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WWOOF World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an independent international organization which incorporates national organizations and mainly focuses on helping volunteers find placements opportunities on organic farms around the globe.

Although internationally recognized, and with world wide representation, there is no formal membership and the organization does not have a central membership list of national organizations incorporated under it. Different organizations simply maintain the same values and standards, identical and encouraging partnerships so as to promote working together to uphold WWOOF values."

WWOOF, also known as “Willing Workers on Organic Farms” was founded in 1971 by Sue Coppard, a London secretary, in England. Her main aim was to provide access to the country side for people who rarely frequented the country side like herself whilst supporting the organic movement.

She started with a trial working weekend for four people which she arranged at the bio- dynamic farm at Emerson College in Sussex through a contact in the Soil Association. Shortly, people started joining and the organizations popularity grew enormously as people got more and more interested. However, the term “workers” on the WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) title caused a number of countries labour authorities to misinterpret it as they thought that the WWOOF volunteers where in actual fact migrant workers.

Hence, in 2000, the first international conference for WWOOF was held with representatives from 15 countries. The confusion on “workers” on the WWOOF old title was done away with after the international conference, as the Willing Workers on Organic Farms was changed to World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. However, some other similar organizations have still returned the old name.

WWOOF is renowned globally with its contribution to the organic world as it brings into contact different people both individually and through other organizations who are trying to influence policy and consumer demands. WWOOF aims at providing volunteers first hand experience in ecological and organic sound growing methods to help the organic movement. The organization also gives chance to people so that they can experience life in rural settings and opportunities to also travel abroad.

WWOOF members commonly known as “WHOOFERS” are not paid, in any way, financially but are compensated by the host family with accommodation, food and opportunities to learn and also provide basic needs in exchange for assistance in gardening or farming by the volunteer. The voluntary period can basically range from a few days to a couple of years depending on the agreed terms. Working hour’s usually average 5 to 6 hours and since people come from different locations, WHOOFERS benefit from inter social and inter cultural relations