WWOOF is an organization dedicated to linking willing and voluntary farm workers with organic farms in need of help all around the world. Each country typically has a sub-organization and you pay a small amount (around 20 USD) to be able to access the contact information for that country's farm "hosts". Some farms are strictly vegetable and fruit growing, some are animal production, some are horse rearing etc. There are larger production farms and small self-sustaining family farms. There are farms with the typical mod cons and farms entirely off the grid without even electricity.

I discovered this opportunity just one short day ago... already I have a trip to Sweden for two weeks in March lined up! The family replied to my inquiry very promptly-- they are a small sheep/goat and vegetable farm in southern Sweden near the Baltic Sea and are very excited about accepting my help so early in the season. I'm one plane ticket away from solidifying this-- but I have to wait til pay day on December 1st. Tickets are only about $500 out of Chicago, so I'm very excited.

Anyway, for those who always wanted to travel and experience a culture from the inside out, I think this is a great opportunity. You certainly have to be willing to get your hands dirty on a farm, but in exchange you get room and board. As mentioned above there are many different kinds of farms but they are all some level of organic. I wanted to find an experience where I would be living and spending my time with a family. I got it: 2 parents and 5 sons with two exchange students on this lovely farm!



If I'd known about this opportunity, I would have been away every summer! I love traveling-- but it's the expense of feeding and housing myself that is always an impediment. This solves the problem nicely, especially since I love rural areas and farm work.

http://www.wwoof.org