Why WWOOFing Is NOT Work in Exchange for Meals and Board

Contrary to popular belief, WWOOFing is not volunteer labor for accommodation and a holiday. A WWOOFer should have a genuine interest in "agroecology" or ecological farming practices to learn about the host's work and to share in their lifestyle. Likewise, hosts must express a sincere desire to share their expertise in organic farming. Accommodation merely becomes a means for an educational approach in teaching and learning about a more sustainable way of life.

Anja picking figs on her host's farm in the Pyrenees

"Whether we are working with WWOOFers collecting honey or trimming the lavender, we are sharing their lives, we are learning about them and them about us."

After all, it's not just an exchange of labor—it's an exchange of knowledge, an exchange of culture, and an exchange of lifestyles.