WWOOF: Cultivating a More Organic Future Through Work Opportunities

Oct 27, 2014 | Greggory Moore | Best of Best

WWOOF connects those desiring experience in organic farming with properties that can provide it. It's a simple "work for room and board" model that can yield rich results for the people and the land.

Humans come into the world with a few basic instincts: suckling, crying, etc. But when it comes to ways of life, we have to learn. And learning comes about in only two ways: the absorption of ideas and hands-on experience.

This is precisely why WWOOF is such a valuable resource. Originally an acronym for "Working Weekends On Organic Farms" but now having grown to the point of standing for "World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms," WWOOF connects people who want to stay and volunteer on organic properties with organic farms, orchards, etc., in over 100 countries, on every continent except Antarctica.

It's true to say that WWOOF sets up a win-win situation, since the properties get free labor, while the workers get to learn organic and sustainable agriculture by doing. But there's an additional, indirect win: by providing those who want to explore the world of organic and sustainable agriculture with the opportunity to do so, WWOOF is helping sow that ethos back into each volunteer's community, since that person is likely to share her experience, perhaps even inspiring the implementation of such practices on her home turf.

That's exactly what's happening at Cold Creek Orchard, an eight-acre organic orchard nestled within 112 acres of property in the San Bernardino Mountains.  As an alternative to the model of keeping a full-time caretaker and seasonal staff, owner Daniel Vesely decided to give the WWOOF way a try.

"My business partner's daughter mentioned WWOOF to me few years ago, but I did not really pay too much attention, because I could not imagine how I could have anyone come and stay," Vesely relates. "But then the next spring I bought a military tent and was able to set it up and put comfortable beds in it, and suddenly I had a habitable space. […] My initial WWOOFing experience was really great, so I decided to fully support it, to the point that I now have nine WWOOFers on the property, even though five would probably be enough."

When I visit Cold Creek Orchard in late September, I enter the common-area cabin to the delicious smell of granola being home-cooked. The trace of WWOOFers past is left in sanctioned graffiti on the walls: Sarah departed for Arches National Park, Ohioan Theresa's next stop was the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area.

graffiti on the walls at Cold Creek Orchard
graffiti on the walls at Cold Creek Orchard

The deal between WWOOFers and their host properties is simple: free room and board for an honest day's work. Typically WWOOFers stay for one to three weeks, although that arrangement is equally informal.

The WWOOFers at Cold Creek Orchard as summer gives way to fall are slightly unusual, in that all but one have already been there longer than three weeks. They've bonded with each other and to the orchard itself, and none is in a hurry to move on. In fact, Corrie—at 25, the eldest of the bunch—has been on the mountain for three months and is staying on indefinitely as acting caretaker and WWOOFer coordinator.

"Originally I was supposed to be here for only three weeks," she says. "I had four other farms lined up. But then I got here, and it just felt right, felt good, and so I was trying to find a legitimate reason to postpone my other farms. Daniel asked me to stay, and I said I couldn't. But the next day my car broke down. […] I think I was meant to be here."

That sort of earthy spirituality is common amongst WWOOFers, who tend to relate to life in a manner not typical of the workaday world. Whereas the societal message commonly broadcast to America's youth is, "Graduate high school > go to college > get a job/career," many of those for whom WWOOF is a blessing feel called to walk a different path.

"My advice to people who are in the shoes I was in a few years back is: instead of committing to four years of college right off the bat, instead of getting a full-time job right off the bat, I think [WWOOFing] should be considered as a viable alternative for a lot of young people," says Mike, who graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology two months ago and has been on the road with girlfriend Nicole ever since, having traveled west to see about starting a new life together. "Skills like these are being lost, rapidly. I think this is a way to regenerate that, to bring sustainable farming and sustainable living back and let kids realize what they can actually do."

Mike first heard about WWOOF during a period when he was having second thoughts about college.

"I said, 'I want to be a farmer,' he relates. "She said, 'You don't really need to go to school to do that.' She suggested that at some point I should try WWOOFing. That kind of planted the seed for me. [… WWOOFing] is the most stable thing you can do for X amount of time while you kind of get your…you know, you kind of learn new things and get into a healthy routine and get that piece of mind to keep going forward."

"One night we were camping," Nicole chimes in, "and we were like, 'We should start WWOOFing.' We e-mailed Daniel the next day, and then the next morning we drove out here." The WWOOFers at Cold Creek Orchard say Vesely's immediate responsiveness is somewhat atypical. "Sometimes you have a hard time getting people to e-mail you back," says Steven, who has been on the mountain for six weeks and counting. "Like, I'll send out 20 e-mails and maybe get one reply."

Through WWOOF.net, prospective WWOOFers can seek out properties fitting whatever criteria they desire: region, what sort of property, whether pets or children are allowed, properties that have immediate openings, etc. A registration fee to access contact information of properties in the country of choice (WWOOF notes that there is no international WWOOF membership: "We are a network of WWOOF nations!"). Registering with WWOOFusa.org, for example, costs $40.

That price was well worth it to Justin, who knew about WWOOF for years but stayed put in his full-time restaurant job. "I knew about WWOOF but had never paid the money to subscribe," he says. "[…] Finally I got to the point where I just said, 'Fuck this. I'm not going to work anymore.' Two weeks later I quit my job."

Like most of the WWOOFers at Cold Creek Orchard, Justin, who hails from Montana, plans to use WWOOF to help him experience various parts of the United States and beyond. But all are prepared for the possibility that life on other properties may not be as lovely as they find it here—which is one reason none is in a hurry to move on.

"From what I've heard, this farm is very, very laid back as far as the work routine goes," says Corrie. "I mean, we do a lot of work [here], but structurally it's very laid back. Anywhere else it's probably not going to be that way. It's probably going to be very much like: you get up at a certain time, you work 'til a certain time, you have an hour-long break, then you…you know, it's much more structured. I'd say that’s something you should expect."

That's not to say the WWOOFers aren't working hard at Cold Creek Orchard. Quite the contrary, says Vesely. But his bottom line is that the work he needs done gets done and done well. Micromanaging his WWOOFers is beside—or even contrary to—the point.

"Because I live in Long Beach [i.e., about a 75-minute drive from the property] and don't rely on the orchard with my livelihood, I can afford to take more risk and let WWOOFers manage themselves throughout the week and coordinate with them over the weekends," he says. "It does not work flawlessly when you don't have a strong leader who can manage the group. We had periods of time when we had rotating leadership, when every day, someone else was in charge. We also had period of times when no-one was in charge and no-one wanted to be in charge. Those were interesting social experiments, but from an operational perspective it was very clear that if no-one is in charge, very little gets done. When you have a rotating leadership it can work, but you really have to spend some time over the weekend planning out the week and then having people take ownership of certain days/tasks. But clearly strong leadership works the best. Now we have it with Corrie, who is very mature, dependable, motivated, and above all good with people."

Considering that just about everyone in the group eventually wants to have his/her own organic property, all appreciate the combination of instruction they receive with the freedom to do the work without anyone's looking over their shoulder, since that's the way it will be when they're out on their own.

"Farming is not easy work," says Corrie. "It takes dedication. You have to work from the moment the sun comes up until the moment the sun comes down. And your life depends on it." The group is unanimous that "attitude is everything."

(L to R) Cold Creek Orchard owner Daniel Vesely and WWOOFers Nicole and Corrie
(L to R) Cold Creek Orchard owner Daniel Vesely and WWOOFers Nicole and Corrie

Most of the WWOOFers who come through get it. But not all. "This is not a vacation: this is a work program," Corrie says. "Expect to work hard. Eighty percent of the people that come through here get it. They want to work hard; they want manual labor. But you get that 20 percent who comes here and expects it to be some sort of vacation." Those people haven't lasted long at Cold Creek Orchard, chaff that has been separated from the wheat before my visit, leaving a happy, cohesive group. "We get a lot of things done, but it's very laid back at the same time," says Mike. "Everyone brings their skills to the table, and we all know what we're good at and what we're not so good at."

WWOOF is a relatively straightforward tool for providing those with a yen to work and live off the land in an organic and sustainable way the means to acquire those skills directly and practice them as a way of life. The more people who take this route, the better that is for the Earth—not only the planet itself, but also its human societies, varied sociological phenomena in which one size doesn't fit all. While some of us may be cut out for academia and corporate life, others—like Mike and the rest of the WWOOFers at Cold Creek Orchard the night of my visit, as we sat around a fire, under the stars, with none of the background traffic sounds that I hear as I write these words—may find their calling off the paved path.

"It's good to feel tired at the end of the day knowing that you did something," Mike says. "You've accomplished a tangible task, not just sat at a desk. [… WWOOFing] is becoming more of an alternative option for younger people."


About the Author

Except for a four-month sojourn in Comoros (a small island nation near the northwest of Madagascar), Greggory Moore has lived his entire life in Southern California.  Currently he resides in Long Beach, CA, where he engages in a variety of activities, including playing in the band MOVE, performing as a member of RIOTstage, and, of course, writing. 

His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, OC Weekly, Daily Kos, the Long Beach Post, Random Lengths News, The District Weekly, GreaterLongBeach.com, and a variety of academic and literary journals.  HIs first novel, The Use of Regret, was published in 2011, and he is currently at work on his follow-up.  For more information:  greggorymoore.com

 


FAQ

How Does WWOOF Work?

WWOOF . Volunteers (WWOOFers) help for  4-6 hours a day, and hosts provide the food and accommodation. This is a good way to experience, learn and share different ways of living.

How do I start?

The first thing you need to decide is where you want to go WWOOFING. There are over 100 countries to choose from. Do you want to volunteer in Australia or Argentina, Korea or Kenya,  Israel or Iceland or …..? Many countries have their own dedicated national WWOOF organisation, full details below. Click on the country you are interested in to visit their website.

If you read about a farm you would like to visit you will need to enrol as a volunteer to access the contact details for that farm. To do this return to the home page and look for a link that says “become a volunteer/sign up” or similar and follow the instructions. It is then your responsibility to make direct contact with a host farm of your choice to arrange a mutually convenient time for your visit.

Please note that if you want to WWOOF in more than one country you MUST contact and subscribe to the WWOOF organisation in each country you want to volunteer in. Eg to wwoof in Spain – join WWOOF Espana, to WWOOF in Australia join WWOOF Australia. Some countries do not have a national WWOOF organisations – but still have farms interested in hosting volunteers. For a full list go the “WWOOF in Other countries” section of this site.

What kind of VISA do I need?

Each country has different visa requirements, so you need to check with the relevant WWOOF organisation. In general it is up to the volunteer to research and arrange any visas required for their WWOOFing stay. WWOOF organisations do not normally arrange placements on the farms – this is something you do directly with the hosts. This means that neither WWOOF staff or WWOOF hosts can usually help you with getting visas.

How old do I have to be to go WWOOFing?

Most WWOOF groups require you to be 18 years old. This is actually a legal issue. In most countries people below 18 are still considered by law to be children, which means that hosts would be legally responsible for anything that happens to you on their property. Many of our hosts are not willing to take on the extra responsibility that this entails.

The good news is that different rules apply in different countries and so some WWOOF groups do take younger people. Currently WWOOF Canada, WWOOF Portugal, WWOOF Italy and WWOOF Ireland take people at 17 years old, though sometimes a letter of consent from your parent or guardian is required. For WWOOF Italy, a letter of consent is ALWAYS required. Other WWOOF groups like WWOOF Switzerland say it is up to each individual farmer. Then WWOOF Turkey require you to be 20 years old.

So you need to decide where you want to go and then contact the group that organises WWOOF in that country to find out their current policy on age. Your other option may be to travel with someone that can act as your legal guardian and take responsibility for you while you are on a host farm.

How much will it cost to go WWOOFing?

Each WWOOF trip is unique. It is therefore difficult to provide a precise figure. Please ensure you budget for the following:
•subscription fee to WWOOF in the country or countries you are visiting (this can be anything between 0 – US$72 / 0 – 56 Euro)

•all travel expenses including, travel to WWOOF country and travel to/from between host farms
•accommodation en route
•insurance
•toiletries/medicines
•mobile phone/internet access
•day trips/treats. If you don’t already have sturdy working boots and a sleeping bag it is also advisable to purchase these (though many farmers may have proper beds and linen for you..).

For how long can I stay on a WWOOF farm?

Normally the length of stay on a farm is decided between you and your host. There is no standard period. It can be anything from a few days to a few months. It all depends on what you both want. While some hosts like long stays others prefer short stays. Some ask for a few weeks trial before accepting people for longer stays.

Can I go WWOOFing with my children?

Some farms are very happy to welcome people with children others are not. For farms that already have children it is often a pleasure to have other children around.

We recommend you start by thinking about which country or countries you wish to visit .You can find a list of all the current national groups at the bottom of this page. If the country you are interested in is not listed try WWOOF in Other Countries.Click on the country you are interested in to visit their website look for a button/link that says “preview host farms” (NB – most, but not all sites have this facility). As you scan the list look to see if there are any farms that describe themselves as “family run” and then target these first. ( To get contact info you will need to enrol with the relevant group as volunteers)

For getting the perspective of others that WWOOF with children there are several articles:
•Can I WWOOF with my kids?
•WWOOFing with a toddler – successfully!
•Great experiences – WWOOFing with a 7 year old
•Suzie and family on adventure in Europe

I want to volunteer in several different countries. Is there an international membership?

WWOOF is structured on a national level. While there are many WWOOF organisations around the world there is no central list or organisation. You need to join WWOOF in each of the countries you intend to visit. There is no International WWOOF membership. We are a network of WWOOF nations!

Many countries have their own national organisations. If you want to WWOOF in any of these countries you MUST contact and subscribe to the WWOOF organisation in that country. When you join one of these countries you will only receive the list of hosts in that country. It is possible to stay with WWOOF hosts in countries that do not, as yet, have their own national WWOOF organisation. Subscribing to these lists will enable you to visit farms in more than one country – though not necessarily the ones you want!

What kind of security checks are done on hosts?

The checks made on the hosts vary depending on where you WWOOF. WWOOF organisations only act as a contact between farms and volunteers. Some WWOOF groups do visit each host before they are accepted, others require further checks or references. Other groups do no checks at all. As many WWOOF organisations are not-for-profit they do not always have the resources to visit their host farms. So you need to directly ask the WWOOF group that works in the country you want to visit what checks they do on their hosts.

In general – when arranging to visit a WWOOF host you must take all the precautions you would take when visiting someone you do not know. Some countries have a feedback or reference system. The majority of WWOOF organisations have strict complaints procedures. If they get a complaint about a host it is investigated. If the complaint is upheld they are removed from our lists and cannot join again. This applies to volunteers too!

How do I find a farm that specialises in winemaking/pig rearing/cheese making/permaculture?

It can be difficult to find hosts that exactly suit your needs without knowing which country you want to visit. So you really need to think about what countries most interest you and then concentrate your search in those countries, by previewing and searching the host list. Please note that there is no guarantee that the host you are interested in will be available at the time you want to volunteer.

Am I too old to go WWOOFing?

Providing you are fit and well enough to work for 4-6 hours per day – there is no upper age limit for WWOOFing. Many farmers welcome the maturity older WWOOFers bring. We would however recommend that you tell your host in advance about any physical limitation you may have.

Do I need Insurance?

We recommend normal Travel Insurance, which would cover theft, illness etc. Please do your own research. You may want to check out the cover Worldnomads or Overeuropa offers.

 

 

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