WWOOF - An Introduction

Since 1971 thousands of farmers all over the world decided to join "WWOOF International". WWOOF International is an INGO that supports the development of organic agriculture by building a network of farmers that are involved in Organic/sustainable Agriculture. With this network WWOOF international (www.internationalwwoof.org or www.wwoof.org) wants to give the opportunity to farmers to receive volunteers from all over the world, young and old and interested in Organic/sustainable Agriculture, to work voluntarily on their farms. Members (farmers, volunteers) of WWOOF International have access to a list of international farmers where they find all necessary information to make contact and arrangements concerning their WWOOFing period. The basic principle of WWOOFing is that a farmer provides room and board to the volunteer in exchange for this help on the farm. WWOOFing gives the unique opportunity to learn about farming techniques, different countries and cultures and to meet interesting people in an indigenous way.

WWOOF or " WORLD WIDE OPPORTUNITIES ON ORGANIC " first came into being in the autumn of 1971 when Susan Cop pard, then a secretary in London, recognized the need to provide access to the countryside for people like herself, town dwellers, who otherwise did not have the means or opportunity to experience rural life and culture. Her idea started with a trial weekend that she had arranged for herself and three friends at the Emerson College biodynamic farm in Sussex (UK). The basic idea was and still is, that volunteers receive board and lodging along with the opportunity to learn methods and experience organic agriculture, in exchange for their work. It was a huge success and the WWOOF program grew stronger and stronger every year. WWOOF organizations are nowadays found in 25 countries all over the world and represent an intercultural dialogue concerning organic agriculture. This network gives the opportunity for people all over the world, who are interested in, or willing to share their knowledge about organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture to greet, meet and weed.

WWOOFNEPAL is a multi purpose agro-volunteer project, a sister organization of the international WWOOF network that has been to coordinating a volunteer program in the field of sustainable agriculture in Nepal. WWOOF Nepal is a part of a worldwide effort to link volunteers with progressive farmers, promote an educational exchange and build a global community conscious of ecological farming practice.

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