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WWOOF: A cheap, eco-friendly way to travel, except in China

by Catherine Bodry (RSS feed) on Oct 15th 2009 at 1:00PM

I've always been intrigued by the organization WWOOF ("World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms"), which connects organic farms around the world with willing workers who are usually travelers looking for a deeper connection to a country. Every person I know who has worked on an organic farm through WWOOF has raved about their experience, which usually included light farm labor, healthy meals, and a family-like atmosphere. Up until now, I've balked at registering for WWOOF, however, because you have to pay to view the hosts for each country. I'm too non-committal for that - until now.

Since I'm headed to China with a six-month visa, I thought it would be the perfect time to test out WWOOF. I paid my $40 with an innocent (and ignorant) daydream of working ankle-deep in rice paddies or some other pastoral setting. Imagine my disappointment when I logged on to find that the majority of hosts live in or very close to a major city, and are looking mostly for language teachers. One host needed an accountant, another an engineer.

It appears that WWOOF has loosened the rules for Chinese hosts: in order to encourage participation they've waived the host registration fee, and also state that hosts need only "have some work for a WWOOF China traveler who comes to your place to do each day." Pretty broad.

I'll skip the housekeeping in central Beijing for now, and hope that more farmers - organic or not! - are able to register.

Filed under: Asia, China, Ecotourism

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Moody75 Oct 16th 2009 5:48PM

My wife and I joined WWOOF in Australia for 6 months in 2000.
Most of the places we stayed were not farms at all....we worked at a B&B (yes, making beds), painted the deck on a sailboat, built a fence on a house undergoing renovations in central Brisbane and mulched for Waratah flowers that were being grown for the Sydney Olympics.

We agree that it is probably time for the name to be changed from "...On Organic Farms" but don't let the variety of opportunities dissuade you.

Catherine Oct 16th 2009 5:51PM

MOODY75,

I'm glad to hear that you had a positive experience with WWOOF, despite not working on any organic farms! I understand that the cultural exchange is definitely a huge part of WWOOF, but the farm work is just as important to me. At any rate, knowing that it worked out for you makes me feel a bit better about (and a little more open to) the less-rural options in China.

Porcus Apr 19th 2011 10:12PM

Hey Catherine. Any feedback from the experience? I'm in Xuzhou (Jiangsu) and thinking of WWOOFing.

Cheers!

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