WWOOF

south america!

2008-09-15T01:07:37Z

has anyone had any experience with WWOOFing in south america?
i have plans on traveling there for two months next summer and would love to get involved with volunteering.
and tips/stories/suggestions would help!
thanks!

Help Wwoofing in UK

2008-09-12T16:46:46Z

I don't know if anyone here has had this misfortune of going to WWOOF in the UK and getting put through immigration holding, getting processed, and sent home...but let me tell you it is hell. If you have foresight you would scour the net for info on UK Borders Regulations with migrant workers (which you aren't, but they tell you that essentially you are, and you don't have papers, go home) you would see you almost have to lie.

So I'm coming to you all in a time of need because I've just been sent home, and given the next 4 months of my life were scheduled around WWOOFING, I don't want to give up so easily. Plus, my boyfriend is there and we had general travel plans.

I'm worried because I need to get through customs.
Have any of you as US Citizens Wwoofed in the UK, if so, what type of VISA and/or PERMIT did you need to gain entry? Any advice on Visas and Permits would be helpful, I've already tried the numbers the consulate gives you and they sent me to a Voluntary Worker Visa which I'm worried won't got through because Wwoof isn't a charity and I have a sent home record, and then I'll be out about 200USD.

I'm really close to just not trying to Wwoof, but just go over there and stay with my boyfriend, but again, since customs has a record of my previous travel plans and dates...I'm not sure how I'll get through as a traveler anyways. Because they wouldn't believe me.

Thanks so much for any advice you can give me.
Given I'd rather just WWOOF.

wwoof in Hawaii

2008-08-21T18:53:08Z

Hi everyone! I'm a new member and I've got a few questions...

1. I'm seriously considering WWOOFing in Hawaii. I'm looking specifically at the North Shore of Oahu. Has anyone been?

2. I want to leave January or Early February. I'm wondering if this is a realistic time period to give myself (to plan and make connections).

3. How long have you stayed on various farms?

Thanks!
Christina

wwoof @ 2008-08-21T00:47:00

2008-08-21T04:48:49Z

For some reason my friend and I cant figure out how to order the wwoof new zealand book in U.S. dollars. Anyone know?

questions: wwoofing in Australia

2008-08-20T21:06:23Z

Hello all!

I'm working on extended travel plans on an around-the-world ticket. I'd love to make my last stop Australia and work on some wwoof farms. Seems like the perfect transition between my CSA farm here in Florida and applying to the Sustainable Food and Farming program at the University of Montana.

First question: can anyone suggest the best time of year to wwoof in Australia? Are different regions better during different seasons? Second question: does anyone have advice on planning a budget/expenses while wwoofing? The ticket to get there will be reasonably cheap and I have projected expenses for just traveling in Australia, but I'm not sure what to expect while volunteering (and I'm sure it can vary depending on the farm and the host).

Thanks in advance for any advice and expertise!
Bri

work visas?

2008-07-26T18:00:06Z

Does anyone know how I can find out which countries consider WWOOFing to be work and require work visas? wwoof.org is no help with specifics at all, and pages of individual countries' governments that deal with work visas don't usually say anything about WWOOF or volunteering. I'm from the US and would like to WWOOF in Ireland or the UK. Any help would be appreciated...Thanks.

Seeking help in childcare and farming - France

2008-04-27T10:07:28Z

(I have no idea if this gonna show up in the right place, but never mind, I'll post it and we'll see what happens !!)

So hi there !

My name is Suzon and as it says in my profile, I work in an organic farm located in the Jura Mountains in France.
We are currently seeking for a person to come and work with us, specifically to take care of our children. This is not a full time occupation. We are talking 2-3 days a week, flexible. The rest of the time can be spent at the farm.
Only we are looking for someone to stay with us for some time. At least 3-4 months. Nothing is set for definite but we don't want to switch people every so often for the kids.

So if you are planning to take a year off from whatever it is you do, think about it, and think about us.

More details on request at the following email : claj-batailleuse@wanadoo.fr / suzonb@hotmail.com
our web site : www.claj-batailleuse.com

Thank you !
Suzon

wwoof @ 2008-04-11T17:36:00

2008-04-11T21:33:36Z

hi everyone!

a friend and i are planning on wwoofing for about a month in france this summer; this post was very helpful but i am wondering if anyone else here might be able to give me some advice on nice regions or farms to check out, things to be wary of, etc.

also, i know some farms have a 3 week minimum, but is that standard? will it be possible to visit two or three farms within a 36 day period?

thanks!

Spain

2008-04-10T01:53:06Z

hello!

I am planning on Wwoofing in Spain at the end of July with my girlfriend. We would ideally like somewhere close to the beach so we can swim often.

Does anyone have any tips?

Thanks.

Anywhere in Latin America!?

2008-03-13T17:11:24Z

Hi everyone!

I would like to go wwoofing this summer somewhere in central america I think, and was wondering if anyone has any advice about working in this area. I see that there is already a bunch posted about Mexico, but the only specific reccomendation is for "El Chuzo" in Coahuila, (Mexico). I would be up for almost anything (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela....)

I see that this community isn't very active, but I hope that someone will find this and be able to share advice. Let me know if anyone has any experience in this region!

Thanks!

Gabriella

p.s.
ECUADOR:
I traveled a bunch in South America last spring, and volunteered at one farm on the coast of Ecuador, though I didn't find it through the wwoof network. It was called Rio Muchacho, and I reccomend it. They grow a wide variety of produce, and the family is very friendly. Its a lively place, part of an organization founde by one of the owners, and the farm also does education programs and is equipped to host many different kinds of larger groups, interns, students. Unfortunatley you have to pay.

(http://www.riomuchacho.com/html/riomuchacho.html)

wwoof @ 2008-03-10T10:05:00

2008-03-10T14:10:24Z

Greetings fellow wwoofers... [I hope some of you are still around. XD]

A quick question--should I be discouraged if farms don't respond to emails within two weeks? I'm guessing these people have more pressing things to do than check their email every five seconds like I do, but yes. XD

A lot of farms only give an email address as contact information, and I'm getting a bit antsy just because wwoofing is going to have to provide me a home for a while.

So, to you more seasoned wwoofers... how long do people normally take to get back to you by email?

wwoof @ 2007-10-20T21:49:00

2007-10-21T01:53:55Z

I'm in the united states and have yet to purchase a membership to wwoof but plan on it. I have heard from some people that some farms pay you to work on them? I understand that it is a group focused on volunteer opportnities but does anyone know the truth in what I've heard? The thing is I would like to work on organic farms, and travel all over the united states anyway just wandering kind of directionless mostly, but I also need money right now. I never seem to run into actual paying job opportunities on farms and am kind of clueless as to how to go about finding them.

So does anyone know if some farms listed in the directory actually pay you? and if it says so in the directory or if that's just something you sort of find out...?
And also does anyone know of other resources for finding jobs on organic farms aside from WWOOFing?

thanks!

wwoof @ 2007-09-27T12:45:00

2007-09-27T10:38:17Z

Anyone done any WWOOFing in Costa Rica or Mexico? Did it provide a lot of opportunities to learn Spanish? I would actually really like to hear personal accounts of WWOOFing anywhere. Anyone had a bad experience? What did you get out of it? What was an average day like? Has anyone lived at a farm without electricity? I saw a few of those in the Costa Rica listings.

newbie question

2007-08-30T17:05:23Z

Hi... this community seems pretty dead, but maybe enough people are still reading and can help me out. In spring of 2009, some financial obligations that are currently tying me to a conventional job (two jobs, actually) will end, and I'd really like to do some WWOOFing after that. I've read up on it, and I think it's something I'd really like to do (and yes, I understand it's hard work and not a free vacation). What I'm wondering is how far in advance people generally make arrangements with the hosts. I don't see any point in paying for a membership now, when I wouldn't be available to work until a year and a half from now. But when should I start looking? A year from now? Or is that still too soon? Do the listings indicate the dates that the host needs help, or would I need to call and find out? And oh, I'm currently in the US and planning to WWOOF in the US as well, preferably in the Four Corners (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah) area, if that makes a difference. Thanks!

WWOOFing in Canada

2007-02-06T05:53:07Z

I'm just wondering if anyone's done it, and if there are farms you've been to that you would or wouldn't recommend. I'm thinking of possibly spending a whole summer at one farm in order to experience a full growing season in one place and start to really get the hang of things. Particular interests of mine include herbs, honey, horses, hemp, intensive vegetable gardening, orchards, and anything permacultural.

Cheers,

Neil

wwoof @ 2006-11-24T10:42:00

2006-11-24T14:42:18Z

Hello everyone, happy Day After Thanksgiving! haha. I have one question. I'm really, really interested in wwoofing, but, my worry is:

Do hosts mind if you're completely inexperienced, and they have to teach you everything?

The extent of my working-on-a-farm knowhow is making a compost bin for my really small garden. I love being around animals and I love what little experience I do have working with growing foods, and I laugh a lot. I know those must be good things, but I'm still nervous that if I do end up wwoofing somewhere, the hosts will get annoyed at my lack of knowledge. Though that's part of the reason wwoofing started, right? To teach people how to farm organically?

Anyway. Hope you all are having a good morning :) Thanks!

wwoof @ 2006-11-20T20:52:00

2006-11-21T00:52:28Z

hello everyone, just joined the community. because i couldn't find anything about it on the wwoof website(s), i was wondering if anyone knew if any/many hosts accomodated dogs. i have two, and am interested in travelling across canada, but will have to take them with me.

thnaks for any info.

-ben

Where to WWOOF during January?

2006-11-19T21:02:27Z

Hello!

I'm a college student and a friend and I would like to go on a WWOOFing adventure over J term. We were thinking of going some place warm, such as California. We will be embarking for two or three weeks during January. We're open to pretty much anything, but we are kind of budget constrained for going anywhere exotic (such as Hawaii which I've heard is amazing). I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for places to go (anywhere warm!) considering that many places in the continental US seem to be closed during January (or any other advice for first timers).

Thanks.

WWOOFing in Mexico

2006-11-15T08:25:02Z

Hi! I'll be going to Mexico from early December to mid January. I joined WWOOF Mexico months ago, but am not sure whether I'll do it. The info I have seems to show that most farms are English speaking and run by Americans. I also noticed that I'd have to pay to stay at some, not what I'm used to when WWOOFing. Many seem to be focused on spirituality. I'm pretty dissappointed in the lack of variety compared to what I had last year in Australia.

There also are some farms that you have to work at through a volunteer organization, which seems pretty cool. It says you have to have some knowledge of farming and know Spanish though, and I'm not fluent.

So, just wondering if anyone out there has WWOOFed in Mexico and has any advice or stories to tell? Any farms to recommend? I'd like to learn Spanish and the culture, see some wild life, keep it relatively safe, and cheap.

Thanks!
- Alanna

wwoof @ 2006-10-16T11:13:00

2006-10-16T15:14:00Z

hello!

i am leaving for france in three weeks and would like to wwoof before it gets to be too late in the fall.

does anyone have any experience wwoofing there and suggestions or stories?

let me know!

thanks:)

wwoof @ 2006-09-07T18:10:00

2006-09-07T22:10:55Z

Another question- Does anyone know how long membership lasts when joining WWOOF in Ireland or the UK? We can't find that info anywhere, and I still don't have it about Mexico, after joining.

For Australia is a year.

thanks!

WWOOFing in Ireland and the UK

2006-09-07T22:02:35Z

Hi! I'm so glad to see that there is a WWOOFing community!

My friend and I are hoping to WWOOF in Ireland or the UK from approximately 2/1-5/1. We are worried about there not being farms available in this off season though. Anyone have advice there? It seems we can really only get info if we join WWOOF Ireland or WWOOF UK, but I've already joined WWOOF Mexico for this very reason and then decided not to do it. It seems this is often the case- that you can't find anything out until you join. Anyone have advice on number of farms available in these countries, and if there are a lot in certain regions? We're seriously budget travelling so we don't want to get to Europe (where we can't legally work- blah!) and not be able to get by. Anyone also have advice on travelling prices in these countries, beyond what you can find in guidebooks? Anything would be great!

Oh, and in Ireland it seems that there is both a national WWOOF organization and you can join through international WWOOF. This is confusing. Anyone know?

Are others running into this problem of wanting to understand whether there was a lot available in a certain country? It might be helpful for us each to share our experiences this way. I WWOOFed very briefly in Australia last winter (their summer). The book was huge and there were farms available all over! You are almost guaranteed to find a place! I also joined WWOOF Mexico this year and found that there weren't nearly as many farms, and that they tended to be English speaking and not run by natives. There did look like some amazing experiences in Mexico though, including some very helpful positions in poor regions.

Thanks for any help anyone can give!
-Alanna :)

wwoof @ 2006-09-07T12:09:00

2006-09-07T11:10:22Z

Re: classifieds in the WWindy News. I wwoofed for the guys who put in this advert. If anyone is interested in applying for it, I'd be happy to give my opinion of the site and hosts, just drop me an anonymous comment at my journal with your email address (it'll be screened). Here's the ad:

* We are looking for a couple who can help us to manage a 5-hectare finca with organic vegetable garden, orchard, 15 goats, horses, etc in Tarifa, Cádiz (Spain).
If you love nature and animals and you don't mind to be 20 min. isolated from the world this can be a great oportunity.
We live in a beautiful area near a clean river, 800 metres from the sea in the middle of a natural park. We can offer a little house with chimney set apart from the main house. The couple would share the works: in the garden, the orchard, wall stone construction, fences, animal care and house cleaning. We would pay an amount per week for the personal expenses, and provide the food (that we cannot produce ourselves). We are looking for non-smoking, healthy and responsible people that speak English, or Spanish or French. Driver's licence (we have a car you can borrow). May also participate in activities in our EcoCenter with vegetarian restaurant, bookstore and yoga centre in town.

wwoofing in usa

2006-08-23T17:45:02Z

just wondering, is the $20 fee at organicvolunteers.com optional? or is host contact information available just by joining?

alllllso, anyone who's done this before have places to recommend on the east coast?

WWOOF NZ (first time)

2006-07-31T04:04:08Z

I bought the direcory to New Zealand farms from WWOOF and contacted a bunch of places and got a few good emails back. I don't plan on leaving until January when I have a 2 month brake off college. This is so exciting for me really, I've never actually taken the initiative to go on a trip like this but have always wanted to. If there are any other WWOOFers out there reading this, especially any who have done this during college, I would love to have a chat sometime about your experience and how you planned it out. You can reach me be email at goodella at hartwick dot edu or on AIM as geekguyandy. thanks!