I want a WWOOFer - where can I find one?

Hawaiian fruit stand on the road to Hana

This cute little roadside fruit stand on the Hana Highway in Huelo is staffed with WWOOFers.  They have come to Hawaii to learn about growing fruits, preparing and serving them to visitors who are driving along the scenic Hana Highway.  Our young farmer friend is happy to have these traveling helpers who are able to take care of themselves while they stay on his property, and trade their labors for a place to call home for a few months.

What's a WWOOFer?

pigs feedingSome of our Huelo Maui friends have been bragging about their WWOOFers.  We are dying to try a WWOOFer ourselves.  It's a network of mostly young people who want to travel and experience a down to earth "working vacation". 

History of WOOF

The WWOOF program started in the United Kingdom in 1971, by Sue Coppard, a London secretary, under the name 'Working Weekends on Organic Farms'. It was to provide people living in London with a chance to participate in the organic farming movement going on in the countryside. Since the establishment of WWOOF in the U.K., the program has expanded to ‘World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms', and is now in over 28 countries worldwide, with a wide range of farm stay opportunities. WWOOF programs operate independently in each country.

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, USA

This is an organization that is dedicated to connecting willing workers and organic farmers across the world, to promote an educational exchange and build a global community of conscious ecological farming practices.  It's a project of the non profit  Ecological Farming Association.

veggie garden starting

WWOOF-USAwas inspired by, and cooperates with other similar WWOOF programs worldwide, including:

  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Denmark
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Switzerland
  • Sweden

 

How Does it Work?

One half day of volunteer help is traded for food and accommodations, with no money exchange. WWOOF provides a directory of organic farms, communities and garden projects to volunteers interested in gaining hands on experience about organic food and farming.  The prospective workers will contact the hosts and negotiate the terms and work expectations.  The hosts can decide who they want to have come and help on their farms.  A typical stay can be anywhere from 3 days to 3 months.  The host is able to ask the worker to leave at any time if things aren't working out.  Most of the time it's a win/win situation as life is what you make of it.

We've joined the organization and we're looking forward to being contacted by some hard working young "farmers" from different  places.  We have plenty of opportunities here on our Haiku Maui farm, for a motivated person with some skills.  This could be interesting, and I will keep you posted on the adventure.  There will be plenty to learn for all of us.  If anybody else has some WOOFer stories, I'd love to hear them!

why did the chicken cross the road?

Do You WOOF?    You too can Join Online or check them out at WOOFUSA.ORG   and in THE UNITED KINGDOM

Don't be CHICKEN - we'll cross this road together.

Aloha - The Hunter - Georgina M. Hunter R(S)  

 

*  CONTINUED ..... I GOT A WOOFER!  *

 
This post has been included in Hawaii Information Maui County, HI Information Haiku, HI Information
Post is included in group: Land Specialists

18 Comments on I want a WWOOFer - where can I find one?

Thanks for the info, I learned something new today.

11/25/2007 06:15 AM by Frank Verna, Broker / Owner (Frank Verna, PA)


I am curious to hear from the perspective of a person who has stayed on one of these farms. Please keep us informed about your experience. Is this family friendly? Or should it be more for adults?

11/25/2007 07:03 AM by Frank Schulte-Ladbeck (Frank Schulte-Ladbeck Professional Real Estate Inspections)


My son is graduating from high school....I should tell him about this...

11/25/2007 08:25 AM by Konnie McKee Northern Virginia Real Estate (Konnie McKee )


this is really great! I never heard of it before!!! Thanks for the information!!!

11/25/2007 09:35 AM by Bill & Barbara Jo - Florida Realty Professional - AHWD (Charles Rutenberg Realty)


I have heard of similar programs - but never of one so specific - what a great concept thanks for sharing

11/25/2007 01:43 PM by Central Oregon Real Estate | Thesa Chambers, Broker (RE/MAX Sunset Realty La Pine)


Frank - I spoke to a nice young lady from the Phoenix area who was wwoofing on a bamboo farm near us.  She had gotten my number from my cousin and called to chat.  It sounded like they (her and boyfriend) were having  a great experience, and they were working their way around the world, starting in Hawaii.  We didn't get a chance to meet, as they had no wheels, but we talked a couple of times.  It was their first experience.  The host families vary, and some I have seen advertising for up to 4 people at a time.   I suppose it's up to the host family to set the rules.

I hope to do more posts on this subject as we learn more.  Thanks everyone for commenting.

11/25/2007 04:51 PM by Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)


Is there an age limit? I would love to do that in the future. I think it would be a great experience for kids.

11/25/2007 08:27 PM by Todd & Danielle Millar (Glenn Simon Inc.)


Georgina~ 

First of all I have to tell you, I love your photography! Are you an artist as well? Thanks, too for the information in this post. I want to know more about this and am heading on over to look at the link you provided.

11/25/2007 11:13 PM by Asheville's GREEN Land & Homes ECO-Steward Realty


todd & danielle - not that I know of.  it's whatever both parties negotiate.  I think it works best with kids too, as they learn so much from the experience

janeanne - thanks for the compliment - we are all artists! 

try the UK site as well, it's a little more professional looking

11/26/2007 03:21 AM by Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)


wow - I just got sidetracked on their site reading about all of the farms. This is a really cool organization. Thanks for sharing on your blog. You'll have to post an update if you have people that come work at your place.

12/24/2007 08:44 AM by A Crye-Leike Blogger, Angie Vandenbergh (Crye-Leike, Realtors)


Angie - so far we have only had 1 contact - an email from an inexperienced young woman in LA.  We wrote her back about our expectations, and have not heard back from her.  We thought she might not be that suitable, as we want someone who will actually do some work.  We can be patient. 

12/24/2007 12:48 PM by Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)


Hi everyone - I have updated this topic with a new post - our wwoofer has arrived and she's working right now!  It's been less than a week still, and I will be posting about her first week on Maui after the weekend.  I am so excited to have this opportunity.

03/21/2008 04:04 PM by Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)


Mahalo Georgina, you da kine!

The world needs more WWOOFers. Hawaii needs more WWOOFers. We all need more WWOOFers.

A WWOOFer served me cane juice once, mmm ono.

please visit www.RealEstateDesignOnLine.com

please join my hui Aloha 'Oe

03/21/2008 04:53 PM by Kimo Stowell (JDS Consulting Staging & Interiors)


Thank you for continuing this post Georgina. I would like to see how this develops.

03/21/2008 06:01 PM by Frank Schulte-Ladbeck (Frank Schulte-Ladbeck Professional Real Estate Inspections)


Georgina:

What a great post, I can't wait to tell my friend about this.  It is an amazing opportunity to learn something new, try something different yet not be totally commited should you not like it.  The added bonus is the trade, accomidations & food, seems like a great trade.

Thank you for your post!

Lisa

03/21/2008 07:32 PM by Lisa Santacaterina, Certified EcoBroker (Prudential Americana Groups, REALTORS)


Kimo - I like the concept.  I hear a lot of good things about them.

Frank - I'm working on a post now.

Lisa - it started out as a weekend getaway for city people.... maybe that could still work.

03/25/2008 03:48 AM by Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)


Leave a response…

Name:
Notify me of new comments:
Comment:
What does the graphic say?
 
Real Estate Agent: Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor R(S) (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)
Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor R(S)
Haiku, HI
More about me…
Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui

Office Phone: (808) 579-8255
Cell Phone: (808) 283-0635
Email Me
Your Real Estate Agent on Maui, pictures of homes and properties for sale and market information for buyers and sellers. Maui events and lifestyle too.
View my page on Real Estate World

Links

Tags (Tag Cloud)

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog
ATOM 1.0 Feed for this blog

Find HI real estate agents and Haiku real estate here on ActiveRain.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
© 2007 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved