WWOOFing Explained

WWOOFing Explained

More and more people are hearing of WWOOFing and the beautiful experiences it can provide you. With the world in such economic and environmental crisis, it’s no wonder that more and more people are deciding to utilize the benefits of such a program.

Though it is growing in popularity, many people still don’t know what WWOOFing is or how to get started in the program. In this post, I will explain what WWOOF is, why it’s important, and what you can expect if you decide to join the growing community.

What is WWOOFing?

WWOOF stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It’s a work exchange that connects volunteers (WWOOFers) with hosts worldwide. Depending on your host, the WWOOFer is expected to work up to 4-6 hours a day, five days a week, and in exchange, the host provides them housing, food, and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on their organic farm.

History

WWOOF originally stood for Working Weekends On Organic Farms and was founded by Sue Coppard in the United Kingdom in 1971.

The project intended to allow urban workers access to the countryside and help support the movement toward organic growing practices.

The project became so popular that it expanded and was eventually renamed Worldwide Opportunity on Organic Farms.

Why It’s Important

Climate change has become an undeniable issue, with many countries scrambling to abide by the lofty carbon reduction goals set in the Paris Climate Accords, it’s becoming more and more important to find ways to lower the carbon footprint of individuals and cooperations alike.

Learning organic growing practices and utilizing the land available to grow your food is an incredible way to lower your contribution to climate change and help support your family and community.

WWOOFing provides an outstanding education for the WWOOFer, giving the first-hand experience of an endless host of sustainable organic practices.

Skills you may learn on a WWOOFing farm include, but are not limited to:

-Organic Vegetable Growing

-Harvesting

-Canning

-Soil Enrichment

-Compost Production

-Bee Keeping

-Dairy Product Production

-Butchering

-Sustainable Construction

-Tea making

-Mushroom Growing

-And so much more!

Affordable Travel

Many individuals gravitate toward WWOOFing because it’s an incredibly affordable way to travel. Having a slight interest in the farming lifestyle but a genuine desire to see another country on a budget.

With WWOOF hosts in over 130 countries worldwide, you can take your pick of places to visit and rest assured that you’re likely to find a host in the area.

How to Become a WWOOFer

Though it is a worldwide program, every country has its own membership to become a WWOOFer. The price of these memberships varies, but most cost somewhere around $50 per year.

Once you purchase your membership, you’re ready to create your profile and start reaching out to potential hosts.

Some hosts may ask for more work than you want to commit to and provide fewer accommodations than others. Make sure to set clear expectations and communicate them with your hosts before traveling to their farm.

Most Popular Places to WWOOF

There are countless destinations on WWOOF in almost every major country in the world.

The most popular WWOOF destinations include:

-Australia

-New Zealand

-America

-France

-Spain

-Italy

-Japan

-India