WWOOFing Reflections

Time to reflect

One of the most challenging things about a life of WWOOFing is the mystery of every day. Quite often you arrive at breakfast with complete ignorance of what your mind and muscles will have done by lunch. This leap into the unknown is even greater when travelling between hosts – accommodation, food, work requirements, attitudes and lifestyles are as different as the farms themselves.

The one thing that they all have in common is that they are WWOOF hosts and I think it takes a certain attitude to open you house (and your fridge) to complete strangers. Sure, they are getting cheap labour, but it is not as simple as that. You are basically strangers who have to live together, often for weeks or months. This can present a certain joy as you meet and bond with new people and you share your stories and ideas. It can also bring stress if you do not ‘click’ or if the host treats you merely as cheap labour…

It is a joy getting your water straight from the stream

There are so many things to learn. The more you know, the more you know there is to know – if you know what I mean? By stepping outside one’s lifestyle and social sphere, you become exposed to so many new things that it can sometimes make you feel highly ignorant – ‘no, sorry I don’t know how to weld – yet’, ‘apologies, but how exactly do I drive that sort of tractor?’, ‘yes, I know using a chain-saw is easy, I just haven’t used one and, if possible, I would like some tips on keeping most of my limbs attached’.

When much of your life has been spent in cities, there just ain’t that many opportunities to deconstruct a wheat thrasher.

When a rare fire rainbow appeared as we met one of our hosts, we knew we were in for a treat

It’s wonderful though, how things just seem to work out. Hosts spend a bit of time up-skilling you, or you find work that is aligned with your strengths of knowledge and experience. Basically if you are willing to have a go you will probably do OK. Then comes the satisfaction of a job well done and a good days work achieved.

Perhaps the best bonus of all is when you feel like you have been really useful.

Most of the farms we have visited have too much to do, so the hosts are just doing what they can. When you are able to tackle that job which has always been on the back-burner, or that pile of unsorted mess that they just have not had time to get to, but walk past several times a day. It is a lovely feeling. You feel that you have made their lives a little bit better. You feel like you have contributed towards something positive. You feel good.

Changing of the guard

Life as a WWOOFer is filled with challenges, but it is also filled with new friendships, laughter, fabulous food, hectic times and time to chill. We have been on the road for eight months now and even though the homesickness is starting to niggle, every day is a wild ride and we are savouring the journey.

Plenty of time to play in the wild