50% off 2 Year Single Membership $35 (Was $70) @ WWOOF Australia

100

Go to Deal

Windows7forever on 09/10/2021 - 11:04 wwoof.com.au (253 clicks)
Last edited 11/10/2021 - 18:57 by 2 other users

essentialvolunteers

This might be a good deal for some who wish to volunteer on a farm and learn new skills.
I am unsure when the deal ends but will contact the company to find out.

What is WWOOFing?

Travelling Australia, volunteering for 4-6 hours per day (max 38 hours/week to be worked out between you and the Host) while living and learning on an organic Host property.

WWOOF is a worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchanges, helping to build a sustainable global community.

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WWOOF Australia

• 

  M00Cow on 09/10/2021 - 11:06

  +9

  It's a novel idea, to pay to be a slave.

• 

  Manny Calavera on 09/10/2021 - 11:07

  +1

  Pay someone else to do a backpackers job?

  Good god.

  • 

    Windows7forever on 09/10/2021 - 11:20

    +1

    You would definitely be doing it for all of those "feel good reasons" (travel, adventure, make new friendships, learn new skills, harmony with nature, etc) and not for the money.

    • 

      M00Cow on 09/10/2021 - 11:43

      It's a great scam if you can get away with it.
      People are paying to work (hopefully food & accom is free), then the farmers can sell their food at organic.prices.with zero labour costs.

      • 

        Ozone999 on 09/10/2021 - 12:18

        True. I knew one farmer selling organic veggies is rich enough to travel around the world with his family.

    • 

      chyawala on 09/10/2021 - 12:45

      +1

      Tough crowd here, andspeaking as from experience it is actually an awesome thing to do. It's likely the host will take you for a tour some nice local places.

      • 

        first in line on 09/10/2021 - 13:13

        +1

        I did it in France. Such an awesome experience. The work I did in exchange for homestay and food and cultural exchange was so worth it. Especially if you choose somewhere with an awesome location.

      • 

        INFIDEL on 09/10/2021 - 13:34

        +3

        Stayed on a Woofing blueberry farm in Tasmania. I considered I was lucky to be paying so little to stay.
        Young woman staying in same house, was a Wwoofing slave. So much work, no real learning. Just long hard days in the cold & rain with little food.

        Some hosts I've known socially, want to indoctrinate their hairbrained beliefs on their Wwoofers. Often nothing to do with organic growing. So Wwoofers may come out of their unpaid work with false knowledge of organic growing.

        Some complaints of hosts preying on vulnerable females. Hosts in my experience will discuss the very bad experiences, but not report it. Same happens to some backpacker workers.

        In the past, I've taught organic farming methods here & overseas. Love the idea of Wwoofing. Such terrible experiences for some in practice.

        So be cautious!

        • 

          Windows7forever on 09/10/2021 - 20:33

          @INFIDEL: Thanks for your insights. This does scare me off a little bit. Would definitely need to research the hosts thoroughly and hope you get what is "as advertised", minus the slave labour bit.

          • 

            INFIDEL on 09/10/2021 - 21:30

            +1

            @Windows7forever: Quite a few years back I knew some hosts, so had "inside" knowledge. We frequently discussed the problems - so was a bit biased.

            There seemed little emphasis on training, but mainly about getting free labour. Wwoofers seemed more like a problem to hosts - to get the most out of. But that wasn't necessarily a representative sample!

            (I taught at a Uni at the time - so was interested in what was learnt by participants. A colleague wrote about communes & the people they attracted. Something that interested me. Had lived on a communal Permaculture property.)

            Some had strange ideas & strong views.

            The worst tale: A vegan host told me in confidence he had raped a female Wwoofer - because she was a meat eater, so deserved no respect!!
            There was no evidence that was actually true (to report) - it could have just been a terrible story told for shock value, but it was disturbing. At least it was a warning not to stay on his farm!

            ---

            As usual - getting an insight from previous peoples experiences would be great. But some never complain about problems.
            Hosts usually have heard tales about other hosts, so ask them for recommendations.

            Best to know what you want out of the experience, and only do what you feel comfortable with.

            It can be a wonderful experience. Wwoofers have told me that.
            Just be careful! And be prepared to leave if it is not suitable.

• 

  first in line on 09/10/2021 - 12:11

  Is this wwoofing for Australia only? Can I use the membership for overseas countries?

  • 

    Windows7forever on 09/10/2021 - 20:31

    Australia only

• 

  Rain Cloud on 09/10/2021 - 13:36

  Is wwoof an acronym or what lol

  • 

    INFIDEL on 09/10/2021 - 13:44

    Yes!

    • 

      Rain Cloud on 09/10/2021 - 13:52

      What does it stand for? Couldnt see it on the site anywhere..

      • 

        INFIDEL on 09/10/2021 - 13:53

        -1

        Ah, you didn't ask that :-)
        Willing Workers On Organic Farms
        It's been around for 40 years, so they assume everyone knows.

        • 

          Rain Cloud on 09/10/2021 - 13:58

          @INFIDEL: Ah ty. To assume everyone knows though, lol. Never ever heard of them before. And not paying to work on a farm, no. Have done enough 'free' labour during placements ;)

          • 

            INFIDEL on 09/10/2021 - 14:02

            +1

            @Rain Cloud: The ideal, like with unpaid work experience - is people gain a knowledge of the field. They do that work in the HOPE of increasing their ability to gain paid work, or as life experience. For some it's just a bad dream.

            Employers can take advantage if the unpaid workers don't know their rights or understand what they want from the experience. And with remote farm work, you may be isolated (especially if rely on host to provide transport) and possibly alone.

            I've been staying with paid farm workers in a regional city. They do 10 days hard work with 4 days off. Their tax bills are enormous! They are paid well, & probably learn a lot from their experiences. They certainly party hard.
            That's what most people find most enjoyable about farm work - friendships & fun. And falling asleep after a hard day's work - a common comment.

            • 

              Rain Cloud on 09/10/2021 - 15:05

              @INFIDEL: Yeah well I have spent a lot of time on farms for placements. Have had said experiences, some good some bad. But yeah no, not for this stage of my life now lol, especially if we had to pay for it (like when I paid HECS fees at uni for placements years ago)

• 

  GS9891 on 09/10/2021 - 22:08

  +1

  It's not slavery, slaves didn't have to pay for the privilege of working for free.