r/WWOOF Aug 06 '13

Beginner's Guide

451 Upvotes

Here are some nuggets of wisdom I've picked up from other WWOOFers and travelers over the years. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

  • WWOOF does not cover the cost of traveling. Most hosts will offer to pick you up from the nearest airports/bus/train stations, but getting to the general geographic region is up to you.

  • Some hosts will reply to your letter right away, some not at all. Hosts can receive lots of emails a day, and might not have time to reply to them all. You may have to email 3-4 people before you get a response.

  • While hosts can take volunteers on short notice, it's common for them to fill up months ahead of time. Booking your stay 1 to 3 months in advance is often advised.

  • If you are young or untraveled, think about going with a friend your first time(s). Many farms welcome pairs of volunteers, just be sure it's someone you want to travel with! It might also be a good idea to choose a farm that has multiple WWOOFers at a time. It's a great way to meet other travelers and you might feel safer and less "on the spot". This isn't to say that single-WWOOFer locations aren't great, however.

  • Tips for your first email (thanks to /u/drak0bsidian):

    Be polite and professional. It is more how you say it than what you say. Your email should be well-formatted, polite, concise, and professional. Also: write the email like a letter, starting with "Dear . . ." or "Hello . . ." and ending with a "Thank you . . ." or something to that extent.

    Be explanative. Let the host know who you are, both physically and historically: what's your education? What's your drive? Why are you wanting to travel? What's your experience? WHO ARE YOU?

    Be sincere. Explain why you have the urge to travel, to farm, and to experience a different life for a few weeks or months. Show that you've done the research, have the experience, or at least have the desire.

  • Before you leave, find the closest locations of bus/train stations, wi-fi hotspots, phonebooths, etc. Many farms provide this information.

  • Let someone know. Even if you are an experienced traveler, it's smart to tell someone your whereabouts in case you end up missing. Your loved ones will appreciate it if you check in once in a while.

  • Have money in reserve for emergencies, unplanned travel expenses, and nights on the town.

  • If you want to bring children (or pets) WWOOFing, make sure you discuss it with your prospective host first.

  • Be a good WWOOFer. Get up on time ready to work Keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Leave your comfort zone for a rewarding experience. Do your tasks without complaining, but don't be afraid to ask for clarifications. Be careful not to be taken advantage of and if you don't feel safe, speak up. Never do something that puts you in harm's way. No one wants you to get injured!

  • WWOOF hosts will often task you with doing the dishes after mealtimes. Know this simple skill first.

  • If you are polite and respectful you will go far. Learn "Please", "May I...", "Would you like...", and "Thank you." in the native tongue and use them consistently. No one likes a rude house guest, much less a rude WWOOFer.

  • When speaking English with someone who isn't a native speaker, use "International English" ie speaking at a medium or slower pace and avoiding slang. Don't mush words together, go for clarity and simplicity. Quite a lot can be conveyed with simple dialog.

  • When speaking English where it isn't the normally spoken language, remember they're doing a favor by speaking your language, so reciprocate by speaking slowly with simple phrases and common words. Being loud just makes you obnoxious.

  • Always listen to your gut. Err on the side of caution. Be wary. There are scammers, weirdos, and criminals in every country of the world, so be alert. Your safety is your responsibility. Getting injured or mugged can really throw a damper on an otherwise great trip.

  • Work hard, have fun, and be safe!


r/WWOOF 1d ago

Could I still volunteer on a WWOOF farm if I don’t have a job, no car, no money, no assets, etc.?

6 Upvotes

I’m 26, and I’m unable to find any job in my area. It’s very hard in my city.

Ultimately, I want to own a farm or at least some land to grow my own crops someday. Could I still volunteer on a WWOOF farm even if I have no job, no car, no assets, etc.?


r/WWOOF 1d ago

TRYING TO FIND SEASONAL FARMING JOBS

0 Upvotes

If anybody knows anyone who can help me get seasonal jobs to work on a farm, like an apprenticeship, internship, or just regular jobs. That'll be cool 

A littke abt me: I'm 21 yrs old, and I'm from NY. I'm not inexperienced, and I'm comfortable with hands-on work. This is similar to what they do in Red Dead Redemption and the Netflix series "Alone". And I'm a very quick learner, like on some flash-type timing; actually, I'm more like Kirby

My main goal is to own my own piece of land and have my own functioning farm.

This is meant for me. 


r/WWOOF 2d ago

Bringing pets on wwoof adventures?

5 Upvotes

Hi there, I’m wondering if anyone has any experience bringing their pet along to wwoof with them? I have a very well behaved small dog that comes everywhere with me and I hate the idea of leaving him behind. Any advice? It is possible?


r/WWOOF 3d ago

Volunteer in the Peruvian Amazon – Agroforestry & Sustainable Living

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10 Upvotes

Nous recherchons des bénévoles autonomes et responsables pour rejoindre Inti Eco Lodge, un projet écologique et agroforestier d'environ 50 hectares situé dans l'Amazonie péruvienne, entre Iquitos et Nauta, sur les rives de la rivière Itaya.

Notre projet combine reforestation, agroforesterie, travail en pépinière, régénération des sols, construction écologique et entretien général, en collaboration avec les populations locales des communautés voisines.

🌱 Bénévole

Selon la saison et les besoins du projet, vous pourriez participer aux tâches suivantes :

• Agroforesterie

• Travail en pépinière : semis et entretien des jeunes plants

• Plantation et transplantation

• Arrosage et entretien des jeunes plants

• Désherbage et entretien des cultures de couverture

• Régénération naturelle des sols et fertilisation

• Entretien des zones cultivées

• Réparation des sols argileux et construction écologique

• Entretien général des lieux et des espaces communs

Aucune expérience préalable n'est requise, mais une expérience en jardinage, agriculture, permaculture, agroforesterie, construction, bricolage ou autre travail manuel est un plus.

Avant tout, nous recherchons des personnes fiables, observatrices, pratiques qui peuvent travailler de manière autonome.

🕐 Horaire

Du lundi au vendredi : 7h00 - 12h00, avec une pause de 30 minutes.

Samedi : 9h00 - 11h00, avec 2 heures consacrées à nettoyer et entretenir les espaces communs.

Après 11h00 le samedi et toute la journée du dimanche, vous êtes libre.

Le personnel local est présent sur site du lundi au vendredi, mais les bénévoles ne sont pas constamment supervisés.

Les premiers jours sont consacrés à la découverte du site, de son fonctionnement, des outils et des projets en cours. Ensuite, nous attendons que les bénévoles gagnent en autonomie.

🌴Vie à Inti

Inti est situé au cœur de la forêt amazonienne. La vie ici est belle mais aussi simple, humide, rustique, et parfois physiquement exigeante.

Ce n'est ni un hôtel ni une expérience touristique classique.

Vous devez être à l'aise avec les insectes, les moustiques, la boue, la pluie tropicale et des installations rudimentaires. Vous devez également apprécier la solitude et les moments de calme.

Les après-midis et les week-ends sont libres. Vous pouvez nager, vous détendre, explorer les environs ou marcher jusqu'au village voisin de San Martín (petite communauté locale), situé à environ 25 minutes.

Des activités optionnelles peuvent être organisées, comme du kayak, une exploration de la jungle et une sortie en tyrolienne.

🍲 **Repas et hébergement

Les bénévoles peuvent choisir entre :
Option 1 – Nourriture fournie par Inti :
20 soles/jour pour des séjours de moins d'un mois
15 soles/jour pour des séjours d'un mois ou plus

Option 2 – Apportez votre propre nourriture :
Pas de contribution quotidienne. Les bénévoles peuvent acheter leur nourriture à Iquitos avant de venir à Inti et utiliser gratuitement la cuisine et le matériel de cuisine.

L'hébergement en dortoir partagé est fourni gratuitement dans les deux cas.

📅 Durée du séjour

La durée minimale habituelle est de 3 semaines.

Pour les séjours de plus de trois mois, le premier mois est considéré comme une période d'essai. Nous déciderons alors ensemble de la pertinence d'un séjour plus long.

Nous recherchons particulièrement des personnes cherchant une expérience pratique authentique, capables de prendre des initiatives et à l'aise pour travailler de manière autonome sans supervision constante.

🚤 Comment se rendre à Inti

Inti Eco Lodge est accessible par route depuis Iquitos, puis par bateau pendant environ deux heures sur la rivière Itaya.

Le transport n'est pas inclus.

Les arrivées et départs sont généralement organisés le lundi.

Toutes les informations pratiques seront fournies une fois votre séjour de bénévolat confirmé.

Intéressé ?

Envoyez-nous un message incluant :

• Votre nom et votre âge

• Vos dates de séjour souhaitées

• Toute expérience pratique pertinente

• Vos motivations pour faire du bénévolat à Inti

• Si vous êtes à l'aise pour vivre et travailler de manière autonome dans la jungle amazonienne

Inti Eco Lodge – Amazonie péruvienne
www.intiecolodge.com


r/WWOOF 5d ago

How long does it usually take to get an answere ?

5 Upvotes

Hello, I recently sent my first submission to join a farm in October and I still did not get an answer after 2 days. Is this usual? I have other farms I'm considering but this one in particular is my top and I'm not sure if I should submit to others If I end up with a positive answer from the original one yet launch into a discussion with another, what should I do?


r/WWOOF 5d ago

Seeking WWOOF experiences oriented around preservation techniques!

7 Upvotes

Curious if anyone has done any WWOOF experiences centered around preservation techniques such as: fermentation, pickling, canning (jams, honey, etc.), distilling natural fragrances or essential oils, medicinal herbs, etc. Thanks!


r/WWOOF 8d ago

Volunteer opportunities.

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0 Upvotes

r/WWOOF 8d ago

Seasonal agricultural work opportunities

0 Upvotes

Hello! I’m considering travelling to Greece and I’m interested in finding a legal seasonal job in the agricultural sector, possibly for a period of a few weeks to a couple of months.

I am Brazilian, so I would need to follow the appropriate legal procedures for a non-EU citizen to work in Greece. I’m particularly interested in opportunities where the employer is accustomed to hiring seasonal workers from outside the European Union and can assist with the necessary documentation and work authorization.

Since you are Greek, I thought you might know where I could look for these opportunities. Do you know of any websites, agricultural organizations, employment agencies, farms, or other reliable sources where seasonal agricultural jobs are advertised?

I would be very grateful for any advice or recommendations on where I should begin my search. Thank you!


r/WWOOF 9d ago

Lebabon wwoofing-safe?

1 Upvotes

Hi. I'm wondering if anyone has recently spent time in Lebanon. I understand that entire region is "upside" right now. But I'm wondering if it's all a warzone, or is daily life still happening there.

Would it be ok for me to wwoof there, or not?


r/WWOOF 15d ago

Dairy farms in uk/germany/italy who are willing to accept 16 year olds?

2 Upvotes

As the title suggests, I’m really passionate about dairy farming.
I just don’t want to buy a membership to then find out they won’t accept me, and I can’t contact hosts until I buy a membership.
Or perhaps, someone with a membership who can contact a farm to ask them for me, I’d be very grateful.


r/WWOOF 15d ago

Going through Canadian immigration/customs for wwoofing

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I’m leaving for Canada on September 1st to do WWOOFing at ranches through the HelpX platform. Overall, I’ll be spending 5 weeks at a ranch near Kelowna, 5 weeks at another one near Saskatoon, then 5 days in Montreal as a tourist before flying back to Paris.

I already have my eTA, passport, international driving permit, travel insurance, and all the necessary flight tickets, including my return flight. Since I’ve finished my studies, I’ve also signed a job offer for when I return to France.

However, after reading several people’s experiences, I’m a bit worried about going through Canadian customs. From what I’ve read, many people recommend saying that you’re visiting friends rather than mentioning that you’re going to do WWOOFing.
I’m planning to book 2 cheap hotel nights in the city where I arrive, just in case, so I don’t have to explain the WWOOFing situation right away, or in case I meet up with friends and they ask me additional questions.
I’ve also bought some gifts for my hosts (French biscuits, strawberry jam, and a few pâtés/terrines that comply with the permitted regulations). However, I understand that I need to declare them when I arrive.

So I have a few questions:
- How does declaring the food I’m bringing work?
- What would you generally recommend telling the customs officer? Especially if I book 2 nights at a hotel at the beginning, how should I explain the rest of my trip if I don’t have any other bookings?
- If anyone has had experience staying at ranches or travelling around Canada, I’d love to hear about it!
- Anything else I should know or any advice?

Thank you!!


r/WWOOF 16d ago

Should I bring my laptop?

5 Upvotes

I'm going to be bouncing around europe for a few months and while I don't need my laptop for work or anything I do find it much more convenient than my phone for browsing. I'll be booking further wwoof/workaways and think it might be easier to use than my phone for that. Space isn't an issue, but I do have to consider the weight (and concern about damage or theft). I'm trying to make sure all farms I'm going to will have wifi, but I certainly don't hope to spend my free time inside on the internet, I mostly want to use it for things like research and planning.

What do yall think? Do you bring your laptop with you? Any other pros/cons I should consider?


r/WWOOF 17d ago

Islamophobia in WWOOFing - Is it common

2 Upvotes

Hello! I am a hijabi muslim woman living in Canada. I want to try WWOOFing solo here in Canada, but I'm worried about islamophobia. Does anyone know if it, or other forms of bigotry, are common? I take horseback riding lessons and microaggressions from staff at the barn aren't super rare. It's not the biggest issue when I ride, but I'm worried about it with WWOOFing because I will be living with the "staff". I know people in rural areas tend to be white and may hold more conservative viewpoints. I want to try WWOOFing as a way to disconnect and experience nature, as well as gain diverse animal experience since I plan to apply to vet school. How common is islamophobia?


r/WWOOF 18d ago

How to get into volunteering

1 Upvotes

I’m really interested in getting into volunteering, especially wildlife/animal conservation. I love animals, nature, traveling, meeting people, helping others, and seeing different parts of the world.
I have no clue what places are good for volunteering but I wouldn’t mind Africa, the Americas or Asia(I know that’s not very specific but anything but Europe tbh). I’d be free after the month of August.

I have so many questions and I’d love for people who have actually done it to answer and enlighten me!!
\- How did you get started, and what do I need to do beforehand(Vaccines etc.)?
\- What visas/permits do I usually need for volunteering?
\-Which countries would you recommend, especially for wildlife/animal conservation?Which ones should I avoid? and which ones are good for August and onward
\- What should I look for when choosing a legitimate organization/project? Any green/red flags?
\- How much should I realistically budget?(Ive got some saved up money!)
\- What should I pack, and what should I definitely not bring?
\- How long should I Volunteer? Weeks Months ??
\- Are there any organizations/websites you personally recommend or ones I should avoid?

Help me out if i forgot some questions.
Any experiences, tips, mistakes you made, or things you wish you knew beforehand would be really appreciated!


r/WWOOF 20d ago

First-timer planning Jan–Feb in NZ — Workaway/WWOOF vs working holiday in Jan/Feb

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1 Upvotes

r/WWOOF 21d ago

WWOOFing but animal, like a zoo or caretaking

6 Upvotes

So I'm on a farm working and didnt even know all these animals I care for will eventually turn into dinner.

When I talked to the host over the phone he just said you will be "working with".

I'm somewhat spiritual but vegetarian (personal choice so wont get into it).

Anyways is there another website/app like WWOOF or even wwoof itself where I can care for all types of animals? (maybe you know of a wwoofing place you can recommend me from TN state line and below since I dont like super cold weather)

Mainly mammals that wont be end up for dinner (dogs, cats, 4 legged animals).

Trying to build up my resume since its impossible to get a paying job without 1 year minimum experience and I don't want to take care of animals just for them to be killed and also the fact that many die before they are sent in for slaughter which I dont like to touch dead animals.


r/WWOOF 20d ago

Volunteer Card Travel Insurance

1 Upvotes

I'm in the USA and about to go WWOOFing in Europe. I'll be bouncing around countries for a few months (until I get tired of it or run out of money). WWOOF recommends Genki or Volunteer Card travel insurance, the latter only for US citizens (which I am). Volunteer Card seems much cheaper - does anyone have any experience using it? I'd also be grateful for other travel insurance recommendations that work for this style of travel!


r/WWOOF 21d ago

Should I be worried about visa issues for WWOOF Japan?

3 Upvotes

I’m in the US and interested in doing WWOOF in Japan in the fall for the first time. The site says it’s ok to visit as a tourist since there’s no monetary compensation but I’m a bit paranoid after reading some old news stories where people got in trouble, and also since the government seems to be more anti-foreigner lately. Has anyone done WWOOF in Japan recently and had any issues or things went fine under a tourist visa?


r/WWOOF 22d ago

Do hosts actually accept 16 year olds in the countries where it’s 16+?

0 Upvotes

I really want to wwoof at age 16, thinking about Germany and northern Italy, though any of the following countries I’ll be more than glad to wwoof in. In Germany, Italy, Portugal and uk they allow participating from age 16. If anyone got any experience with it, it’ll be awesome and helpful.


r/WWOOF 24d ago

Why aren't reviews more honest?

12 Upvotes

I keep seeing comments about how to gauge what a farm may be like, to "read between the lines" of reviews. Why is that? Why aren't reviews more straightforward and honest?


r/WWOOF 25d ago

First time wwoofing - packing list?

2 Upvotes

Hallo!

I will be solo WWOOFing for the very first time from Sept 23 to Oct 28 this fall staying in both South Germany and central Switzerland. I am from the US and this is also my first time traveling internationally.

I am an extreme overpacker and have never been away from this long, so I really have no clue as to what are necessities and what should stay home. Obviously this differs for everyone but I would appreciate any general suggestions of what to pack based on your experiences. I will be doing classic farm work with both gardening and animal caretaking.

I am mostly curious about how much clothing yall got away with, things you are glad you brought/wish you had left, and maybe some things most people dont think of when packing.

Danke!


r/WWOOF 25d ago

in search of a seasonal job on the south island of new zealand

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1 Upvotes

r/WWOOF 26d ago

Where are Favourites

0 Upvotes

I may be stupid, idk, but for the life of me I have no clue where to see all the places I saved in Favourites. I spend like 3h surveying, reading and picking what I liked 😭 Plsss where r they???

Hopefully this is going to be my first time going on sth like this and I am still choosing between 3 countries so I haven't paid the membership yet. it's entirely unfair if they expect me to pay in order to have a favourites list , jeez

Edit: nvm, found it. It wasn't my fault really, the fuckass button looks like an AI button. (I mean it's organic farming, there should not be an AI button but one of the hosts I checked offered AI courses online so 💀)


r/WWOOF 28d ago

Looking for Italian Farm Recs!

3 Upvotes

Where: Pref in Tuscany, Lazio, and Campania regions, but I'm open. Looking for farms with at least some access to or transportation to nearby towns and sights

When: Oct-Dec for anywhere from 1-5weeks at a time

What: I love working with plants, especially herbs, but am open to any opportunities that aren't just heavily animal care focused. I'd like somewhere that takes multiple wwoofers and/or has good social opportunities

Why: my main interests are learning more about sustainable living and gardening, learning more about other cultures and meeting new people, and mixing in a little of some touristy adventures in my time off

If you have any farms you'd recommend or are a host that sounds like a good fit please reach out! I am doing my own searching and reaching out on wwoof but thought I'd check here to see if anyone has any farms to look out for, if I get any recs I will find the farm and reach out through wwoof :)