WWOOF

For many who travel, a country is seen only from cities and airports. It can be difficult for vacationers to find ways to get into the country and see the local way of life. Beautiful landscape, delicious food and the open air remains unexplored by the vast majority of tourists. But one organization is working to connect travel, farming and volunteering.

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or WWOOF, has built a global community of organic farmers ready to host volunteers. The umbrella organization coordinates with local chapters, with which farmers register if interested in hosting volunteers. Operations associated with WWOOF range from vineyards to full-scale farms, all of which are organic. WWOOF takes voluntourism to a different, small-scale level, connecting the people who want to make a difference with the specific places where they can by helping support organic farming.

In exchange for help on the farm, volunteers receive food, accommodation and first-hand experience with organic lifestyles. Expectations differ, but in most cases volunteers are expected to work between four and six hours per day. With a presence in countries around the world, WWOOF volunteers have the opportunity to learn about local agriculture and environmental issues in any number of climates and societies.

It’s a unique opportunity to learn more about a country, agriculture and environmentalism. For forty years, WWOOF has been helping facilitate exchanges between farmers and volunteers through in-country organizations. The easy-to-use website allows potential volunteers to search for opportunities by country, which redirects to country-specific sites with in-depth information for both hosts and volunteers.

To learn more about WWOOF and explore the countries offering opportunities, visit the organization’s website.