Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORLD-WIDE OPPORTUNITIES ON ORGANIC FARMS
work on an organic farm
HAWAII
You should bring an open mind, a sense of tolerance, a desire to help.
—Fran Whittle, WWOOF organizer
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Whether you want to pick orchids, harvest coffee beans, or study the medicinal value
of noni, a Polynesian shrub, consider a volunteer vacation with WWOOF Hawaii. While it
sounds suspiciously canine, WWOOF actually stands for World-Wide Opportunities on Or-
ganic Farms. It's an international organization that assists travelers in visiting farms around
the world.
In return for a few hours' work each day, WWOOFers, as volunteers like to call them-
selves, get free room and board and the chance to learn about organic farming in some of the
most beautiful spots of the world. For some, being a WWOOFer is simply a cheap way to
travel; others do it to learn sustainable-farming techniques, while for some it's an opportunity
to meet “real” people.
Whatever the motivation, it's a win-win for everyone involved. Volunteers get firsthand
experience of organic farming and gardening, and the hosts get much needed help. Since or-
ganic farms shun artificial fertilizers and pesticides, there's lots of extra labor involved. Your
three to six hours a day of weeding, composting, planting, fencing, milking, feeding, or any-
