WOOFing for the EnvironmentWilling Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an organisation that gives people the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in organic farming methods. There are over 1,500 hosts in Australia offering a wide range of opportunities for both the serious student of organics as well as the budget traveller. WWOOFing is a reciprocal arrangement that benefits farmers and voluntary workers alike, while also promoting the advantages of environmentally-friendly farming practices that minimise the use of chemicals, and that lead to increased biodiversity and balanced soil ecosystems.
Sustainable farming begins with green manure crops which are grown to help build nitrogen and humus levels in soils which, in turn, improve water-holding capacity, reduce pH fluctuations and increase long-term land fertility. These systems avoid the use of synthetic compounded fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives, resulting in benefits to the environment and to human health. Organic farming aims to meet consumer demand for food products that are nutritious and low in, or free of, chemical residues.
Potential WWOOFers can choose a place they would like to go, and then contact the host to arrange a mutually suitable time to visit. The choice may be based on: geography (close to a route they are travelling); philosophy (such as biodynamic farming practices); or cultural preferences (many hosts speak other languages as well as English). WWOOFers live and work with host families in the same way as relatives and friends do when they visit. All WWOOF hosts agree to provide a safe haven for Willing Workers, supplying food and accommodation in exchange for 4 to 6 hours of work per day. This work can include everything from gardening and landscaping to animal care and property maintenance.For more information visit www.wwoof.com.au.