WWOOFing and why we're doing it

Ryan and I have been talking about making an adventure together since before we got married. Ideally, we wanted to travel somewhere new to both of us, stay long enough to get a good feel for the culture, and do something beyond just being tourists.

That's what led us to WWOOF – Worldwide Workers On Organic Farms. Started in 1971, WWOOF is intended to help organic farmers in need of labor and to benefit volunteer workers who would like to learn about their methods. With organizations in almost 100 countries around the world, WWOOF is also a great way to learn about different cultures and their approaches to agriculture.

Why WWOOF? The pros and cons

First the pros: For us, WWOOF has been a great way to learn about Italy's culture beyond Pinocchio and pasta. We have gotten to know real Italians and their families, shared food and jokes, and learned about how agriculture works here. We have visited places that never made it onto the tourist map and tried foods we might not have otherwise. We've also been able to stay for much longer than we could afford to if we were paying for food and a hotel room every night. (In exchange for six hours/six days a week of labor, hosts provide workers with accommodation and meals.) Some of the things we've learned we will take home with us – ideas about drying herbs for tea and cooking spice, the recipe for Laura's delicious frigitelli and a solid understanding of how to pick olives (should we ever live somewhere warm enough). The timing hasn't been right to learn about market gardening, our main interest, but we hope to do some of that in the U.K. or France before we come home.

And now the cons: The most difficult thing about WWOOFing for an extended period like we're doing is that we're always house guests. We are totally dependent on our hosts, who dictate meal times and food types, where we stay, when it is time to work or to rest, etc. Being two independent sorts, we have been happy to take some days of vacation between farms when our time is our own. But mostly, the quality of the experience is dependent on the host. Some explain their operations well and work beside us, while others are impatient or difficult to work with. Some are great cooks, while others are happier to let you cook for yourself. It all depends. Insecurity is also a bit of an issue; it can be difficult to line up farms when and where you might like to work, and twice now hosts have canceled on us. Communication with potential hosts is also an adventure. One host explained that he had to cancel our plan to work there because his son's goose had to have an operation. ??? The farm we have found as a substitute is also a little anxiety-inspiring, listing "meditation activies with the donkeys" among areas of interest.

Still, altogether we are enjoying the experience and hope to continue WWOOFing through early summer. Wish us luck!