WWOOF Volunteer Travel

After volunteering for five days on small farm– complete with ultra fresh meals and a bit of farming work in a picture perfect setting — I’ve learned a good bit about WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). In retrospect, there are a few things I wish I would have known before going. You Don’t Have to Work Long Hours Because some farms don’t need all the volunteers they have at one time, or if you are paying for part of your stay, you don’t necessarily have to work long 8+ hour farming days…. Your answer, be it “I spent all my money and need to live for free until my plane ticket home” or “I want to know how to garden” or “I want a different experience” should help you figure out what type of farm you want and how long you want to stay.

Best places to WWOOF – WWOOFing has grown a lot since the movement began in the 1970s in the UK. The organization is now spread worldwide and anyone can do volunteer work on farms for days or weeks at a time. WWOOFing stands for Willing Workers On Organic Farms. It also means World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It’s a great way to travel cheaply. The host provides you with free lodging and food while you volunteer on their property. This might be their farm, garden, or lifestyle property. If you’re looking for the best places to WWOOF, this guide can help you. We will also offer tips for first-time WWOOFers, how to select a host, WWOOF reviews, how to stay safe while volunteering abroad, and more. In addition to being able to see the world inexpensively, volunteering gives you an opportunity to connect with local families and learn about … Read more

In Volunteering Abroad: 10 Things to Know Before You Go, we discussed everything you should think about before you sign up. With proper planning, it can be the experience of a lifetime. Volunteer Travel Programs Local and Abroad – Volunteer travel is an amazing way to see a place, get to know local culture, and leave a positive footprint. We volunteered while traveling through Argentina. We learned a ton about WWOOFing — World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms — and had an amazing experience at Chacra Millalen. It’s been awhile since we’ve written about volunteer travel and since summer is here (or so it feels in Minnesota today) with summer vacation planning underway, I thought I’d revisit the subject focusing specifically on volunteer travel abroad versus volunteer travel locally. Local vs. Abroad Volunteer Travel Whether its sandbagging for a flood emergency in Fargo or picking strawberries on an organic farm … Read more

We took a public bus from nearby El Bolson to the tiny town of El Hoyo, then taxied out to Chacra Millalen, a small organic farm in Patagonia, Argentina where we’d spend the next 4 days volunteering.

…It’s also possible to bring a tent and camp on the land, but we don’t have a tent with us. Then Josephine showed us the three showers and encouraged us to use one of the two that was heated by wood-burning stoves (instead of gas).

All about WWOOF – Organic farming has grown by leaps and bounds, and the need for farmers to communicate and interact grows more each day. This is where WWOOF comes in as a movement that aims to join organic farmers and growers with volunteers in an effort to increase cultural understanding. It’s all about constructing a global community. Here’s all about WWOOF Learn all about WWOOF WWOOFing stands for ‘World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.’ The volunteer or ‘WWOOFer,’ gets the opportunity to spend time in an organic farm, learn what it’s like, how it works and what sustainable agriculture is all about. During your stay in the farm, you don’t have to pay for board or lodging. It is not a monetary exchange program. WWOOF is an educational program and it offers the visitors / WWOOFers the chance to learn what WWOOFing is about. It is all about learning how … Read more