Information for potential hosts

Please read these notes before applying to become a WWOOF UK host.

As soon as possible after you apply, a wwoof volunteer will contact you to discuss becoming a host and all its implications for you and the wwoofers before you join. In a few cases a volunteer may also arrange to visit you.

Meanwhile here are some general points about WWOOF

In return for a reasonable day’s work (we suggest 5-6 hrs with suitable breaks) on your farm or holding, you provide volunteers with meals, basic accommodation which is clean, warm in winter and dry during rain and, perhaps most importantly, an opportunity to learn new skills by working alongside you. If the accommodation will be shared you should indicate this on the application form. Short-term wwoofers are expected to bring a sleeping bag but long term wwoofers should be provided with bedding. wwoofers are also told to bring towels, appropriate outdoor clothing, boots, gloves etc. They are expected to offer to help with domestic routines such as washing up. The relationship, it is hoped, should be more akin to ‘a friend of the family’ rather than that of employed and employee. If you have a set of house rules or anything you would like wwoofers to know about your household it is a good idea to produce a small leaflet which can be sent out to them or given on arrival. We have samples of other hosts’ leaflets. If you would like to see them please ask.

On no account pay wwoofers for their work. Sometimes international wwoofers have been misled by information ‘on the grapevine’. Simply explain to them that the work is an exchange. Whilst we expect wwoofers to do whatever needs doing, we ask that whenever possible they are given a variety of tasks and the opportunities to learn something of the skills and techniques involved in organic growing. If the weather is unsuitable for outdoor work then we hope you will have some indoor work for them to do. Some wwoofers have little or no experience and it is a good to discuss the work before it commences. It is also helpful to wwoofers if they can work alongside you for at least some of the time. You’ll need patience; good humour and should not give too much responsibility too early. On the other hand there will be some very skilled and experienced wwoofers coming who will immediately be a great asset. Some have been raised on farms themselves. If you have specific skill needs you can make this known through your descriptions or the newsletter.

We have no hard and fast criteria for accepting new hosts but, since one of the aims of WWOOF is to give people the opportunity to gain experience in organic methods, we expect these methods and principles to be predominant on WWOOF farms and holdings or for an active conversion programme to be in progress, All wwoofers who are currently members are given the Host booklet which lists all the hosts or access to the online host list. They then apply directly to you if they are interested in coming to your farm. wwoofers wishing to come to your farm will contact you directly to ask whether you need help and agree a time to suit you both.

If initial contact is by email you should arrange for them to phone you, as this gives you a much better opportunity to assess whether the WWOOFer will be suitable at your place. You should establish whether they are WWOOF members by asking for their membership number and their address. WWOOFUK residents have a four-digit number and an expiry date, which they should quote. If they cannot do this tell them to apply to the Main Office for their number/replacement card.

All membership cards will bear the photo(s) of the WWOOFer. Please check this on arrival and look for the expiry date. If you have any problems establishing that WWOOF membership is current you can always contact the Main Office. By checking the identity of wwoofers and that membership is current you help us to reduce the incidence of 'problem' wwoofers. This is vital for WWOOF as an organisation to remain healthy, so please be vigilant.

International callers often seem demanding because of language difficulties. Please be patient and help them through this because the majority of reports on overseas wwoofers are very good.

This initial contact is a good time to sort out what work needs to be done (e.g. if you have animals and the WWOOFer prefers not to work with animals now is the time to find out.) You can also come to an agreement about hours to be worked - and time off - in the case of longer term wwoofers.

We stress that you are in no way obliged to take anyone who contacts you through the Host list. Try and keep in touch with your Regional Host Contact and other hosts in your area so you can ‘pass’ wwoofers on if you can’t use them at any time. We also emphasise that if the arrangement doesn’t work for whatever reason neither you nor the WWOOFer are expected to continue with it. Please make sure wwoofers leave at a reasonable time of day when they can safely travel, especially if you are in an isolated area. All wwoofers are instructed to make prior arrangements so if any just turn up and you do not want them please feel free to turn them away.

The Host list is at present published 3 time a year in hard copy and updated on the website monthly. We will endeavour to place you on the website as soon as possible after your application has been approved and give you a mention in the next members' quarterly newsletter.

Insurance

It is recommended that you contact your insurer about volunteers helping you. wwoofers are also recommended to arrange their own insurance cover. Please note WWOOF cannot give any insurance advice

Membership

The annual subscription for hosts covers the cost of administration and newsletters. Membership also entitles you to go WWOOFing – should you have time.

Where two or more people are involved in your farm/holding, all should be in agreement to take and support wwoofers. It is very difficult for wwoofers to enter your ‘family’ unit in any case but to come into an atmosphere of resentment is most unwelcoming. So please make sure everyone is involved in the final decision before you apply.

As you realise, you have to feed and house wwoofers in return for their labour. This has a cost in money and time attached to it and your income may not be realised until sometime after their visit. Please make sure you can support wwoofers with good, wholesome food at whatever time of year they come and that feeding them does not become a burden to you financially or time wise.