Several of you have recently asked me what the heck I was talking about when mentioning that we were preparing to go off on our first WWOOF assignment. WWOOF, according to the booklet we have, officially stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms; but everyone else refers to it as Willing Workers on Organic Farms. For a NZ$40 annual fee, you receive a 150 page booklet containing information on 850+ properties throughout NZ which include large-scale farms, market gardens, and communities and ventures in self-sufficiency in which organic growing plays a part. Property sizes range from under an acre to several hundred acres. And all of them generally will take one to four people as a WWOOFer — folks who volunteer to work on the property for three to five hours a day in exchange for room and board. Some places offer up a room in the family home; others have private cottages or campervans for use. Some are located right in the heart of the city; and some are in remote country areas or on smaller off-shore islands. They’re everywhere and there’s something for everyone.
Take a look at these few which have websites:
We’re interested in finding places implementing permaculture techniques and we’ve spent hours going through the booklet to identify potential farms.
We feel quite fortunate to have secured our first assignment at a family farm where the couple runs a garden scuplture and permaculture design business. We’re there for eight days! Here’s what their blurb had to say:
Mara Whenua is a beautiful sanctuary featuring streams and river, kauri, kiwi, waterfalls, high country, and magic mountain. Excellent swimming, pure drinking water, marked bush tracks from 20 minutes to 5 hours long. We began this eco-project in 1990 and now have established permaculture gardens, orchards, and a growing forest of hardwood and naturally durable timber species. We are involved off the land with our garden sculpture and permaculture design business. Wayne is keen on Green Politics. We offer 100% vegetarian food, private accommodation with basic facilities, solar power. We have 3 kids. We prefer motivated, self-reliant people who speak reasonable English. Musicians and good cooks most welcome. Please bring a torch and gumboots in winter. We encourage long term Wwoofers and permaculture students.
Sound cool? We’ll let you know.
Kung Foodie Says:
March 10th, 2006 at 9:49 pmVisit Kung Foodie
It’s nice to see that many of the Wwoofing sites are art related. This so awesome. Are there any publicized groups/sites doing this in the US? Hmmmm, maybe someone needs to start a website on this.
starwoodgirl Says:
March 10th, 2006 at 11:50 pmVisit starwoodgirl
When does all this Wwoofing start in the morning? hummm.
lori t Says:
March 10th, 2006 at 11:57 pmVisit lori t
Hey Kath and Bruce….my first chance to look in on you and you look good. I think of you everyday.
xoxooxoxLori
nfohl Says:
March 12th, 2006 at 5:31 pmVisit nfohl
hmmm- interesting.
My dad grew up in Pittsburgh PA during the depression and the war which coincided with heavy steel smelting production. To get away, he spent the summers on a farm in northern Vermont along the same lines. mostly room and board and maple syrup as pay. the farm didn’t have tractors yet so it was fully draft horse driven - which sounds very similar to what you are talking about because they were likely not deep into heavy fertilization and pesticides at that point. He observed the when they did have mechanical help that it didn’t necessarily make the work any easier, it just allowed you to do the work faster. For instance- getting the hay in by hand tended to put the hay on the waggon in a big pile of match sticks which was relatively easy to get off and into the barn. when the bailer came along, the machinery got everything together and you skipped those manual steps but the parts where you got involved, the hay bales themselves were a lot heavier!
It will be interesting to see what you have as an experience where the farming is done with modern equipment but there are mixed goals - both high production and organic/sustainability instead of the standard american maximum volume, live for today methodology
I hope things are going well - we miss you!
nfohl Says:
March 12th, 2006 at 5:32 pmVisit nfohl
I think I need more coffee - clearly my spelling and grammar leave a bit to be desired this morning!
Lang Says:
March 13th, 2006 at 12:30 amVisit Lang
Wow!! This looks like a great adventure, I’ll be interested to hear all about it, especially the permaculture.
Kelly Says:
March 13th, 2006 at 2:47 amVisit Kelly
I think the farm you’re going to sounds fab. Wild kiwis! Rock! Chase a few for me, ok? If only just for a little way or until they make funny noises. Any filming of this would also be much appreciated.
christine Says:
March 17th, 2006 at 8:01 pmVisit christine
Hey K & B
WOW — looks beautiful and peaceful — hope you all are doing well.
Peace to ya
xxoo
c
t- says “hello”