/trv/ - Travel » Thread #461196

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Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 10:32:00 No.461196 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>461402

Has anyone actually done the WWOOF thing?

I saw it mentioned on /trv/ a few times so I decided to check it out, and it's definitely something I'm interested.

This is my plan. Work on a farm or 2 here in the States, then head down to Mexico and possibly Central America. I would like to stay longer than shorter durations (1-3 months at any given farm).

I was just curious, if someone has done this or if they know of anyone who has, if they have any tips or pointers for me? Anything I should know at all going into it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 11:17:00 No.461213 Report

Quoted By:

I've been looking at WWOOFer programs for a while, but I've never actually found the time or resources to do it. However, I'm also very curious about other's experiences.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 12:22:00 No.461231 Report

Quoted By:

bumping from second page till at least 1 person replies.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 13:13:00 No.461243 Report

Quoted By: >>461244 >>461245

Sorry to ask, but what is WWOOF.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 13:16:00 No.461244 Report

Quoted By:

>>461243

"World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms"

You can volunteer to work on farms all over the world, in exchange for room and board (for the most part, some "host farms" are different).

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 13:17:00 No.461245 Report

Quoted By:

>>461243

http://www.wwoof.org/

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 13:25:00 No.461247 Report

Quoted By: >>461248

It sounds like a bunch of hippies growing hemp.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 13:29:00 No.461248 Report

Quoted By:

>>461247

The farm I'm going to grows blueberries.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 15:21:00 No.461261 Report

Quoted By: >>461274

Is there any way to sort for the type of farm - I really want to learn more about beekeeping, and I couldn't give a fuck about working for hippies growing snapple fixin's.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 15:36:00 No.461265 Report

Quoted By:

I don't woof, I prefer to yiff.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 16:07:00 No.461274 Report

Quoted By:

>>461261

Hmmmm... To be honest. I'm not sure. I suppose you could try a google site search. See if anything comes up. Don't just search all of wwoof.org, search (for example, if you want to stay in the lower 48) http://www.wwoofusa.org/.

But, you'll probbaly be working with hippy types anyways (I have no idea, just a guess). And I'm pretty sure they put honey in some snapple flavors, lol

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 16:33:00 No.461284 Report

Quoted By: >>461360

me interested too in these things, but probably helpx or workaway instead of wwoof 'cause I'm in no shape right now to work in a farm

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 22:11:00 No.461356 Report

Quoted By:

bump

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 22:29:00 No.461360 Report

Quoted By: >>461380

>>461284
I thought WWOOFing was a good way to get in shape.
I guess you have serious physical issues but anyway, it's not staying home that will solve them.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 23:12:00 No.461380 Report

Quoted By:

>>461360
srsly, after a couple weeks of that shit you should be tough as nails and not have an ounce of fat on you. at least provided you're not a whale and can move around on your own on land.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 23:14:00 No.461384 Report

Quoted By: >>461389 >>461501

Seriously considering doing this in the UK.

What are some down sides?

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 23:28:00 No.461389 Report

Quoted By: >>461398

>>461384

Hippies?

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 27 Apr 2011 23:57:00 No.461398 Report

Quoted By: >>461399

>>461389
I'm alright with hippies, as well as manual labour

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 00:01:00 No.461399 Report

Quoted By: >>461420

>>461398

Ditto, but it seems like that may be a complaint for some people. I'm very excited about doing this. I wish /trv/ had some advice though (as i've seen it brought up several times, and figured someone would have something to say by now).

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 00:18:00 No.461402 Report

Quoted By: >>461403

>>461196
Mexican here,if I were you I would not go to a Mexican farm right now, cities are relatively safe, but shit has hit the fan in rural areas

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 00:20:00 No.461403 Report

Quoted By:

>>461402

I've heard. That's one of the reasons I'm gonna stick in the states for at least a couple more months.

A couple weeks ago I probably wouldn't have thought much about it, but them mass graves and kidnappings lately have got me a bit spooked. If they think taking immigrants from China and Central America hostage to hold them for ransom, I can't think of a reason they wouldn't take a white boy like myself, lol.

Bark

Bark Thu 28 Apr 2011 01:35:00 No.461420 Report

Quoted By: >>461431

>>461399
What kind of advice are you looking for? I mean, it's pretty straightforward. You go to a farm, you provide manual labour, they provide food and shelter. How hard you have to work will differ from farm to farm, some being weed smoking hippies, some being serious (retired) businessmen trying to make some extra cash for their retirement in a way their wifes approve. You could be working 4 hours a day, 2-3 days, or you could be working from 7 AM to 5 PM, 6 days a week.

And really, only other major downside is that you won't see much of the locations you're visiting. You'll probably be working the majority of your time, and resting in your room or whatever the rest.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 02:18:00 No.461431 Report

Quoted By: >>461438

>>461420
Will it be like this?

Bark

Bark Thu 28 Apr 2011 02:31:00 No.461438 Report

Quoted By: >>461444

>>461431
Neither watched nor read it. Should do it, though.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 02:48:00 No.461444 Report

Quoted By: >>461455

>>461438
Not OP, but have you done it personally. It seems like a great way of getting a place to sleep and food to eat.

How long do applications last.
And can I stay in a farm for over a few months?

Bark

Bark Thu 28 Apr 2011 03:11:00 No.461455 Report

Quoted By:

>>461444
I know this might make my points worth less to most of you, but I haven't done it myself. I have talked to quite a bundle of people who have, and seeing as I was interested in it (and still am, kinda), I asked extensive questions.

The amount of time you stay on a farm really depends, but in high season I can imagine you can stay there for quite a while. It offers pros for the farmer as well. Instead of having to keep working in new people, they can just get one and train you. But the amount really depends on farm, and you'd be best to just approach one and ask how long they can take you for.

I don't actually know how long the application process last, but I don't imagine much more than a month. Hell, two weeks wouldn't surprise me either, or even less.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 05:21:00 No.461490 Report

Quoted By:

It's a great experience if you want to be a farmer.

And just generally seeking an escape from life

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 07:08:00 No.461501 Report

Quoted By: >>461521 >>461543

>>461384

The fucking weather. Haymakings all well and good, but the English sun will burn and blister and the rain will make you want to die.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 15:19:00 No.461521 Report

Quoted By:

>>461501
>the English sun.

But there isn't any. (well, not that intense)

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 15:52:00 No.461528 Report

Quoted By: >>461529

You don't get any money for hard labour

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 15:59:00 No.461529 Report

Quoted By: >>461532

>>461528
But you do get a place to stay, sleep and get food. All for free

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 16:25:00 No.461532 Report

Quoted By:

>>461529

Ok sure. I guess WOOFing is not for the shoestring traveler then, you'll be stuck on one farm because you can't save money to move on to the next place.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 18:30:00 No.461543 Report

Quoted By:

>>461501
>English sun will burn and blister>>461501
>mfw

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 19:00:00 No.461553 Report

Quoted By: >>461571

I have WWOOFed across Japan and Europe. I had no problems in Japan apart from some days working 8 til 6 but being out and about 7 til 7. That was working building a house in the countryside just outside Tokyo.

I did various things across Europe, but I was with a whiny girlfriend which kind of marred the experience a little. But overall I had a good time. I think as long as you don't mind a bit of hard work its a great experience. Only real trouble we had was in Germany where the host had some mental, drunk ex pat friend who came over that hated English people and was blatantly rude, almost abusive to us. We just moved on to the next place early, that's the beauty of WWOOF, if you're having a bad time you can just leave and don't lose anything.

I could talk all day about my time WWOOFing experiences, do you have any specific questions?

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 21:12:00 No.461571 Report

Quoted By: >>461572

>>461553

How many girls go?

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 21:22:00 No.461572 Report

Quoted By: >>461587

>>461571
Probably about 40% (20% attractive) of other people I met WWOOFing were girls, and there was plenty of opportunity to get in their pants if your interested.

Captain Indigo !aR10YHrTDg

Captain Indigo !aR10YHrTDg Thu 28 Apr 2011 21:36:00 No.461578 Report

Quoted By: >>461590

Do people generally WWOOF alone, or in groups?

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 22:09:00 No.461587 Report

Quoted By: >>461590

>>461572
How long did you do it for, and where abouts did you visit?

How's the standard of food and accomadation?

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 28 Apr 2011 22:30:00 No.461590 Report

Quoted By: >>461619

>>461578

I found that most were alone although I encountered the odd group of two usually.

>>461587

In Japan I WWOOFed alone for a month spending 2 weeks in Tokyo, visiting the city during time off and 2 weeks in Yamanashi (during which time I climbed Fuji and visited Kofu/surroundings).

In Europe I WWOOfed with my ex and stayed with hosts near Rome, Florence, in Hungary, near Munich and Cologne, although we travelled throughout Europe staying in hostels.

The quality of the accommodation varied but I personally had no problems, usually a spare room in a house with a bed or in Japan, a mat. Food is usually homecooked and I had some of my most authentic/best food as being farmers they generally pride themselves on eating homegrown stuff and cooking well.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 00:50:00 No.461619 Report

Quoted By: >>461621

>>461590
How hard is it to apply and get accepted into a farm.

I'm from England, and I'm hoping to do some in the UK, then move onto the mainland Europe

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 01:23:00 No.461621 Report

Quoted By:

>>461619

It's pretty easy if you email a long time in advance or it's better to call in fact especially abroad as being farmers they are not always internet savvy.

It is possible to get farms on the go like I did round Europe but our choices were limited as a lot were already booked up.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 04:54:00 No.461660 Report

Quoted By: >>461685

I heard you sometimes pay for the housing and food?

Is this true?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 05:53:00 No.461685 Report

Quoted By: >>461700

>>461660
I never paid for housing and food. I don't think its allowed actually as it goes against WWOOF regulations, although you may be able to arrange something while you are there if you want extra days off.

At some places I was given the opportunity to work on a day off and get paid for that day.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 06:20:00 No.461700 Report

Quoted By: >>461856 >>461857

>>461685

When you make an arrangement with someone, is it generally an option to stay longer? Or should you assume it's rude to ask, and just go on your way? I feel as though that may get sort of confusing, you know, if you want to stay, but don't know if the host wants you to stay. And I'm always worried about putting people on the spot, you know?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 17:05:00 No.461856 Report

Quoted By:

>>461700
I generally planned ahead and only ever last places early, never stayed extra. As long as they haven't got someone else coming they will probably be happy to have you there otherwise they wouldn't be on the WWOOF site. They want workers to come and help, the longer you can stay the better.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 17:09:00 No.461857 Report

Quoted By:

>>461700
I generally planned ahead and only ever leftplaces early, never stayed extra. As long as they haven't got someone else coming they will probably be happy to have you there otherwise they wouldn't be on the WWOOF site. They want workers to come and help, the longer you can stay the better.

Remember it's mutually beneficial for you to be there, they want you there as much as you want to be there. Assuming you pull your weight.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 21:07:00 No.461899 Report

Quoted By: >>461918

im an australian and while im not in peak athletic shape ive always had part time jobs doing manual work and once worked in an organic grocery for a year so hippies are no dilemma. im thinking of doing a uk wwoof for a month or longer. however i have nooooo history with farm work, does this matter? do the owners of the farms hate getting people that have no idea about the things they are about to do?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 21:10:00 No.461904 Report

Quoted By: >>461918

im thinking of doing france, i have a very basic knowledge of the language, i took it all through high school but i only passed due to sucking up to the teacher and various other means other than studying. is a language necessary? i speak english by the way

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 21:11:00 No.461906 Report

Quoted By: >>461918

any horror stories? like getting to your farm and your farmer is a freak who matches every evil farmer stereotype?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 21:42:00 No.461918 Report

Quoted By: >>461932

>>461899

As long as you don't mind a bit of hard work you should be fine, they aren't going to ask you to do anything technically difficult. Weeding or clearing the land is probably the most likely thing you will be doing, although it depends on the farm you choose. Also I've only ever encountered one real hippy WWOOFing, hippies generally don't like to work.

>>461904
Farms usually state on their profiles what languages they speak or what languages they require you to speak. I generally only chose farms where the English was good. It would be viable to go somewhere where they don't speak English as it's simple to for them to communicate tasks, meal times etc to you but may be a bit more lonely. Also learn some simple French before you go, will probably go a long way.

>>461906
In Japan at the second farm in the countryside, the host picked me up at some remote train station and drove me to his house through his farmland. It was pitch black outside and he suddenly stopped and got out the car telling me he wanted to show me something and disappeared into the dark. I couldn't see for the car headlights and got out the car with my keys in my hand ready to stab him in the eyes or run off if he tried anything funny. He came back holding kittens that lived on his farm aha. I was relieved but realised how easy it would have been to be butchered and never found. Luckily everyone in Japan is nice.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 22:25:00 No.461932 Report

Quoted By: >>461933

>>461918
How much time should you leave before booking a farm?

A few weeks before hand or a few months?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 22:27:00 No.461933 Report

Quoted By: >>461936

>>461932
Do it as early as possible because usually the ones in popular areas or near places people actually want to visit are likely to get booked up early. Some might tell you to call back closer to the time though so they know what they are doing. It's best to just contact them as soon as you can.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 22:32:00 No.461936 Report

Quoted By: >>461944

>>461933
I was thinking of doing several WWOOF's back to back.

As in, booking another farm whilst I was in a farm. Planning ahead etc.

Should I leave 1 month in order to book a farm.

How long did you book before hand?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Apr 2011 23:00:00 No.461944 Report

Quoted By: >>461993

>>461936

I did this across Europe, I only booked the first one, months in advance, then booked all the others less than a week before I planned to get there. It is doable but our options were limited, we had to try a few places before we could get somewhere.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Apr 2011 04:25:00 No.461993 Report

Quoted By: >>461994

>>461944

I just wanna clear one thing up before I start calling places, people call it "woof" right? Like a dog? I don't want to sound like an idiot calling these places, lol.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Apr 2011 04:43:00 No.461994 Report

Quoted By:

>>461993
Yeah like a dog. Some foreigners pronounce it like woo-f but they should know what you're talking about.

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