and so rented out the caravan in the yard of Tierra Soul (both my husband and I love RV’s and also felt we didn’t want to interrupt people if the baby cried). Firstly, if you want chocolates on the pillows and maid service, go to a Marriott. This is a warm, friendly, family-​run homestay, uniquely Portland, with home made soaps and salves in the bathroom, quirky antique and flea-​market furniture, chickens and goats. Krista and David, the hosts, could not have been more welcoming and more accommodating of us, while their children, Fia and Xoco, were well-​behaved, curious and adorable. Fia was particularly gentle and sweet with our son. The décor was unique and beautiful, the vibe relaxed and welcoming. I’ve read a few reviews criticizing this place which seem extremely unfair and based on the premise this is a hotel — it’s not. It’s a beautiful, large family home, converted into an urban farm.
We returned for one night to stay inside the house, and loved the large, spacious accommodations with en suite bathroom and kitchenette. I’m a writer and always looking for new places to have mini-​retreats. This is definitely a wonderful find, and I look forward to returning in the future. (Also, this homestay operates on the same basis as Air BnB — for the asshole who complained because they wanted their money back after changing their mind and not giving adequate notice. Please. Check in at the Ace next time)

This place is such an urban sanctuary in the already-​über funky city of Portland. Felt so welcome and at home in the sprawling permaculture veggie gardens and backyard that feels more like a farm! These guys really have the good like cranking and are so up for sharing it with the wider world, it’s inspirational! Thanks for an awesome stay and for making us feel so at home!

If you’re looking for a grounding homey experience, look no further.
We decided to celebrate our anniversary by coming up to Portland for a foodie weekend and we brought our toddler with us. We really enjoyed staying with Tierra Soul’s close-​knit family. The parents are incredibly nurturing and the kids that were just pure pleasure to interact with. I feel so lucky to have had this experience because I felt serenity for the first time in a long time.
My toddler still talks about playing with the kids. There’s an area where the kids can play quietly together, they can be more active together downstairs, and the kids gave my daughter a tour of the farm and they fed the chickens together. (Bring mud boots just in case!) Yet the kids are by no means underfoot and they are are conscientious so if you’re not interested in interacting, you won’t feel awkward or annoyed.
The house is huge and there are so many nooks and crannies to explore, lovingly accented with fun and interesting touches. We stayed with our toddler in the upstairs room with private bathroom. It was quite spacious and we were able to put the kid-​sized mattress on the floor for her safety as she still rolls off her mattress at night. The bathroom is huge and has a full bath and shower as well as skylights. There’s also a helpful bench in the bathroom that makes it much easier to dress a child. We were not woken by noise in the morning nor bothered by any noise at night, including when the family went down to breakfast before us and when a pizza delivery came in at the front door so it’s a quiet room. It has a mini fridge and sink along with dishes and a little table that’s great for having a snack or a down-​time activity like coloring.
The sheets and blankets were very nice on both the adult and kid beds. And come to think of it, the mattresses were extremely comfortable. Usually my husband or I have a backache even at the fine hotels, but we both felt great and our toddler had very deep sleep. (The last time that happened was at The Leela in Mumbai, a five star hotel.)
We were able to do some work calls via Skype in our room as well as stream Netflix downstairs at night (new season of House of Cards!) so the WiFi is great. The only thing we really missed was a microwave to heat up our toddler’s milk but we did it the old-​fashioned way by resting the bottle in a bowl of hot water. Also unfortunately the goats were gone. I would really love to come back in another season and see all the incredible fruit trees blooming and spend more time with this family.

We recently stayed in the backyard caravan at Tierra Soul Urban Farmhouse and had an excellent stay. We were looking for a place that was kid-​friendly, environmentally sustainable, and cared about all the same things we did – and we found that at Tierra Soul. If you’re expecting something fancy, this isn’t the place to go. If you’re looking for a no-​nonsense, down to earth attitude, look no further. The owners and their children were welcoming but not overbearing. They were there if we needed anything, but were also perfectly happy to completely leave us alone. Their children are wise beyond their years – clearly a product of exposure to many different kinds of people on a daily basis and upbringing that is not of the mainstream American culture. Our toddler really took a liking to their daughter and was so sad when we had to leave! Would definitely stay again if we returned to Portland.

I first came to this special little urban farm through wwoofing. I was welcomed authentically and right away they asked me what I would like to get out of my experience there. By the end of my three months, I had learned everything I’d hoped to. Since then, I have been back many times as a farm-​stayer and as a guest to Tierra Soul events. This family and sweet little farm appeal to special folk and is perfect for people like me who like to hang out with goats, hear the sounds of children around and snuggle into a cup of tea. Nothing fancy here… just real people making a big impact in a small space.

Really unhappy with their response to us leaving early:
«After careful consideration, we decided not to offer a refund for your other nights. If you had called, I would have happily picked-​up the room and reassured you that everything had been cleaned.»

My husband and I had signed up to stay 3 nights in «The Caravan», a 60s era RV, but after two nights we inquired about staying for the remainder of our week in Portland. Luckily the RV was not booked until the day we were leaving so we stayed on.
First, let me say that this is NOT luxury accommodations. This is a family home, opened to the public for our exploration and adventure. Another reviewer complained about some of the things we really love about this place so I’ll just enumerate them for you:
1. You’re dealing with people, not a company.
2. The «people» is a family, with all that a family entails. They have two young children, who are delightful, and they have family responsibilities, which include early to bed, early to rise.
3. The family is friendly and will answer any questions they can and, as far as I’ve been able to ascertain, accommodate individual guests’ needs.
4. As with all human relationships, there’s ebb and flow. Being available for late arrivals is not one of them; they’re in bed by 8 or 9 pm but you can arrive any time you need to.
5. It is an urban farm, meaning that they have chickens and goats and bees and lots of edible things growing. The owners, Krista and David, are happy to discuss their experiences whenever they’re available to do so.
6. We LOVE funky, which means, to us, not polished and she-​she. This is a very earthy place and we love that.
Yes, there are no locks. We stayed in the RV, which does include a key to lock it up, but we never used it and left our laptops inside without a care.
This is a city, a big city, and Tierra Soul is not in the dolled-​up part of town but it’s very comfortable, very earthy, and very real. We cannot wait to return to the Caravan and to this family. They’re delightful!

Didnt actually get to stay there. Made reservations 8 days before planned arrival. They were the only game in town. Called 3 days later to tell them my brother died unexpectedly and needed to go home to the Midwest. Was told they would love to refund my money but they do have a 7 day cancellation policy… and they hoped I understood. No. I don’t. What I understand is that their family friendliness extends only to their family. They could have at least said they were sorry for my loss.

We took a trip to Portland this past summer (this end of June-​ish, I believe) and stayed at this charming little «urban famhouse» for just over a week. By day one we were already head-​over-​heels in love with the place. Some highlights include:
1. We hail from central FL. So summertime is usually pretty hellish for us. There are probably no words to convey how amazingly refreshing it was to sleep with the windows open (no screens! no mosquitos!?!) and then wake up to a CHILLY morning.
2. We had the Bluebird room, toward the front of the house. Very pretty décor, some antique looking pieces, soothing blue walls, a soft bed with freshly laundered linens every day, and a window that looked out onto the front porch. A head’s up! There are a few friendly house cats that will absolutely jump into bed with you through that window, if you leave it open. Which we did. We didn’t mind the extra company.
3. Goats! Chickens! You can walk the goats if you wish, the there are always fresh eggs. And handmade goatmilk soap!
4. A back area with a fire pit, which we took advantage of on several occasions. A night of roasted marshmallows and red wine under the stars is a winning combination, don’t you think?
5. Our hostess, Caitlin, was wonderful. Enthusiastic, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the area. Full of great tips on local eats, sights to take in, etc. And a great cook! There was always some sort of vegan treat to munch on, out on the sideboard with all the tea and coffee one would wish to drink.
6. A friendly, communal atmosphere. You will meet so many interesting people! You have to figure that if you choose to stay at a little urban farmhouse bed and breakfast type place –which is very different from a hotel with all the amenities — you are going to be in for a very different sort of experience. And the other folks who choose to stay in a place like this are more than likely of a similar mindset… so it is more than likely that you are going to meet some like-​minded new friends! I’ve read some reviewers complain about the lack of the locks on the doors here, but I think that’s just part of the overall atmosphere here: one of friendship and trust and all those touchy-​feely things. Probably better stay at a hotel if that squicks you out a bit!
7. Proximity to some really great dining and shopping. Some of our favourite places to eat/​imbibe were: Equinox, which has a GREAT happy hour!; The Big Egg, part of a food truck pod less than 5 minutes around the corner,; Amnesia, a wonderful little biergarten type place, and some place on some corner that had the most amazing coffee I’d ever had in my life, but now I don’t remember the name. Best bet: get a cup of coffee everywhere you go.
If we were to go back to Portland — which is a distinct possibility — we would definitely stay at Tiera Soul again. It was a beautiful experience; our unforgettable time in Portland would not have been the same without it!

awesome awesome awesome place to stay. Beautiful little get away in a virtually nondescript neighborhood of Portland.
Caitlin was our host when we stayed, however she mentioned she would be leaving sometime in the near future. That being said, she was a fantastic host. Super accommodating, friendly, and helpful.
the rooms were totally quaint and cozy. I felt like i was staying at a friends home. Everything was just so comfortable. We had just come from a couple nights of camping, and without even thinking to ask her, Caitlin told us we could lay our tent and sleeping bags in the back yard if we wanted to air them out, which we did! The kitchen was great and we were able to keep some things in the fridge and use the sink to wash some of our dishes that we had been using while camping.
Lastly, ANIMALS! they had farm animals out back that you’re able to go and hang out with. The sheep are super friendly. Of course my friend and i were the idiots who almost lost the sheep after not even having been there for an hour. Guys got out of the gate while we were in there, so i had to figure out how to heard sheep QUICK! luckily it didn’t take a lot of work, and we got them to go back in the pen. *whew*

this is a beautiful guest house, they accommodated our group with style & farm fresh eggs. super comfy beds, great garden, beautiful light & cozy atmosphere. fantastic cooks kitchen with cast iron pans & a great spice selection. Caitlin actually baked us gluten free muffins (we have a couple of GF people in our group) from scratch!
i will absolutely be recommending Tierra Soul to friends & family!
thank you for an unforgettable experience!

Amazing place! Very welcoming and walking distance to many shops, bars, and restaurants. Caitlin, the caretaker, was super friendly and helpful.

We loved our stay here! I came for a conference downtown and brought my husband along (he wanted to see Portland). We both had a great time — he even got to help with the goat shearing and Caitlin even sent us some pictures after.
Caitlin was a great help and resource — we really enjoyed talking with her. She made us feel 110% welcome and we left feeling like we had made a friend rather than just paying for a room.
This places is awesome — I recommended it to my parents who are traveling through later this summer and I recommend it to anyone wanting something better than a bland chain hotel!

Portlandish.
Pros: Fresh eggs direct from the hens to a pan that never gets cleaned to your mouth. Yummy. Friendly host: Caitlin and her cats. (offered to pick us up at the train station but then she decided otherwise) Hand made soaps. Comfortable bed. Very community minded.
Cons: No locks on doors. None in the bathroom either. Umm… no thank you. Never going back just cause of that. Hard water. Too pricey when compared to the rest of Portland. The whole thing is very Portlandish. Unexpected, overwhelming and too proud of nothing to change it.

I really enjoyed my stay here — filled up my soul.
It was like being at home away from home, except this home was a walk away from Mississippi Ave, was filled with other down to earth guests, hosted by a great and informative Caitlin, filled with handmade soaps and day fresh eggs, and had goats and chickens in the backyard pen.
I felt like I was visiting a friend or relative and staying at their house. I wish there was a Tierra Soul in every city I visited!

Stayed here for my first time in Portland. Really cozy, cute guest house. Caitlin is really friendly and gave all kinds of advice on where to go. A short walk from a bunch of really cool places. Highly recommended!

I am soooooo glad that I booked our stay here at Tierra Soul. Not only is this little oasis beautiful, it seriously captured my heart. Although the Arias clan is on sabbatical, Caitlin, the caretaker for this year, was way beyond awesome; in fact, she gives awesome a whole new definition. Honestly, there are no words to describe how much my boyfriend and I loved staying here; maybe it was the home, itself, the beautifully decorated rooms, the critters in back, or my little snuggle bug (Beetle the Black Cat) who slept with us during the stay, or it was the fact that there were no sirens, television, and obnoxious neighbors keeping you awake. I seriously got the best night’s sleep, last night, which I haven’t had in a while. We loved the handmade soap and the coffee and tea bar, but, more importantly, we loved how relaxed this place was run.
I am so glad we stayed in the suburbs because we really hot to see the beauty of Portland (outside of the city). Caitlin, our hub for everything Portland, directed us to take the old Columbia River Highway and we are so grateful we did. Not only did we take in the beauty of this scenic route, we saw several different waterfalls from a distance and decided to hike up to get a better look (it was at least 40 degrees and it was raining). I highly recommend staying here because it really is a home away from home, which is just wonderful since traveling can be stressful. More importantly, the steps the farm is taking to be environmentally responsible is very inspiring and refreshing. We will definitely be back soon!

It was one week before our departure to Portland and we still didn’t have a place to stay. After many unsuccessful booking attempts at various guesthouses (Bluebird, Everett St., etc.), I came across Tierra Soul. They had availability! Thank goodness – we no longer had to entertain the idea of sleeping in our car, a crappy motel, or driving back to my grandma’s in Eugene every night.
Krista and her husband David have a wonderful family and do a great job of running the guesthouse/​farm. When we arrived on a Friday afternoon, their 1 ½ year-​old son Shoko immediately grabbed my hand and showed me his book on trucks. He’s honestly the cutest thing ever. Fia, their equally cute 5-​year-​old daughter, told us she paints with pollen and flower petals – so resourceful! David gave us a tour of the farm, which is probably not what you’re imagining. It’s really just two goats and several hens (no roosters because of the noise) in a shared pen in their backyard. They used to have bees, but they all died over the winter. There is also one black cat named Beetle who just roams around.
David makes soap out of lard and other botanicals which they provide to each guest. Breakfast is $ 10/​person and, when we were there, consisted of «mushcakes» (oatmeal and egg pancakes, I think) for two mornings in a row. They smelled great, but we choose not to participate in breakfast as we wanted to try squeeze in as many meals out as we could. We also borrowed two of David’s bikes and rode around Portland for the day.
There were a couple of drawbacks to our stay. (1) The quiet hours – when they say 7pm-​7am, they mean it. We came back at 930pm one night to a dark, quiet house (everyone was sleeping) and we had to tiptoe around when going to the bathroom since Shoko’s room is downstairs. The kids are up and making a ruckus by 7am, so if you want to sleep in ’til 2pm, this is not the place for you. (2) Tierra Soul is a little north of the Mississippi district, so it’s not in the heart of downtown Portland. There’s a bus stop that goes to Downtown a few blocks away, however, which we often used.
We decided to stay at the Inn at Northup Station for our last night, just to be closer to downtown. I think our time at Tierra Soul would have been more fruitful had we spent more time at the house, hanging out with the Arias’ and learning about their lifestyle (which I wanted to do, but we were always out in the city!). Nonetheless, it was a comfy place to call home for a couple nights.