World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an international network of organizations that matches visitors (WWOOFers) with organic farm hosts. The goal is to spread knowledge about organic farming techniques and sustainable ways of living to a new generation of would-be farmers and young adults looking for ways to reduce their negative impact on the environment. Visitors are provided with experiential learning, and farmers are provided with a network of volunteer learners within a structure that presumes mutual understanding about basic expectations for learning about and helping with farm activities. With WWOOF hosts in nearly 100 countries, WWOOFers and hosts find that expectations and experiences may in fact vary. This entry focuses on the rewards and challenges of WWOOFing.