Are you looking to escape your hectic life and reconnect with the Earth?
Are you interested in learning about organic farming and sustainability?
Do you want to travel and explore new places without spending lots of cash?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should consider WWOOFing!Â
This Ultimate Beginners Guide to WWOOFing will prepare you with the tips, tricks, and information necessary to plan your first adventure!
Did you say no to all of the questions above? No worries! Read this guide to see if it changes your mind, but also check out my other posts about leaving no trace, free ways to go green, or how to build green habits for other great tips about being eco-friendly!
Guide to WWOOFing Part 1: What is WWOOFing?
To put it simply, WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a work exchange program that helps connect small organic farms with visitors interested in gaining practical skills working on a farm.
“WWOOF aims to provide helping hands to its hosts and at the same time allow visitors to learn what it means to grow one’s own food sustainably and earn a living as an organic farmer, and the importance of supporting sustainable agriculture.”
WWOOF-USA WeBSITE
Essentially, you spend about half of your day, each day, helping out on a farm, and in exchange, you are provided with food and housing* for FREE!
The goal of WWOOF is ultimately to help small farms find much needed labor and to encourage farming enthusiasts to reconnect with the Earth and learn practical skills!
And with THOUSANDS of farms around the world, you are sure to find something that interests you. From a weekend stay on a lavender farm in New Zealand, months helping a cattle ranch in Montana, or weeks helping maintain vineyards in Italy, the world is truly your oyster with WWOOFing.
*Food and Housing allotment is dependent on the farm you stay at.Â
My Experience WWOOFing
If you know me then you know I talk about my experience WWOOFing all the time (Sorry!). When I WWOOFed, I spent 3 weeks working in a garden at a Buddhism Retreat Center in New York State. I worked 5 days a week with another WWOOFer and our host, from about 9 AM to 3 PM. In exchange, I received 3 meals a day from the center and I lived in a platform tent (with a bed and nightstand inside and bathrooms nearby!).
What I Loved about WWOOFing…
What I loved about my experience is that I learned a wide range of skills and was able to participate in the retreat center’s activities. By day I would be building trellises, learning about seed propagation, and planting flowers and veggies of all types! By night, I would be participating in courses about Buddhism, meditating, or even dropping in on a sound bowl healing. For me, I was searching for an experience to explore these topics and so I carefully chose a spot that would allow me to grow as a person and a gardener! Ultimately, WWOOFing helped me grow confidence, independence, and many gardening skills.
Since that experience, I made arrangements in 2020 to WWOOF in Seattle, Washington, but sadly this trip was canceled due to COVID! While I was disappointed to cancel my stay, I am excited to be returning to the Buddhism retreat center in the summer of 2021 (Right now!) as a volunteer for 10 days.
Guide to WWOOFing Part 2: How Does It Work?
- Sign Up- Firstly, take some time to decide what country you want to WWOOF in. After carefully reading the rules for that country and determining if it is possible to WWOOF there, then sign up!! Memberships are yearly and are inexpensive, I belonged to the WWOOF-USA organization and paid about $40 a year to be a member. You can also purchase a joint membership if you are interested in WWOOFing with someone else!
- Explore Farms-  Once you are signed up you will be able to explore and message farms that you are interested in. Read the descriptions for the farm carefully and their availability to make sure it is a good fit!
- Make a Contract-  Once you have messaged and decided on your top choice it is time to make a contract! Essentially, before you arrive you want to have, IN WRITING..
- The number of hours and days of the week you agree to work
- What type of chores you are expected to do
- What you are receiving in exchange (i.e. type of housing, number of meals, transportation etc.)
- WWOOF- once everything is all set get excited to reconnect with the Earth and enjoy your WWOOFing experience!
You will find this experience almost like online dating. Explore different farm options, message, call, and read reviews to have the greatest likelihood of enjoying your WWOOFing experience!
Why You Should WWOOF
WWOOFing is a great way to dip your toe into farming without a full commitment. You can learn so many valuable skills you would otherwise need to pay for, meet amazing people, and explore new places for free. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and took the skills I learned with me to my other gardening experiences.Â
Additionally, it was an amazing way to break up my hectic life and spend time outdoors. Each time I go on the WWOOFing website I find so many farms I want to stay at. From learning how to make soaps, how to care for livestock, and how to create a healthy garden there is just so much I want to learn!
I have friends who have also WWOOFed internationally and loved the experience. Doing this helped them learn about other cultures, practice foreign languages, and understand different farming techniques!
Guide To WWOOFing Part 3: Tips For a Happy WWOOFing Experience!
As someone who has WWOOFed and who has known other WWOOFers, here are some key things to consider to increase your chances of a happy stay!
1. Do Thorough Research on the farms you are interested in
While the organization, WWOOF, requires an extensive application process for each host farm in their system, it is important that you do your own research. Make sure to read the reviews from other WWOOFers to get first-hand accounts about their experiences, look up the farm on the internet to see pictures (if available), and closely read the farm’s description to make sure they are offering an experience you are interested in.
Also, pay close attention to the farm’s messages. Remember, you are going to live and work for these hosts. Make sure you are comfortable with their communication style and get a good sense of what they are like beforehand.
As a single woman something that is important to me is that (1) the farm has several positive ratings and reviews, and (2) that there will be other women at the farm stay. While everyone is different, these are two things that have helped me feel safe while WWOOFing
2. Make a clear work agreement
Make sure you have, IN WRITING, a clear understanding of what is expected from you and the farm during your stay! Every single farm experience is different so you cannot assume anything. Having an agreement in writing will help both parties have clear expectations for your stay.
- Will you work on weekends?
- What hours of the day will you be working?
- Will meals be served or are you preparing them yourself?
- How many meals are provided?
- What accommodations are available?
- Will there be transportation available for you to use?
While I LOVED my last WWOOFing experience I did NOT do this and I ultimately lived in a platform tent for three weeks. While this was fine for me when I tell my friends this their mouths drop open. So take my advice, skip the surprise and know exactly what you are walking into.
3. Remember that WWOOFing is NOT a Free Vacation
If you are reading this right now and thinking that WWOOFing is your free trip, think again. Farms can require anywhere from 20-40 hours of work a week and while work can be fun and informative, it can also be challenging physical labor. Remember that WWOOFing is a mutual agreement and the place you are staying is depending on your efforts. So, while it is totally possible to negotiate a stay where you are able to travel and explore, your work comes first.
4. Know That it is Always Okay To leave
While most often WWOOFing experiences go RIGHT, sometimes they go wrong. While it is important to remember that the farm you are at counts on your labor if something is wrong you can always leave. Never stay in a situation where you feel uncomfortable or taken advantage of. Trust Your Gut! Also, if something like this does happen and you feel that the host farm is unsafe make sure to (1) leave a detailed review on the WWOOFing site saying so and (2) report the farm to the WWOOF organization. This will prevent other WWOOFers from the same experience you have had.
So there it is, the Ultimate Beginners Guide to WWOOFing!
I hope this has been a helpful view into the world of WWOOFing and encourages you to give it try! I have had friends who learned the art of making fresh bread in France, homemade soaps in Arizona, and cared for cows on a Cattle Farm in Ireland. While I have only WWOOFed once, I cherished my time there and have made lifelong friends from the experience.Â
If you have WWOOFed please comment and share your experience! I would love to hear about it. Also, if you have questions about WWOOFing feel free to put it in the comments as well or check out the FAQ page for the country you are interested in!
