This cute little roadside fruit stand on the Hana Highway in Huelo is staffed with WWOOFers. They have come to Hawaii to learn about growing fruits, preparing and serving them to visitors who are driving along the scenic Hana Highway. Our young farmer friend is happy to have these traveling helpers who are able to take care of themselves while they stay on his property, and trade their labors for a place to call home for a few months.
What's a WWOOFer?
Some of our Huelo Maui friends have been bragging about their WWOOFers. We are dying to try a WWOOFer ourselves. It's a network of mostly young people who want to travel and experience a down to earth "working vacation".
History of WOOF
The WWOOF program started in the United Kingdom in 1971, by Sue Coppard, a London secretary, under the name 'Working Weekends on Organic Farms'. It was to provide people living in London with a chance to participate in the organic farming movement going on in the countryside. Since the establishment of WWOOF in the U.K., the program has expanded to ‘World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms', and is now in over 28 countries worldwide, with a wide range of farm stay opportunities. WWOOF programs operate independently in each country.
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, USA
This is an organization that is dedicated to connecting willing workers and organic farmers across the world, to promote an educational exchange and build a global community of conscious ecological farming practices. It's a project of the non profit Ecological Farming Association.
WWOOF-USAwas inspired by, and cooperates with other similar WWOOF programs worldwide, including:
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Austria
- Germany
- Denmark
- Canada
- Japan
- Korea
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Sweden
How Does it Work?
One half day of volunteer help is traded for food and accommodations, with no money exchange. WWOOF provides a directory of organic farms, communities and garden projects to volunteers interested in gaining hands on experience about organic food and farming. The prospective workers will contact the hosts and negotiate the terms and work expectations. The hosts can decide who they want to have come and help on their farms. A typical stay can be anywhere from 3 days to 3 months. The host is able to ask the worker to leave at any time if things aren't working out. Most of the time it's a win/win situation as life is what you make of it.
We've joined the organization and we're looking forward to being contacted by some hard working young "farmers" from different places. We have plenty of opportunities here on our Haiku Maui farm, for a motivated person with some skills. This could be interesting, and I will keep you posted on the adventure. There will be plenty to learn for all of us. If anybody else has some WOOFer stories, I'd love to hear them!
Do You WOOF? You too can Join Online or check them out at WOOFUSA.ORG and in THE UNITED KINGDOM
Don't be CHICKEN - we'll cross this road together.
Aloha - The Hunter - Georgina M. Hunter R(S) 
* CONTINUED ..... I GOT A WOOFER! *
Frank - I spoke to a nice young lady from the Phoenix area who was wwoofing on a bamboo farm near us. She had gotten my number from my cousin and called to chat. It sounded like they (her and boyfriend) were having a great experience, and they were working their way around the world, starting in Hawaii. We didn't get a chance to meet, as they had no wheels, but we talked a couple of times. It was their first experience. The host families vary, and some I have seen advertising for up to 4 people at a time. I suppose it's up to the host family to set the rules.
I hope to do more posts on this subject as we learn more. Thanks everyone for commenting.
Georgina~
First of all I have to tell you, I love your photography! Are you an artist as well? Thanks, too for the information in this post. I want to know more about this and am heading on over to look at the link you provided.
todd & danielle - not that I know of. it's whatever both parties negotiate. I think it works best with kids too, as they learn so much from the experience
janeanne - thanks for the compliment - we are all artists!
try the UK site as well, it's a little more professional looking
Mahalo Georgina, you da kine!
The world needs more WWOOFers. Hawaii needs more WWOOFers. We all need more WWOOFers.
A WWOOFer served me cane juice once, mmm ono.
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Georgina:
What a great post, I can't wait to tell my friend about this. It is an amazing opportunity to learn something new, try something different yet not be totally commited should you not like it. The added bonus is the trade, accomidations & food, seems like a great trade.
Thank you for your post!
Lisa
Kimo - I like the concept. I hear a lot of good things about them.
Frank - I'm working on a post now.
Lisa - it started out as a weekend getaway for city people.... maybe that could still work.