WWOOFing is one of the many cost-saving travel hacks I’ve used to travel the world. This post is a breakdown of what WWOOF is and a peek into my very first WWOOFing experience in Oregon back in 2017, where I spent a month on a farm, living in my self-converted camper van. I hope it will help you get a feel for what an agricultural work exchange is like.

October, 2017

As I pulled up the driveway of Gardenripe Farm, I saw a middle-aged man with a blue cap appear on the porch of a modest white house. He walked up to my driver side window to greet me, “you must be lost,” he said smiling.

I knew he was joking, and that he was expecting me. I knew he probably did this little bit with every volunteer who rolls up eager to escape, unwind and learn.

I let his joke linger in my mind anyway.

It seemed to be a theme in my life these days. The assumption that I’m wandering because I’m lost. Living in a van seems to receive a bewildered reaction when you test it out on strangers and friends alike.

But I could tell the moment he said the joke, I fit right in here- in a place that attracts people who are searching for something.

Those chasing another era, a simpler life, a connection with Earth, and a better understanding of necessities. Something flexible and free to dip your toes into, but with no commitments necessary.

I glanced over at the rows of neatly lined vegetables ready for harvest, the canvas yurts along the dirt road, pigs frolicking in the mud, and heard the chipper chickens clucking. It was perfect.

Bill, the jokester farmer, helped me back my van into a spot by the produce packing room. After we determined that I was planted in a convenient location for the month, he began the tour of the farm.

Gardenripe is a 137-acre century farm that has been in the Scheidler family for over 100 years. The gracious hosts Bill and his wife Janice went above and beyond to make me feel at home during my time with them.

In exchange for 20 hours of work/week, I was provided meals, hot showers, laundry, and electricity for my van.

The other volunteers stayed in a yurt and a trailer provided by the farm.

What is WWOOFing?

I found Gardenripe through a website called wwoof.usa. WWOOF (World Wide Organic Farming) is an international organization that connects farms, gardens, and even vineyards, with volunteers. The premise is a mutually beneficial exchange of help for knowledge. For some, it’s also a nice way to travel while getting free room and board.

I highly recommend it to anyone interested in food production or simply wanting a homestay experience while traveling. The accommodations vary from farm to farm, but the WWOOF website has filters so you can choose a farm that is the perfect fit for you.

After paying the $40 annual membership fee, I was given access to the WWOOFER online directory, and I was able to find many farms through the website that would accommodate my Gluten-free diet and my dog. I ended up choosing Gardenripe due to its beautiful location in Scotts Mills, Oregon and the raving reviews.

I spent a month harvesting vegetables, picking fruits, planting garlic, transplanting spinach, and even partook in the not as fun tasks of weeding and picking up drain lines for the end of the season. I also operated the apple press and made fresh cider at the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Silverton, and attended my first auction.

Since I was only required to work 4 hours/day, I had a lot of downtime! We started work at 8am on Monday-Friday, and finished at 12pm for lunch. The rest of the afternoon and weekends were mine to do whatever I pleased.

So, I filled my time with trips to Portland, the quaint town of Silverton, and hiking to the stunning Abiqua Falls.

I spent my afternoons writing, doing yoga on the wooden deck, going on walks with my dog Cagney in the 100 acres of wilderness on the farm, and hanging out with the other WWOOFers, who became good friends.

Breakfast and lunch were a fend for yourself situation, but I was able to jot down my grocery requests onto a list each week, and Bill would buy the items that couldn’t be freshly picked from the farm.

Every night we shared a family-style home-cooked dinner in the main house.

I learned about organic farming techniques, Community-Supported Agriculture (CSAs), how to drive a gator (a mini farming truck), how to work an apple press, realized there are hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables that I had no idea about and I made some new friends.

All in all, I loved my first experience WWOOFing and felt that Gardenripe was the perfect introductory farm.

The hours and workload were fair, the daily tasks varied and were educational, and Bill was a patient and dedicated teacher, who worked alongside his volunteers. Beyond that, the farm is located in a beautiful part of Oregon, near some quaint towns and exquisite nature hikes.

I left with a deeper respect for farming, a better understanding of where our food comes from, and a desire to learn more about sustainable agriculture practices.

                     

“The fruits of my labor”- Garlic I planted sprouting

Logistical Tips for Booking Your Trip
Booking Flights
I typically use Skyscanner to book my flights because it allows you to search through websites and airlines worldwide all in one convenient search engine. You can also get price alerts for flights you’re interested in.
Booking Accommodation
I always book my hostels through Hostelworld. If I’m not staying in a hostel, then I often book an AirBnB.
Using a VPN for Online Bookings
I also use a VPN (a powerful virtual tool that provides you with a private, anonymous, and secure internet connection) when searching for flights, accommodation, and rental cars. Since websites track your online activity and location, then use these factors to make the rates you are given dramatically higher than their true value, a VPN ensures that you get the best rates, by eliminating artificially high prices based on your country and internet search history. I recommend an affordable VPN like Surfshark to make sure you are getting the best travel deals online!
Travel Insurance
I always travel with insurance, because I know all too well how many things can go wrong while traveling (and sometimes even beforehand). Travel insurance can protect you against certain cancellations, theft, lost luggage, trip interruptions, medical emergencies, and more. I use and highly recommend InsureMyTrip to find, compare and buy the plan that makes the most sense for each trip.
Other Travel Resources
Check out my Travel Resources Page to see the best companies, apps, jobs and other resources I use when traveling on a tight budget.

12 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing your valuable experience, and the very beautiful pictures, all of which impress me a lot. And you are a very good writer.

  2. I have always considered woofing for an extended period of time following my college graduation and you have made it even more alluring. I can not wait to gain knowledge and know what we’re eating and how to grow anything/everything. Thank you for giving us your trip details from an experience that is all your own.

  3. Hi Hal. I loved reading your experienced. Thanks for sharing so positively and so clearly and simple. I also have been volunteering as wwoofer and I already did in a lot of different places of the world. Feeling excited to try it again here in California. Are you still traveling? Try the newest chocolate recipe its on YouTube “Protein Chocolate Ben” enjoy. Hope to meet you sometime anywhere and cheers our stories together. Much loves blessings. Namaste

  4. Thank you for sharing your adventure! Love the photos and your open honesty of your experience! You’ve given me a nudge—perhaps I will step out of my comfort zone after all! Happy Travels! Namaste ♡

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About Author

Anna is an optimist with pessimistic tendencies who enjoys making a short story long, listening to soundtracks from musicals, and watching anything in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi genre. These days you can catch her learning about off-grid living and gardening the hard way, wandering with her partner and dogs through forest roads in a camper, or hiking to waterfalls or glacial lakes. You can also find her on YouTube at Anna and Ryan.

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