WWOOF UK

25/10/2026

"I'd love to try WWOOFing, but I've never done anything like it before..."

Sound familiar?

One of the lovely things about WWOOFing is that you don't need to arrive knowing how to grow vegetables, look after animals or run a smallholding.

The whole idea is to learn through experience, spending time alongside people who are happy to share their knowledge.

Of course, every host is different, and it's important to have a good conversation about expectations before arranging a visit.

But sometimes, all it takes is sending that first message. A simple hello, a little curiosity and the willingness to try something new could be the beginning of an experience you never expected.

23/10/2026

So, what actually is WWOOF?

Other than World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms...

It's a question we get quite often, and understandably so. It's a little different from most experiences.

At its heart, WWOOFing brings people together through a shared interest in growing food, caring for the land and learning from one another.

It might involve trying your hand at something completely new or simply sharing stories around the dinner table.

Every host and every experience is different, but the idea remains the same: people connecting, sharing knowledge and learning by doing.

16/10/2026

“I wanted us to have our own adventures together; ones that were meaningful, affordable and rooted in nature.”

When Natalie first discovered WWOOF, she was looking for a way to spend the school holidays with her son Finley, away from screens and surrounded by nature.

Their first WWOOF stay wasn't without its challenges. But by the end of their eight days together in a Kent woodland, neither was quite ready to leave!

Since then, Natalie and Finley have shared six WWOOF stays across the UK, getting involved in everything from forestry and growing food to caring for livestock and helping around the farm.

Along the way, they've discovered friendships, a sense of belonging and a whole lot of confidence.

The amazing full story can be found here: https://org.wwoof.uk/blog/2026/10/16/growing-up-through-wwoof/

13/10/2026

What makes someone decide to become a WWOOF host?

We caught up with Phoebe from Fat Apples, a five-acre woodland smallholding near Porthallow on Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula, to hear why her family chose to open their home and projects to WWOOFers.

Over the past 13 years, Phoebe and her family have transformed what was once a derelict site. Today, they run a café and campsite while continuing to restore their woodland, grow herbs, edible flowers and plants, and create spaces for visiting groups to learn and spend time outdoors.

Could you host a WWOOFer? Find out more about becoming a host with WWOOF UK.

08/10/2026

What actually makes a good WWOOF host?

It isn’t having the perfect farm, the biggest vegetable garden or everything running exactly to plan. Good hosting is about creating a genuine exchange.

It’s sharing what you know, involving someone in the realities of your day, explaining why you do things the way you do and giving them the chance to learn through experience.

That could include growing vegetables, caring for animals, woodland management, maintaining buildings, fixing fences, composting or any of the many jobs that go into caring for land and running a sustainable project.

Just as importantly, it’s about being clear about expectations, making time for conversation and helping someone feel part of the place while they’re with you.

If you have knowledge to share and would enjoy welcoming someone into your everyday life, you could make a brilliant WWOOF host.

Find out more about hosting with WWOOF UK at https://wwoof.org.uk/en/

06/10/2026

Do you know a young person in Germany who would enjoy getting their hands in the soil and discovering life on an organic farm in the UK?

Our Christiane Schmidt bursary is back for 2027, with two bursaries available for German citizens living in Germany, aged 16-21 on 30 March 2027.

Each offers a year’s WWOOF UK membership and £200 towards return travel costs. The recipients can choose a host and arrange a stay of at least one week between 1st May and 31st October 2027.

WWOOFing brings people together to share practical skills, daily life and ideas about growing organically. Hosts provide food and accommodation, and WWOOFers join in with practical tasks and learn as they go.

The bursary is in memory of Christiane Schmidt, who experienced WWOOFing as a volunteer, a host and a member of our team. We’re pleased to help others explore something she loved so much.

We’ll ask the two recipients to share photos and short video clips from their stays, and have a friendly conversation with us before and after their trips.

Applications close on 1st March 2027.

Please share with friends, family or groups in Germany who might know someone interested. A little help with travel could make all the difference.

Read more and apply:

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) UK will once again be offering 2 bursaries valued at £225 each to enable Germans aged 16-21 to volunteer and gain hands-on experience on organic farms, gardens and small holdings in the UK in 2027. In return, the winners will be asked to share their...

04/10/2026

What’s one thing growing this year has taught you? Maybe take a second to pause and appreciate what’s grown over the summer…

Shire Farm in the Lincolnshire Wolds is one of our organic and biodynamic hosts, growing everything from spelt and field beans to lavender and sunflowers. Plenty to get curious about if you’re learning alongside them.

Whether you’ve been WWOOFing, hosting or tending a few pots this year, what will you do differently next season?

02/10/2026

Ever asked a WWOOF host a quick question and ended up hearing the story behind half the things on the farm? There’s usually a reason that gate opens that way. Sometimes it took a few attempts to find it!

Sharing everyday life gives you time for those conversations. You help with the animals, tackle a repair together or ask why today’s plans have changed. Gradually, you start to understand what goes into caring for the place.

And you’ll probably have something useful to pass on yourself.

We’ve put together five less obvious things you can learn through WWOOF. What would you add, as a host or a WWOOFer?

24/09/2026

The flowers have finished, but there’s still plenty to collect!

At our hosts , volunteers helped collect seeds from 41 wildflower species for this year’s seed mix.

Knowing when a seed is ready, what you’re collecting, what to do with it afterwards takes real experience and spending time with people who can show you makes a difference.

That’s a lovely part of WWOOFing. You start by helping with something unfamiliar, ask a few questions, and come away knowing something you can try in your own space.

What’s something a WWOOF host has taught you that’s stayed with you?