Woofing
Essential to remember
WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) allows you to work on an organic farm in exchange for accommodation and meals. 4 to 6 hours of work per day, 50 countries available. Annual fee: ~30-50€ per country. Ideal for long budget travel.
What is woofing?
woofing: willing worker on organic farms, the goal of woofing is to connect people who want to experience and discover working on organic and ecological farms in contact with farmers, professionals of organic agriculture.
  ; The advantage of woofing when you do it abroad.- Improvement of the local language,
- Encounter with the local culture through exchanges with locals,
- Getting off the beaten tourist paths and seeing the true authenticity of the country,
- Learning how organic farming works,
- Free accommodation and food in exchange for 3 to 6 hours of work.
Upon my arrival in Tasmania, I started with a 2-week woofing mission in the town of Cygnet, then I was introduced to other people with whom I had a very well-paid job! I met people in Victoria who did the same thing! Woofing can be a springboard for you!
How does woofing work in practice?
Did you know?
WWOOFing was created in 1971 by Sue Coppard in London, originally to allow city dwellers to discover organic farming on weekends. Today, the network counts more than 12,000 host farms in 130 countries.
You might end up, as in my case, with a local who wants to plant vegetables in his garden and help him take care of his vegetable patch! He picked me up at the city airport and took me to his home. I ate every evening with his family, it was very friendly and the work was very cool for me! It was more pleasure than work!
My experience
I did 3 weeks of WWOOFing in Tasmania: 5 hours of gardening in the morning, family lunch at noon, free afternoon to explore. Accommodation: equipped caravan. Total spent in 3 weeks: 0€. Unforgettable experience, but requires human curiosity.
However, some farms exploit woofers; if you feel exploited, leave the farm immediately, know that it is supposed to be an experience of sharing and mutual help!
  ;Woofing is the most well-known, but there is also another concept called Helpx. Woofing is better known for organic farming, you will find more activities in Help Exchange, which is based on helping people.
Advantages
- Free accommodation and meals
- Total immersion with locals
- Learning organic farming
- Open international network
- Modest commitment (4-6h/day)
Weak points
- Physically demanding work at times
- Annual membership fee to pay
- Host’s personality is decisive
- No additional salary
- Wifi connection often limited
Let’s get back to woofing!
You should know that Woofing is also practiced in France. It gives you free vacations and you will learn a lot about your new environment. One of my philosophies is to turn the unusual or discomfort into comfort. Visit the site: woofing
You can order the woofing guide in electronic format (15 euros or 20 for two people) or in paper format (25 euros or 30 euros for two people). The prices are quite attractive for two, it allows you to share with another person the joys of discovering the agricultural world!
The classic trap to avoid
Before committing for 2 weeks+ on a farm, ask to have a 30-minute video call with the host. You can quickly find yourself in a difficult situation (isolation, conflicts, overload) without an easy way to leave. Read the reviews on the platform.
| Network | Type | Membership fee |
|---|---|---|
| WWOOF | Organic farms | 30-50€/country |
| HelpX | Farms, B&B, sailboats | ~20€/year |
| Workaway | Multi-sectors | ~50€/year |
| Worldpackers | Hostels, NGOs | ~50€/year |
Regarding doing woofing in a foreign country, the guide is most often available for purchase on site so plan for a longer stay!
Find more articles on eco tourism
In the same vein, the article on traveling for free abroad provides useful insight. Our feedback on working and blogging also offers good leads, and the guide dedicated to finding accommodation nicely completes the picture.
And would you be ready to do woofing? Or have you already done it?
How many hours per day in WWOOFing?
Generally 4 to 6 hours per day, 5 to 6 days per week. Varies depending on the host.
Is WWOOFing paid?
You pay an annual membership fee per country (30-50€) to access farm profiles. Then, lodging and meals are provided free of charge.
Can you do WWOOFing with a tourist visa?
Officially no: most countries require a WHV. But in practice, many do WWOOFing with a tourist visa without issues.
