Wwoofing?? Has my spell check given up for the day or is this some weird cult involving a lot of barking and scratching? Neither thank goodness!
So what exactly is Wwoofing? Well for starters it stands for World Wide Opportunties On Organic Farms; althought that is no longer the only work on offer. The description on the New Zealand site (there is also an international site) is:
WWOOF provides experiences in sustainable living from large organic farms to family gardens, organic orchards and vineyards, biodynamics, permaculture, urban organics, alternative building/energy etc. WWOOF also provides an intercultural eco-experience that promotes understanding and tolerance.
WWOOF Volunteers live with families and get hands-on experience with organic and sustainable practices including earth building, cooking and preserving, wine, cheese and bread making, crafts, companion planting, worm farming, composting and a whole lot more.
I arrived at the home of the founders of the Kapiti branch of Yoga in Daily Life just as a couple of cheery Chilians were leaving. I was a little nervous as to how living with complete strangers for a week would work out.
This was my second wwoofing experience (the first was looking after a 50 acre farm in Wellsford while the family was on holiday) and it was the first time that I had stayed with the hosts.
Time off from Wwoofing
The deal is usually that the host provides food and board and you work for them for 4 hours a day. Its also a great way to learn about a wide range of topics.
While at the Yoga Centre I updated their website, helped to write a newsletter, prepared the centre for an evening event and learnt how to make paneer cheese! Only having to work 4 hours also meant that I was free to explore the area too; tramping in the Tararuas, walking in the Nikau Valley and having a relaxing coffee at the Wild Olive Café at Raumati Beach.
I was also able to take part in as many yoga classes as I wanted which was an added bonus as I had been wanting to restart my yoga practise but had been put off by an injury that I had. It turns out that I could do 90% of the class and my injury was only a small hindrance. Bye bye to that old excuse!
Why would you want to Wwoof? For me it was the chance to try something different while waiting for my next house sit to roll around. For many others it can be a fantastic and unique way to travel and explore a new country.
If you want to try Wwoofing then take a look at the opportunities available on the website. There is a wide variety, from horse trekking on the West Coast to planting an organic vege patch in the middle of Wellington.
