Go WWOOF:ING!
Voluntary work in exchange for room & board
At the end of our month long journey interrailing and Couchsurfing through Eastern Europe, we decided to stay a few days on a farm in Kněžmost on the Czech countryside. We had found the family through the global network WWOOF – Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms – which enables you to stay and eat for free in exchange for voluntary work.
If you are
💰Travelling on a budget
☘️ Interested in environmental and sustainability issues
🐔 Like gardening and animals
🏕 Dream of getting away from the hustle and bustle of big city living
...this is the perfect holiday! 😃
A bit of history
The WWOOF network began in the 1970s in the United Kingdom, founded by a small group of enthusiastic visionaries who wanted to spread knowledge about organic farming methods. Now, more than fifty years later, the project has grown significantly, and the community has hundreds of thousands of members in over 130 countries worldwide.
Each country has its own national WWOOF organisation, often involved in grassroots movements, organising events and meetings to raise awareness about organic farming and sustainable living.
What You Do as a WWOOFer
As a WWOOFer, you take part in the daily work on the farm alongside your host. You learn about sustainable ways of cultivating the land and experience a cultural exchange at the same time.
On the WWOOF website, you can choose which country and region you would like to visit. You can also filter your preferences through a variety of options:
staying with a family
type of farm
types of animals
activities you want to participate in
Maybe
you're interested in horse care and riding?
Want to learn
beekeeping?
Curious about raising bison?
Or have you
perhaps always wanted to learn how to make goat cheese, tap maple
syrup, or bake bread the traditional way?
The possibilities are endless.
How to Find a Host
When searching for a host on the WWOOF website, you first choose the country you want to visit.
Once on the national WWOOF site, you can adjust your preferences by the following:
time period
type of host (farm, non-profit, self-sufficient smallholding)
farming methods (grain, livestock, dairy, vineyards, etc.)
type of accommodation
dietary requirements (omnivore, vegetarian, vegan)
whether children or pets are allowed
language spoken by the host
Even if a country doesn't have its own WWOOF organisation, you can still find farms through the WWOOF Independents' Host List.
Membership and Profile
After choosing your destination, you create a profile on the website and pay a membership fee. For Swedish users, the fee is currently around thirty-five euros.
On your profile, you can add photos and information about yourself, your experiences, and your interests – and then start contacting hosts you're interested in.
Final Reflections
We hope that, just like us, you will have a highly educational, inspiring, and at the same time peaceful experience through WWOOF.
It's not just a way of travelling – it's a way of learning, connecting, and living more sustainably ❤️🌼
If you want to read more about our WWOOF:ing experience in the Czech Republic, along with our other stories from Eastern Europe, here is some more information about our book
And here you can get your own copy