WWOOF On A Winery: 3 Tips For Volunteering On An Organic Farm
Extended travel can be difficult on your bank account. Simply put, popular spots like France, England and Italy are budget breakers, which is where volunteering or WWOOFing (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) comes into play. Before and after WWOOFing on our first organic farm, we ate a lot European staples, paninis, cheese, bread and pizza. It wasn't until we WWOOFed on a biodynamic winery near Florence, Italy, that we really got to experience Italian regional cuisine and culture at its best. The volunteering tips below will help you get started with the WWOOF program.
1. Great! So you decided you want to WWOOF, now it's time to choose a location and visit that country's website, for example, WWOOF Italia, and pay the yearly membership (currently $25 for WWOOF Italia), which then provides you access to th WWOOF farm list. Remember, you will be required to present your membership card to your host during your stay so make sure to bring it with you. If you are traveling and our away from your permanent address your membership card can be mailed to your host's address.
2. Before you pick a farm, make sure you are realistic about what you will need to make your stay work for you. For example, if you need Internet or WiFi, it is a good idea to verify this information with your host prior to agreeing to WWOOF at their farm. Also, remember that you are there to work. If you volunteer during a grape harvest in Italy, you can expect to work 6-8 hours, Monday through Saturday. While most farms on the WWOOF list provide detailed explanations of its expectations, it's generally acceptable to send the potential host an email to find out what their expectations are of volunteers.
3. The first and only real rule of WWOOF is not to cancel or flake on your host. These organic farmers' livelihoods depend on volunteers, and when you cancel it can mess with how much they are able to produce or harvest. It pains me when ever I get an email from WWOOF Italia that states, "SOS, a lot of farms need help for the olive harvest urgently, most of them because they have been let down by WWOOFers canceling at the last minute or not bothering to turn up at all...PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS." If you have any doubts about whether or not you won't be able to honor your commitment, then don't accept the invitation; instead, wait until the time is right.
The WWOOF program is an ideal solution for travelers looking to make their trip more meaningful. By working on the farms, you are not only supporting the farmer, but you are also giving back to the region; getting the chance to taste new cuisines; enabling farmers to work in healthier environments, and ultimately making a small impact in the world.
Looking to find the best budget travel tips, then visit Bethany Salvon's travel site, beersandbeans.com, to find expert advice on cheap eats in Europe to save your budget.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bethany_Salvon
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