Wwoof - Work in organic farms around the world

[blinkchick2134]

I'm sure I'll visit Melbourne. But I second the passing of vegemite.

[Greenfingers]

Exciting community permaculture project in south west London involving lots of gardening, workshops and outreach to the local community. This year we are developing two new growing sites, establishing a plant nursery and building multiple composting sites & compost toilets. We'll also be starting sustainability workshops in the reclamation centre, harvesting the local nettles, oil making and wild food mapping. In return for 4-5 hours work per day during the week (with breaks and days off!), volunteers will have their own room, meals and access to internet. The house is located within a short walk of Gunnersbury Tube station (on the district line), and nearby the picturesque environment of the Thames, Kew Gardens & Richmond park. Volunteers will be encouraged to take part in all aspects of community life. Ideally looking for people with experience in growing, traditional hand or craft skills or permaculture - enthusiasm is a must!

Contact me through the site or on this email: roblmail2k-pc@yahoo.co.uk

[Dig]

Hello Greenfingers and welcome to travelpunks. Your post looks very interesting. Tell us more about yourself.

[blinkchick2134]

I left another WWOOF farm a week or so ago. I was working at a 9-acre tropical fruit farm in the Puna district of the Big Island. They grow avocados, mamey sapotes, green sapotes, black sapotes, rambutans, egg fruit, abiu, santol, pedalai, lemons, citrus, papaya, moyas, bananas, durians (yes!), cacao, starfruit, coconuts (sprouted coconut is great), jakfruit, and many more I can't remember. This was by far the best WWOOFing experience I've had thus far. I spent 6 weeks working 15 hours a week (Tues-Sat for 3 hrs a day). In exchange I received a small cabin to share with a partner (w/ oil lamp), staple foods (beans, rice, oats), purified water, use of a solar shower, fresh fruit and veggies, use of composting toliet, camping stove and the joy of befriending all at the farm.

My work at this farm was varied, which was very nice after staying at a place where it was the same routine day in and day out. Some days we'd pick fruit for the farmer's market or the natural food store that we supplied. All of the fruit stayed within 20 miles of the farm (minus some rambutans that another worked snuck on the plane back to mainland). The owners have a flock of 20 or so sheep (8 babies this year!), 4 goats (6 babies this year!), 4 dogs (one a border collie pup they got a few days before I left), a few cats (one slept with me nightly), and a slew of WWOOFers. Some days the work included milking the goats/sheep, pulling/removing invasive plants, feeding the chickens and typically farm stuff. Towards the end of my stay I was more focused in the garden building and establishing beds, planting in the nursery and so forth.

Not only was the work great the owners were a great couple that knew their shit. Simply amazing people. My other WWOOFers were great as well. I learned more, about my self, others and farming, in my six weeks here than in a few of the other wwoofing farms where I've stayed for 2-4 months!

Also, I've met a lot of people interested in WWOOF in my travels on Hawai'i. So it's getting more mainstream for you folks that like to do something before it gets overrun.

[zonker]

I'm curious about the work visas. I am living in northern Italy right now and am about to go backpack around the country hopefully catching some farms to volunteer on along the way. Do I have to get a visa for this or can this be done without a visa?