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.

WWOOFing becomes unpleasant for a WWOOFer when:

• The host makes the WWOOFer work for long hours: Few farmers actually become hosts as they consider it to be a means of getting cheap labor. They make the WWOOFers work for 8-12 hours. This results in a very unpleasant experience for the WWOOFer.
• The host asks the WWOOFer to do unrelated work: Some hosts do not provide work related to organic farming and ask the WWOOFer to do completely unrelated work.
• Unfriendly host and family: Sometimes the host and/or his family members do not talk much and leave the WWOOFer on their own. At times, there is tension going on between the host family members and a stranger’s presence worsens it.
• The host family is too busy: At times, the host family is very busy and cannot pay attention to the WWOOFer.
• The host family asks the WWOOFer to leave early: Sometimes, the host family has planned for a vacation and wants the WWOOFer to leave early so that they can go for their vacation.

In all these cases, the host is at fault. Either the host is mean by nature or should communicate the WWOOFer about his/her inability in being a host. Please note that such cases are very few and you can avoid them by choosing a host properly.

However there are other times, when WWOOFing becomes a bad experience for the WWOOFers due to their fault. These instances arise due to the following:

• Inadequate understanding of WWOOF: Some people consider that WWOOFing is staying and eating for free. They have no interest in organic farming and consider WWOOFing as a means of cheap travel. Such people are generally not satisfied with their WWOOFing experience.
• Improper planning: Sometimes WWOOFers do not plan properly. Asking the type of work they will be expected to do is very important. Moreover the duration of the stay should be discussed with the host.
• Unannounced arrival: When you arrive unannounced, it may not be feasible for the host to accommodate you.
• Uninformed companions: Sometimes WWOOFers take an additional companion or children or even pet with them. Some hosts are not willing to accept children and pets.

On some occasions, WWOOFing becomes a bad experience for the hosts as well. These arise due to misconduct or improper planning by the WWOOFer. A few of these instances have been given below:

• Unclear WWOOFer: Some WWOOFers are unclear about WWOOFing and end up sleeping the whole day or simply refuse to work.
• Inadequate planning by the WWOOFer: Many WWOOFers don’t turn up on their expected day of arrival and they don’t inform about their inability to come. Some WWOOFers ring the bell without any intimation.
• Unfriendly WWOOFers: Some WWOOFers are rude by nature and do not follow the rules and regulations set by the host. In short they forget that they are living in someone’s home.
• Unreceptive WWOOFers: Some WWOOFers do not have any knowledge about organic farming. However, this does not create any problem. Real problem is caused by those WWOOFers who have no knowledge about organic farming and try to use their own thinking on the farm. For example, an ignorant WWOOFer will remove a trap crop considering it to be a weed.

Tips for WWOOFers
Myths about WWOOF

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joe  - Need information   |2009-10-02 08:30:25 Hi, I really want to travel and love to work out doors. I really have an intrest in learning spanish and want to do wwoofing in a spanish speaking country. I no alot of spanish now i might ad. But did anyone do wwoofing in costa rica or spain or any spanish nation who had an excellent time. I would love to no were you stayed and who you stayed with. Reply 0   0

barry weightman  - owner of old water mill in the Dordogne, France   |2009-06-24 13:59:49 I am looking for woofers to assist me in the garden - mowing, weeding, planting, but also clearing the mill stream of obstructions -fallen trees, etc. This is an ancient property with some archaeological interests, including caves. The Dordogne is in south-west France. Reply 0   0

Nico Molinari  - quite interested   |2009-07-08 03:40:06 hello Mr. Weightman, I am very interested in assisting with this gardening project of yours. What would be the duration of time required and what general time in the year? you can contact me at atheorem@hotmail.com Reply 0   0

Dominick Martone  - Hello Good Sir   |2009-09-09 04:54:10 Your property sounds beautiful, and I am very interested to come work for you. I am a strong muscular 27 year old male from the U.S., and am looking to spread my wings. I do not complain about hardwork;I welcome it. Please feel free to email me at your leisure to discuss further arrangements. Thank you. -Dominick Reply 1   0

Lorraine Godfrey  - Having an open mind about WWOOFing   |2008-09-13 00:05:24 From experience, I have found that it's best to ask many questions before committing to work on someone's land. Try to get familiar with the host and the land before arriving on their property. It makes for smoother communication later. Basic questions; *What the living arragements are? *Does everyone eat together or will you be cooking for yourself? *How can you wash your clothes? (very important, you will get DIRTY!) *What things are there to do when you have free time? You can expect weekends and evenings free so you want to have somewhere to go and enjoy yourself. *What are the transportation options to get away from the property if you want (need) to. There's nothing worse than being stuck on a remote piece of land. I look for farms where I can learn about permaculture, composting, worming and green building techniques, etc. That's why I wwoof! *Ask what their philosophies are? *What duties would you be doing? Wwoofing is a mixed bag! It can be hard work and physically challenging but hugely rewarding and fun. Be prepared for long days outdoors in any environment! Be sure your heart is in the right place before you volunteer yourself and you'll always be fine. If you're squeamish or weak you probably shouldn't wwoof. Two nightmare scenarios; There are people willing to freeload. They just take the free food and lodging offered but don't positively contribute. They just want a good time! If the farm is genuine and meets your standards, stick it out and make pleasant with people like that. They never stay long. On the other hand there are alot of social misfits with land looking for free labor or for a babysitter and maid. Ask relevant questions and Trust your gut! If they can't solidly describe what the wwoofers duties will be, if they're reluctant to describe themselves or the land to you or you get vague and indirect answers to your questions, don't even think about putting yourself on their property! My example; I worked on a farm in Australia. The farm's website sounded fantastic and I was enthusiastic to learn new skills! When I got there I found it not at all like the website described. There were fruit orchards planted long ago but the trees were so stunted, sometimes I couldn't even see the trees for the field of weeds! This farm of 40 acres had completely gone to rot. I was bent over, knee deep in muck hacking away with a machete and yanking on deep rooted weeds for 5 hours a day! The owner offered lots of excuses about previous wwoofers not really working or not staying long enough and I chose to believe him. The farm had an Aussie bush cook and enough food from an organic garden. I liked my shelter and enjoyed the few other wwoofers. I could see great potential so I kept weeding, hoping that once we got his orchards cleared we could start the composting, worming and indigenous replanting his website described. I had intended to stay for 3 months but 3 weeks into it another wwoofer (an Australian EMT) arrived, she brought up the question of what to do in case of snake or spider bite? We were often working alone, far away from each other. Our host insisted there were no snakes or spiders to worry about and simply dismissed it. He had no medical kit or plan for evacuation. This in Australia? The toilet and kitchen were down a hill which was muddy and overgrown with slippery grasses. Every so often we'd find a leach on one of us but we were also having a good time with each other and everyone made due. The only way to wash our clothes was to hitchhike or walk to the nearest town and back (16Ks away on an unpaved road with little traffic). The owner had a poor relationship with the townspeople so he rarely went there. They didn't speak very well of him or the way he treats his wwoofers either. My final straw came when the Aussie cook got a blood infection (probably from a leach) he had to hitchhike alone to town. He was hospitalized for a week and every wwoofer went to visit him at least once. The owner never did. After that the cook left the farm and so did I. Do not risk your health to wwoof on someone else's land! If the owner of the property is careless. Leave. Do some research on the farm before committing! Get references if possible. Reply 1   0

Elodie Knubben  - need informations   |2008-09-30 21:40:15 Hello, I just read your comment and I'd like to do wwoofing in Australia too that's why I'd like to know in which farm you've been and how old were you. I'm 18 years old (I have no experience even if my family is organic), I live in Belgium and I'd like to leave in January. Thanks ! Elodie Reply 0   0

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