In this article we will discuss about:- 1. History of WWOOF 2. Goals of WWOOF 3. Host Locations of WWOOF 4. Pizza Farm of WWOOF.
World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (also known as Willing Workers on Organic Farms) (WWOOF) is a loose network of national organisations which facilitate the placement of volunteers on organic farms.
While there are WWOOF hosts in 99 countries around the world, there is no central list or organisation encompassing all WWOOF hosts. As there is no single international WWOOF membership, all recognised WWOOF country organisations strive to maintain similar standards, and work together to promote the aims of WWOOF.
History of WWOOF:
WWOOF originally stood for “Working Weekends on Organic Farms” and began in England in 1971. Sue Coppard, a woman working as a secretary in London, wanted to provide urban dwellers with access to the countryside, while supporting the organic movement. Her idea started with trial working weekends for four people at the bio-dynamic farm at Emerson College in Sussex.
People soon started volunteering for longer periods than just weekends, so the name was changed to Willing Workers on Organic Farms. However, the word “work” caused problems with some countries’ labour and immigration authorities, who confused WWOOF volunteers with migrant workers.
Because of this, and in recognition of the worldwide nature of the organization, the name was changed again in 2000 to World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, though some WWOOF country organizations chose to retain the older name.
Goals of WWOOF:
WWOOFs aim to provide volunteers with first-hand experience in organic and ecologically sound growing methods to help the organic movement, and to let volunteers experience life in a rural setting or a different country. WWOOF volunteers (‘WWOOFers’) generally do not receive any financial payment.
The host provides food, accommodation and opportunities to learn, in exchange for assistance with farming or gardening activities. The duration of the visit can range from a few days to years. Workdays average 5-6 hours and participants interact with other WWOOFers from various countries.
WWOOF farms include private gardens through smallholdings, allotments, and commercial farms. Farms become WWOOF hosts by enlisting with their national organisation. In countries with no WWOOF organisation, farms enlist with WWOOF UK and WWOOF Australia.
Examples of WWOOF experiences include harvesting cup gum honey from Ligurian bees at Island Beehive, harvesting Syrah grapes for Knappstein Vineyard in the Clare Valley, and harvesting coffee beans from coffea arabicas in Northern Thailand.
Host Locations of WWOOF:
As of 2010 (update), 50 countries have a national WWOOF organisation. WWOOF Independents list hosts located in 49 other countries, of which 20 countries have only one registered host farm.
Pizza Farm of WWOOF:
A pizza farm is an educational visitor attraction consisting of a small farm on a circular region of land partitioned into plots shaped like pizza wedges. The farm’s segments produce ingredients that can be used in pizza, such as wheat for the crust, tomatoes or herbs, pork for pepperoni, dairy cows for cheese, and even trees for pizza oven firewood.
Certain farms may even have access to coal or natural gas deposits that can be used as alternative pizza oven heating fuels. Many of the newer pizza farms are experimenting with alternative energy, such as installing wind turbines in the fields, to be greener. According to a 2005 article in USA, today, there are several such farms in the United States.