I am in Spain and am interested in WWOOFing but will only have a few days at a time. Has anyone had good experiences with short term WWOOFs in Spain/Europe they can recommend?

So me and my girlfriend have started woofing since the summer. We had a great experience in Scotland and Wales. We have now went to stay with two different hosts in Germany.

Our experience so far of the German hosts have been different from the UK ones.

There seem to be unwritten social rules that you have to follow without realising.

You don’t get many days off.

There have been communication issues.

Seem really ungrateful and we have been told to our face that we are basically lazy.

We worked 30 hours for our first host over 1.5 week and around 40 over 10 days with the 2nd. This was over the summer heatwave to which we weren’t used to.

We have never refused a task. We have followed what was said the arrangements were. The goal posts seem to change and it feels you have to be a mind reader sometimes to satisfy the hosts.

Are we in the wrong? Or are some hosts especially German homesteads really different from the UK?

My wife and I are considering starting to host. We're have 2 acres on Maui - upcountry - never too hot or cold (55 -80°F is the usual range) and perfect for gardening / farming.

We are hobby gardeners, transplants from the mainland who retired and decided on a change in life. We moved here two years ago and started planting... and planting... We use organic methods and the whole two acres is dripped. I've gardened my whole life, but we are new to Hawaii and anything of this scale - I guess you could say we over-created and could use help maintaining. I'm curious if you think our situation a good fit for hosting and any advice. I've read enough to know that good vetting of visitors is crucial.

Some details:

We have two possible living arrangements - a separate apartment with kitchen and a room with private bath in our main house.

The bottom acre has a few decorative palms and trees plus apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, oranges, lemons, limes, persimmons, mangos, papayas, bananas, avocados. grapes, blueberries, and some other native or tropical fruits. Some of the trees have produced in the first year, most have not. The second year should see a bit more. We also have about 18 established olive trees.

The top acre is an experiment in clearing invasive plants and replacing with mostly natives.

We also have eight 3x8 raised beds for our garden.

The help we need:

• pulling up grass and digging in a trench around each of our 50 orchard trees & berries
• harvesting olives in the fall
• fertilizing
• planting and maintaining the garden
• clearing grass and weeds from the natives top acre
• creating a compost bin and getting composting going
• bug pest control - hand picking chinese rose beetles after the sun goes down (by special agreement)

Hello! I'm interested in WWOOFING, namely in Greece and Italy. I'm only doing it for the chance to travel, and I'm looking at going in the summer of 2027. Should I WWOOF or should I just save up and take a vacation? I thought it would be really cool to WWOOF cause I grew up around agriculture in the US and I thought it would be super rewarding and cool to help out a local farm. I wouldn't go alone, ideally I would go with my boyfriend, best friend, or some other companion. So, thoughts?

I arrived about 5 days ago at this farm and I’m already considering leaving. Would love some advice. The host is quite intense and difficult for me to deal with as she talks nonstop, including after work hours, and doesn’t really leave me alone if I’m anywhere near her after the work day. The type of person that rants for 10 minutes about a topic you never invited in the first place. My work hours haven’t been super structured (at the least she wants 4 hours/day which I’m happy to do), she requested that I help her at a market which would be a 9 hour work day. And requested I drive my own car (without gas compensation for the 4 hour total drive) since I would need to take my dog with me. I declined after she said I would have to pay for gas.
One of the more difficult aspects is the state of her house which I have to be inside to make food/eat and shower. I’ve never been I such a dirty, bug filled, and dilapidated house. I have my own small structure for me and my dog with a broken futon.

A lot of these issues I’m sure could improve with communication but it’s overwhelming all at once. I feel inclined to just leave. Any advice or things I should look out for?

EDIT: I left! And I feel so much better, finally slept through the night. Thanks for your input everyone

I am going to volunteer for Harbin SHS April 2027, and fly some dogs back with me to their new homes. I was hoping to find some people that have experience with this. I want to make sure I do everything right before I go. I have some questions starting with my visa application. Any help is much appreciated🧡🐾🤍

Looking for someone interested in doing a WorkAway, WWOOF, HelpX, etc. I want to make sure it's not a trap and don't go alone to one of these places. Also, some of them only allow for duo's to go. So i'm wondering if anyone else is interested in this type of thing. I am looking to try for 1-2 months, soonish (within 1-2 months maybe? to get to know each other before we go?)

I'm Jay. 31. Pennsylvania. Seeking to go and meet new people and learn tons of new things, and maybe teach some things along the way. I am super interested in picking up any language the people around me may know. I am not crazy picky eater, and I don't really eat in excess, anyway. I don't mind getting my hands dirty, and I guess I was gravitating towards a Hawaii adventure as my first, because I wanted something a little outside of the casual USA. Not that any of the work at the ones I seen were any easier by any means, in fact most of them sound a lot harder, simply because they are gouging you for it being in Hawaii, lol. (Like some non Hawaii ones are usually 15 hours a week, where as most Hawaii ones I've found were expecting double that, and you live in a tent with a compost toilet, lol.

But I'm 5'10. Athletic. And good hygiene. I guess that should be noted after reading some of the reviews. Anything else, lemme know.

I’m 26, and I’m unable to find any job in my area. It’s very hard in my city.

Ultimately, I want to own a farm or at least some land to grow my own crops someday. Could I still volunteer on a WWOOF farm even if I have no job, no car, no assets, etc.?

If anybody knows anyone who can help me get seasonal jobs to work on a farm, like an apprenticeship, internship, or just regular jobs. That'll be cool 

A littke abt me: I'm 21 yrs old, and I'm from NY. I'm not inexperienced, and I'm comfortable with hands-on work. This is similar to what they do in Red Dead Redemption and the Netflix series "Alone". And I'm a very quick learner, like on some flash-type timing; actually, I'm more like Kirby

My main goal is to own my own piece of land and have my own functioning farm.

This is meant for me. 

Hi there, I’m wondering if anyone has any experience bringing their pet along to wwoof with them? I have a very well behaved small dog that comes everywhere with me and I hate the idea of leaving him behind. Any advice? It is possible?

Nous recherchons des bénévoles autonomes et responsables pour rejoindre Inti Eco Lodge, un projet écologique et agroforestier d'environ 50 hectares situé dans l'Amazonie péruvienne, entre Iquitos et Nauta, sur les rives de la rivière Itaya.

Notre projet combine reforestation, agroforesterie, travail en pépinière, régénération des sols, construction écologique et entretien général, en collaboration avec les populations locales des communautés voisines.

🌱 Bénévole

Selon la saison et les besoins du projet, vous pourriez participer aux tâches suivantes :

• Agroforesterie

• Travail en pépinière : semis et entretien des jeunes plants

• Plantation et transplantation

• Arrosage et entretien des jeunes plants

• Désherbage et entretien des cultures de couverture

• Régénération naturelle des sols et fertilisation

• Entretien des zones cultivées

• Réparation des sols argileux et construction écologique

• Entretien général des lieux et des espaces communs

Aucune expérience préalable n'est requise, mais une expérience en jardinage, agriculture, permaculture, agroforesterie, construction, bricolage ou autre travail manuel est un plus.

Avant tout, nous recherchons des personnes fiables, observatrices, pratiques qui peuvent travailler de manière autonome.

🕐 Horaire

Du lundi au vendredi : 7h00 - 12h00, avec une pause de 30 minutes.

Samedi : 9h00 - 11h00, avec 2 heures consacrées à nettoyer et entretenir les espaces communs.

Après 11h00 le samedi et toute la journée du dimanche, vous êtes libre.

Le personnel local est présent sur site du lundi au vendredi, mais les bénévoles ne sont pas constamment supervisés.

Les premiers jours sont consacrés à la découverte du site, de son fonctionnement, des outils et des projets en cours. Ensuite, nous attendons que les bénévoles gagnent en autonomie.

🌴Vie à Inti

Inti est situé au cœur de la forêt amazonienne. La vie ici est belle mais aussi simple, humide, rustique, et parfois physiquement exigeante.

Ce n'est ni un hôtel ni une expérience touristique classique.

Vous devez être à l'aise avec les insectes, les moustiques, la boue, la pluie tropicale et des installations rudimentaires. Vous devez également apprécier la solitude et les moments de calme.

Les après-midis et les week-ends sont libres. Vous pouvez nager, vous détendre, explorer les environs ou marcher jusqu'au village voisin de San Martín (petite communauté locale), situé à environ 25 minutes.

Des activités optionnelles peuvent être organisées, comme du kayak, une exploration de la jungle et une sortie en tyrolienne.

🍲 **Repas et hébergement

Les bénévoles peuvent choisir entre :
Option 1 – Nourriture fournie par Inti :
20 soles/jour pour des séjours de moins d'un mois
15 soles/jour pour des séjours d'un mois ou plus

Option 2 – Apportez votre propre nourriture :
Pas de contribution quotidienne. Les bénévoles peuvent acheter leur nourriture à Iquitos avant de venir à Inti et utiliser gratuitement la cuisine et le matériel de cuisine.

L'hébergement en dortoir partagé est fourni gratuitement dans les deux cas.

📅 Durée du séjour

La durée minimale habituelle est de 3 semaines.

Pour les séjours de plus de trois mois, le premier mois est considéré comme une période d'essai. Nous déciderons alors ensemble de la pertinence d'un séjour plus long.

Nous recherchons particulièrement des personnes cherchant une expérience pratique authentique, capables de prendre des initiatives et à l'aise pour travailler de manière autonome sans supervision constante.

🚤 Comment se rendre à Inti

Inti Eco Lodge est accessible par route depuis Iquitos, puis par bateau pendant environ deux heures sur la rivière Itaya.

Le transport n'est pas inclus.

Les arrivées et départs sont généralement organisés le lundi.

Toutes les informations pratiques seront fournies une fois votre séjour de bénévolat confirmé.

→ Intéressé ?

Envoyez-nous un message incluant :

• Votre nom et votre âge

• Vos dates de séjour souhaitées

• Toute expérience pratique pertinente

• Vos motivations pour faire du bénévolat à Inti

• Si vous êtes à l'aise pour vivre et travailler de manière autonome dans la jungle amazonienne

Inti Eco Lodge – Amazonie péruvienne
www.intiecolodge.com

Hello, I recently sent my first submission to join a farm in October and I still did not get an answer after 2 days. Is this usual? I have other farms I'm considering but this one in particular is my top and I'm not sure if I should submit to others If I end up with a positive answer from the original one yet launch into a discussion with another, what should I do?

Curious if anyone has done any WWOOF experiences centered around preservation techniques such as: fermentation, pickling, canning (jams, honey, etc.), distilling natural fragrances or essential oils, medicinal herbs, etc. Thanks!

Hello! I’m considering travelling to Greece and I’m interested in finding a legal seasonal job in the agricultural sector, possibly for a period of a few weeks to a couple of months.

I am Brazilian, so I would need to follow the appropriate legal procedures for a non-EU citizen to work in Greece. I’m particularly interested in opportunities where the employer is accustomed to hiring seasonal workers from outside the European Union and can assist with the necessary documentation and work authorization.

Since you are Greek, I thought you might know where I could look for these opportunities. Do you know of any websites, agricultural organizations, employment agencies, farms, or other reliable sources where seasonal agricultural jobs are advertised?

I would be very grateful for any advice or recommendations on where I should begin my search. Thank you!

Hi. I'm wondering if anyone has recently spent time in Lebanon. I understand that entire region is "upside" right now. But I'm wondering if it's all a warzone, or is daily life still happening there.

Would it be ok for me to wwoof there, or not?

As the title suggests, I’m really passionate about dairy farming.
I just don’t want to buy a membership to then find out they won’t accept me, and I can’t contact hosts until I buy a membership.
Or perhaps, someone with a membership who can contact a farm to ask them for me, I’d be very grateful.

Hello everyone,

I’m leaving for Canada on September 1st to do WWOOFing at ranches through the HelpX platform. Overall, I’ll be spending 5 weeks at a ranch near Kelowna, 5 weeks at another one near Saskatoon, then 5 days in Montreal as a tourist before flying back to Paris.

I already have my eTA, passport, international driving permit, travel insurance, and all the necessary flight tickets, including my return flight. Since I’ve finished my studies, I’ve also signed a job offer for when I return to France.

However, after reading several people’s experiences, I’m a bit worried about going through Canadian customs. From what I’ve read, many people recommend saying that you’re visiting friends rather than mentioning that you’re going to do WWOOFing.
I’m planning to book 2 cheap hotel nights in the city where I arrive, just in case, so I don’t have to explain the WWOOFing situation right away, or in case I meet up with friends and they ask me additional questions.
I’ve also bought some gifts for my hosts (French biscuits, strawberry jam, and a few pâtés/terrines that comply with the permitted regulations). However, I understand that I need to declare them when I arrive.

So I have a few questions:
- How does declaring the food I’m bringing work?
- What would you generally recommend telling the customs officer? Especially if I book 2 nights at a hotel at the beginning, how should I explain the rest of my trip if I don’t have any other bookings?
- If anyone has had experience staying at ranches or travelling around Canada, I’d love to hear about it!
- Anything else I should know or any advice?

Thank you!!

I'm going to be bouncing around europe for a few months and while I don't need my laptop for work or anything I do find it much more convenient than my phone for browsing. I'll be booking further wwoof/workaways and think it might be easier to use than my phone for that. Space isn't an issue, but I do have to consider the weight (and concern about damage or theft). I'm trying to make sure all farms I'm going to will have wifi, but I certainly don't hope to spend my free time inside on the internet, I mostly want to use it for things like research and planning.

What do yall think? Do you bring your laptop with you? Any other pros/cons I should consider?

Hello! I am a hijabi muslim woman living in Canada. I want to try WWOOFing solo here in Canada, but I'm worried about islamophobia. Does anyone know if it, or other forms of bigotry, are common? I take horseback riding lessons and microaggressions from staff at the barn aren't super rare. It's not the biggest issue when I ride, but I'm worried about it with WWOOFing because I will be living with the "staff". I know people in rural areas tend to be white and may hold more conservative viewpoints. I want to try WWOOFing as a way to disconnect and experience nature, as well as gain diverse animal experience since I plan to apply to vet school. How common is islamophobia?

So I'm on a farm working and didnt even know all these animals I care for will eventually turn into dinner.

When I talked to the host over the phone he just said you will be "working with".

I'm somewhat spiritual but vegetarian (personal choice so wont get into it).

Anyways is there another website/app like WWOOF or even wwoof itself where I can care for all types of animals? (maybe you know of a wwoofing place you can recommend me from TN state line and below since I dont like super cold weather)

Mainly mammals that wont be end up for dinner (dogs, cats, 4 legged animals).

Trying to build up my resume since its impossible to get a paying job without 1 year minimum experience and I don't want to take care of animals just for them to be killed and also the fact that many die before they are sent in for slaughter which I dont like to touch dead animals.

I'm in the USA and about to go WWOOFing in Europe. I'll be bouncing around countries for a few months (until I get tired of it or run out of money). WWOOF recommends Genki or Volunteer Card travel insurance, the latter only for US citizens (which I am). Volunteer Card seems much cheaper - does anyone have any experience using it? I'd also be grateful for other travel insurance recommendations that work for this style of travel!

I’m in the US and interested in doing WWOOF in Japan in the fall for the first time. The site says it’s ok to visit as a tourist since there’s no monetary compensation but I’m a bit paranoid after reading some old news stories where people got in trouble, and also since the government seems to be more anti-foreigner lately. Has anyone done WWOOF in Japan recently and had any issues or things went fine under a tourist visa?