Overview

Overview:

Want to live and learn on organic farms worldwide? Want to share your life with other like-minded people?

As a volunteer (or WWOOFer as we call them) you will live alongside your host helping with daily tasks and experiencing life as a farmer. As a host farm you will open your home to receive visitors from your own country or abroad who want to connect with the land and support the organic movement.

WWOOF started in London in 1971 when a London secretary – Sue Coppard – looking for a way that made one feel part of  country life, hit on the idea of offering a local organic farmer some help in return for food and somewhere to sleep. Her first visit was a great success – and the idea spread. Soon people were organizing similar exchanges across the UK and further afield.

WWOOF has developed very organically over the last 45 years and it wasn’t until 2013 that the Federation of WWOOF Organisations (FoWO) came into being.

WWOOF is an acronym and started out in the early days as Working Weekends On Organic Farms. This changed in time as it was realised that people wanted to volunteer and host anytime. Now various WWOOF organizations use a variety of meanings, such as World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or Willing Workers On Organic Farms.

Details:

  • Cost: Free
  • Apply: Rolling
  • Length: Varies

Spud’s Thoughts:

WWOOF is an incredibly simple way to explore the world and find a place to live and food to eat for free. In exchange for work on a local farm, you’ll be provided room and board. I’ve had so many friends that have traveled the world using WWOOF as a way to do it cheaply. It’s also a great way to get connected with the local community more meaningfully and develop valuable relationships.