Do you have suggestions for making WWOOF even more enriching and pleasant experience? If you have a good suggestion to make, contact your WWOOF organization immediately ‘coz it may be discussed at the International WWOOF Organizers’ Meeting.

In most voluntary activities, there is one party (receptor) which receives tangible benefits while the other party (donor) receives intangible benefits such as satisfaction. However, WWOOF is a special kind of voluntary activity. In WWOOF, the WWOOFer as well as the host, both receive tangible as well as intangible benefits. WWOOF is a true give and take relationship between the WWOOFers and hosts.

WWOOF presents an excellent opportunity to carry out a variety of activities related to organic farming. There is hardly any program which will give you so much exposure to organic farming. If you want to get hands-on experience on organic farming, there is nothing better than WWOOFing. What more do you want if you get to see the world at the same time?

The advent of Information Technology and the developments in the field of telecommunications have drastically increased the speed of sharing information. We use paper for communication in very rare circumstances.

A WWOOF host opens the doors to his/her farm and home for a complete stranger. Imagine a stranger calling you up and saying that he will be staying in your house for two weeks, and do some work in exchange of a bed and food. What will be your reaction? Will you not want some identify proof of this person?

WWOOF stands for Willing Workers on Organic Farms or World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.

The following tips will help you in getting a pleasant WWOOFing experience:

WWOOF organizations play an important role of bringing the hosts and WWOOFers together. Without their presence, it would be really difficult for the WWOOFers to find a suitable host.

It is not only the WWOOFers who have myths about WWOOF; there are some hosts as well who have misunderstanding of this program.

In most cases, WWOOFing is a pleasant experience. Both WWOOFers and hosts mutually gain and the activity becomes one of the most memorable activities in their life. However, there are some cases when WWOOFing results in a bad experience.

Hereafter, if you want to start a WWOOF group, you don’t have to wait for the stars to shine. You can get ready support for forming WWOOF groups now. WWOOF organizations all over the world are in the process of forming the International WWOOF Association (IWA). The IWA aims at providing neutral, clear information and support to WWOOF enthusiasts including WWOOFers, WWOOF hosts and WWOOF organizations, throughout the world.

WWOOFing involves doing physical labor on organic farms. Hence it is always advisable to get an insurance cover for yourself on your WWOOFing expeditions. A comprehensive health and accident insurance is always helpful in times of need.

Willing Workers on Organic Farms or WWOOF is coordinated by numerous WWOOF organizations. Many countries have a national WWOOF organization. For example, if you want to do WWOOFing in Canada, you should become a member of WWOOF Canada. For WWOOFing in New Zealand, membership of WWOOF New Zealand will be beneficial.

WWOOF is a constructive activity and hence there are very few restrictions as to who can become a member. Normally the only criterion used for membership is age. Since working on a farm is unsuitable for children, children are not provided membership to WWOOF. The age limit varies according to the WWOOF organization. For example, the age limit for WWOOF Australia is 17 years, while the age limit for WWOOF New Zealand and WWOOF Canada is 16 years.

When a WWOOFer visits an organic farm, he/she doesn’t know anybody except for the hosts. The entire day of the WWOOFer depends on the host and the way the host behaves with the WWOOFer significantly governs how the WWOOFer spends his time. Hence it is necessary for hosts to keep certain things in mind while interacting with WWOOFers.

WWOOF involves close interaction between strangers and hence WWOOFers as well as hosts should ensure proper communication with the other party.

If you want to do WWOOFing in a particular country, the first thing that you should do is to become a member of the national WWOOF organization of that country. Many countries have a national WWOOF organization that coordinates the WWOOFing activity in that region. There are numerous benefits offered by WWOOF membership.

WWOOF aims at providing an enhanced learning experience for the WWOOFers on organic farms. Almost every WWOOF organization lists the aims of WWOOF on its website. These have been summarized below:

Many voluntary activities are backed by huge charity funds. However, WWOOFing involves only a small amount of money. WWOOFing is a give and take relationship between the host and WWOOFers. The fact that WWOOF benefits the WWOOF volunteers as well as the hosts is an important reason for the success of this activity.