World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms

What started as a London secretary’s pining for the English countryside has now turned into an international movement for green-minded people who volunteer on organic farms around the world.

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), a volunteer exchange program founded in 1971 by Sue Coppard, is bringing volunteers to over 40 countries, something that the former secretary at Resurgence Magazine never envisioned. “I desperately missed being able to get out to the countryside,” she recalls of her humble beginnings, “I thought that if I offered to help out on a farm, they would let me stay.”

Let her stay they did – and with other volunteers she had tagged. Fast forward to almost four decades later, and WWOOF is now sending environment-conscious individuals from one country to another: the US, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Turkey, Israel, South Africa, Australia, India, Japan, and many more. The goal is to help more people understand the intricate relationship between food and environment, by way of connecting them with organic farmers looking for volunteer help.

In return for volunteering, the WWOOF hosts in farms all over the world provide food, accommodation, and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles. Of course, there’s also the chance to see the rest of the world. Like Coppard, volunteers are placed in an environment – organic farms – where sustainability and ecologically sound practices are promoted. A genuine interest in organic lifestyles and you’re one step closer to becoming a volunteer.

Since the work is volunteer-based, some countries in WWOOF’s network require neither work nor tourist visas. People coming to the US, however, may require an American Visa to participate in the program. WWOOF nonetheless presents a win-win situation. Organic farmers are opening new doors to greener ways of living, while volunteers from around the world get the chance to have a genuine cultural exchange and learning experience.

As WWOOF continues to grow, so does Coppard’s amazement. “I’m staggered at what has happened,” she says, “but immensely proud, too.” Indeed, she has reason to. From this secretary’s simple countryside yearnings have emerged a better, greener world.