Interview with WWOOF USA: Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms

I've been inspired by WWOOF USA for awhile now and I wanted to spread the word! Recently I had the pleasure of connecting with Tori, their Program Manager, and she did an interview with me. I wanted all of you to know about WWOOF and how awesome it is! (And for those of you who already know, you can learn more.) You don't have to read this blog long to learn how passionate Jeff and I are about local food and local farms. We love learning how to grow more of our own food all the time and love buying the food we don't grow from our farming friends and neighbors. Connecting with our food and the land is so important and WWOOF brings together a community of people around these vital things. You can stay on a farm and learn how to grow your own food or you can invite others to stay on yours and share what you've learned.
 It's a powerful community doing so much good in the world!

 When you visit their website, it reads: "Our Mission: Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, USA (WWOOF-USA®) is part of a worldwide effort to link visitors with organic farmers, promote an educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming practices." 

I'll let Tori tell you more. 

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Farmer's Market pictures originally from this post. 
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How did WWOOF begin?

Tori: The first WWOOF program was started by London secretary Sue Coppard in the United Kingdom in 1971. She began ‘Weekend Workers on Organic Farms’ – an idea designed to encourage city folks to experience firsthand the benefits of growing food. Over 40 years later, WWOOF organizations are now present in more than 50 countries and has grown to be known as ‘Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms’, or more simply, WWOOF. Each country’s WWOOF program operates independently, and therefore a membership to WWOOF-USA does not provide access to the WWOOF Host Farm Directory in any other nation.  However, WWOOF groups from around the world collaborate and support each other and our shared mission.  

WWOOF-USA® was founded in 2001. Originally launching as WWOOF-California, the non-profit organization quickly grew to accommodate the need for a cohesive nationwide organization.  WWOOF-USA has hosts in all 50 states (including Hawaii and Alaska), Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.  

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Tell us about WWOOF.

Tori: Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, USA (WWOOF-USA) is part of a worldwide effort to link visitors with organic farmers, to promote an educational exchange and help build a global community conscious of ecological farming practices.  WWOOF-USA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that produces a directory of organic farms, communities, and garden projects for visitors interested in gaining hands-on experience in sustainable living. 

Visitors, or ‘WWOOFers’, spend about half a day on a host farm, learn about sustainable agriculture, and receive room and board - with no money exchanged between hosts and WWOOFers.  WWOOF-USA® is a cultural and educational exchange program, and is a way to learn practical farming skills, be part of the organic agriculture movement, and experience the heart of American agrarian culture. 

The WWOOF-USA® Host Farm Directory lists more than 1,670 organic farms (not necessarily USDA certified organic) and gardens across the country. Any farm, community or garden project using organic methods that would like to participate in a cultural and educational exchange may join the program. WWOOF farms offer a variety of educational opportunities, including growing fruit and vegetables, keeping bees, building straw bale houses, working with animals, making wine, and much more.  Anyone 18 years of age or older, may become a WWOOFer, regardless of experience. We encourage all types of WWOOFers and hosts who would like to cooperate to strengthen sustainable agriculture in the US to be a part of WWOOF-USA®.  

After signing up, each host creates an online profile in the directory that describes their location, general responsibilities, projects, accommodations, and lifestyle, as well as a farm photo gallery. Members also create a profile with information about themselves, links to farms they have visited, and a photo. Both WWOOFer and host profiles include useful comments and ratings from other members they’ve met – a helpful reference when making WWOOF connections.

WWOOFers directly contact the farms that interest them to ask about availability and work out an agreement with the host- we do not find farms for members.  WWOOF agreements can be defined any number of ways and the hours spent on the farm, types of projects, meal arrangements and accommodations can vary greatly. The length of a farm stay is determined by the WWOOFer and the host, and can vary from a few days to an entire season.  It is each host's and visitor’s joint responsibility to form an understanding prior to arrival. The key to a mutually beneficial experience is clear and open communication about expectations prior to a farm stay. 

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What do you hope to accomplish through your efforts?

Tori: More than anything I think we hope to reignite people’s interest in growing their own food and connecting with the farmers who feed our nation. It’s so easy to go to the supermarket and buy the local lettuce or the local strawberries, but to meet and live with the people who are actually growing the lettuce and the strawberries is an entirely different experience. We want people to get that hands on experience so they can then go back to their local communities and pass on the knowledge they’ve learned about organic gardening and farming.
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What has been your personal experience with WWOOF? Any fun stories to share?

Tori: I am fortunate enough to be able to talk to our host farmers and WWOOFers on a daily basis. The stories they tell me are incredibly inspiring. I often hear from WWOOFers who have planned to stay at a farm for a week or two and end up staying for a whole season because they become a part of the farmer’s family.

I also met a young man and woman from different sides of the country who ended up WWOOFing on a farm together at the same time, fell in love, and are now traveling the world WWOOFing together.

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How can people get involved?

Tori: Join online, become a member, and start WWOOFing. 

Becoming WWOOF-USA® member as a host or a WWOOFer is easily done online at www.wwoofusa.org. 

The cost for a one-year WWOOFer membership is $30 for online access only to the Directory of Host Farms, or $40 for online access plus a printed directory sent in the mail. Host registration is a $5-$50 sliding scale fee to be listed in the directory each year.
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Thanks so much Tori for taking the time to tell us about WWOOF!