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WWOOFing in Canada

and Around the World


The material below is from a variety of literature sent to us by:
John Vanden Heuvel

WWOOF Canada,
4429 Carlson Road,
Nelson, BC, Canada,
VIL 6X3
(250) 354-4417

Email: wwoofcan@shaw.ca
Web Site: WWOOF Canada

and by telephone:
(Canada) 1 - 250 354 4417 (Monday- Friday 9 - 5 Pacific Coast time)

(Additional information added by City Farmer.)

WWOOF International Check here for up-to-date information about WWOOFing around the world.


WWOOF - Willing Workers on Organic Farms

WWOOF is an exchange: in return for our help on organic farms, gardens and homesteads, (full time and quite hard!) we receive 3 wholesome meals, accommodation - bring sleeping bags, and, if necessary, transport to and from the local bus station.

Wwoof (wuf), v. [O.E. woef, to travel in search of organic farms; to pull weeds in exchange for alms.]
Wwoofer, n. one who wwoofs.
the Shorter Oxford Dictionary


WWOOF aims


Posted July 15, 2003

Looking for a full time wwoofer for an Organic Farm in Saanich. We have 5 acres of beautiful gardens,flowers and vegetables and want to increase our out-put so that we can sell more commercially. I am willing to share some of the profits of our garden with the right worker. Full time living arrangement can be provided with meals to share.
Please contact Sylvan at 250 382-2612 or coforeman@shaw.ca
Will be away from July 23-Aug.14,2003. Please leave message.


Hawaii Opportunity: March 15, 2003

Kohala Organic Produce located on the beautiful Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.Elevation-1350 feet.Small family farm.Need two people to work aprox 16 hours a week.Harvesting salad every monday and thursday year around.Other farm help one other day a week.Roughly three days a week of work. First four hours a week per person is traded for use of cabin,thereafter,paid eight dollars (American) an hour.Twelve hours a week minimum work required. Cabin is 20X30 feet.Has refrigerator,kitchen sink,two burner stove.Twelve volt solar lights.Flush toilet.Wood fire water heater,shower.Kitchen utensils supplied. Garden produce free-you pick.Market available nearby for extra food purchase. Climate-60 to 90 degrees (farenheit).May be rainy sometimes,windy sometimes. Please E-mail back to this address with information
victoria@victoriafineart.com
or call at (808)895-0303
Or write to Daniel Trumpy
P.O. Box 267
Hawi Hawaii 96719

From the Annual Newsletter to Hosts
November, 1997
by John Vanden Heuvel
"WWOOF Canada has grown (organically & sustainably) again in 1997. We now have 280 hosts all across Canada with 130 of these in BC and 15 in the Western USA and Hawaii. We will change our literature this coming year to reflect our endeavors that it is now WWOOF-Canada and Western USA. To a certain extent it is the British Columbia influence spilling over the border. We registered almost 1000 volunteers in the period of September 1996 to September 1997. 47% (44% in 1996) are Canadians, then the Japanese come in at 13% (16% in 1996), English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish at 10%, Germans at 10% and Americans also compose 10% of the volunteers, then the Koreans at 5% and the rest come from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Bulgaria, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. As most of you have experienced - quite a sampling of different cultures and personalities and 63% are women, 37%men."


How it operates

Details of farms registered with WWOOF-Canada (big or small, rural or urban, vegetables or with livestock) are sent out upon request. Volunteers can then get in contact directly with the farm either by writing one or two which you like or by telephoning the farm hosts a few days before you plan on going, upon arrival in Canada. Please don't write many farms in advance. (Telephoning the host(s) of your choice is the most convenient method used.) The farms are looking forward to your help - don't disappoint them by not showing up or misleading them through a letter. If you really write to be sure of a definite place, by enclosing an IPC you'll show your own sincerity. You are free to stay for one week, two weeks or longer, depending on whether the farm can use your help for longer periods. Some WWOOFers have stayed two or three months at one place others stay a few weeks, then move on to another farm on list.


Children and WWOOF

Some farms are prepared to take children, and feeding and supervision arrangements are agreed between the WWOOF member and host beforehand. Just mention that you would like to take your children along when you initially contact the host.


Best Times to WWOOF...

are between early Spring (April on the East Coast; March on the West Coast) to late Autumn (mid. November). There are some places that will take WWOOFers all year round but you are free to ask any host if you can come in the winter.


How to join WWOOF - Canada

Membership is open to people of 16 years and upwards. Membership for one year for volunteer helpers is $30.00. Send a letter outlining when you'd like to come and possibly in what part of Canada (East, Central or West) you're thinking of going to. As soon as we receive your membership contribution, we'll immediately send out the farm address and description booklet from which you are free to choose a farm or farms where you'd like to go and lend a helping hand. If you have any questions, we'll gladly try to answer them. Please send cash enclosed in a piece of paper. Cheques are of course acceptable if they come within Canada. Send your requests, along with two (2) International Postal Coupons if you are in the USA, three (3) International Postal Coupons if you are outside of North America or a SASE from within Canada to:

I agree with the aims of WWOOF and enclose $30.00 (preferably cash), an addressed envelope (approx. 4"x9"), and also understand that WWOOF's function is limited to organizing arrangements and that WWOOF can accept no responsibility for any injury, loss or damage. I am over 16 years old.


WWOOFing Around the World

Please always enclose an lnternational Reply Coupon.

Each WWOOF Organization is independent with their own fee structure. Contact them directly for access to their farm list.


The ideal WWOOFer





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Revised February 12, 2004

Published by City Farmer
Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture
cityfarm@interchange.ubc.ca