Frequently asked questions

Q. Why do I have to send a form by post?
Why can't I just sign up via the internet, like with many other things these days?
WWOOF is a membership organisation. Becoming a member of WWOOF is not like buying a piece of software via the internet, for example. Our hosts invite people into their homes and wouldn't do that with just anybody. We sign up new members by post so that we have a physical address for them. This means that we can trace people in the event of problems, follow up complaints etc.

We have, as an organisation, talked many times about allowing new members to sign up via the internet and gain instant access to the listings of hosts. We have always decided in the end that this is not desirable. We try to use our website to make the signing up process as easy as possible. ( Do tell us if you have any ideas for how it could be improved further! ) But, so that our hosts can feel more confident about allowing these 'strangers' into their homes, we have chosen to keep our postal sign-up process.

Q. How long does it take to become a member?
Please allow two weeks for us to receive and process your application. If you asked for a booklet, allow an extra week for this to arrive.

Q. Are there any age restrictions?
Note that you must be at least 18 years old to join WWOOF Independents.

Q. I've lost my membership details?
Log in to the the members site, enter your email address, and we will send your details to your registered email address.

Q My email address has changed
Log in to the the members site using your old email address, and click on "New email address?" to change your registered email address.

Q : How do I pay to join WWOOF Independents?

Paying by Credit Card or by PayPal: PayPal is our payment processor for Credit Cards, or you can pay using your PayPal account, if you have one. Remember to include a printout of the proof of payment with your application form.

Paying by Bank Cheque : Do you have a bank account with a British Bank? If YES, you can send a cheque in Pounds Sterling made out to "WWOOF". If NO, do NOT send us a cheque - cheques drawn on banks other than a British bank involve expensive bank charges and we cannot accept them. They will be returned to you and your membership will be delayed. We cannot accept cheques in Euros nor Eurocheques.

Paying in Cash : You can join WWOOF Independents by sending cash. Our experience over the last five years is that sending cash carefully is not a problem. If a letter gets lost, it is because the postal service sometimes loses post, NOT because it contains cash. To send cash carefully, send only notes - do not send coins, wrap the notes in aluminium foil - this prevents detection and theft

Other methods of payment :
Bank Draft : You can send a Bank Draft in Pounds Sterling (your bank will charge you a fee). Note that the Bank Draft must be made out in UK Pounds Sterling, not your own currency.
International Money Order : You can send an International Money Order for Pounds Sterling. International Money Orders are issued by some principal post offices in some countries (the post office will charge you a fee). Note that the International Money Order must be made out in UK Pounds Sterling, not your own currency.
GIRO Cheque : Some countries have a GIRO payment facility through the Post Office. You can pay in your local currency for Pounds Sterling GIRO payment. It will be sent separately and directly to our British Office. Please state on your giro 'membership for WWOOF Independents'. Please send the receipt with your application.

Q : Once I am a member of a WWOOF organisation, can I use the membership all over the world?
All WWOOF organisations are independent and you need to join each one separately. The membership fees are small and cover the cost of running each service.

Q : Can you help me find a job and get a work permit
WWOOF is NOT about paid working, and WWOOF organisations CANNOT help you obtain Visas or work permits.

Q : What does "adequate" personal insurance mean?
Check you have insurance that covers medical care including transportation home, accidents, and loss of property. You should also be covered against you injuring other people or losing or breaking other peoples' property. Make sure your insurer knows that you will be a volunteer on a farm.

Q : How much much ahead of travelling should I would begin the letter writing process?
We suggest allowing a month between writing to a host and receiving a reply.

Q : Can I take my children?
Please read our notes on WWOOFing with children.

Q : What does volunteering on a farm mean?
Volunteering means helping with the everyday tasks that need to be done on the farm. There is no payment for your help - it is not a job - it is an exchange. You exchange your help for being fed and accommodated in your hosts home.

Q : Do I join the organisation in the country I live in or the country I want to volunteer in?
National WWOOF organisations put together a list of farms in their own country and then make this list available to those that join their WWOOF. Join the organisation of the country you want to volunteer in. WWOOF Independents and WWOOF Australia produce international lists with hosts listed in countries that do not have a national WWOOF organisation.

Q. Do I nominate a specific farm or just a country and you find the farm ?
YOU join the WWOOF organisation of the country you want to WWOOF in. YOU receive their host list and YOU make contact with the farms that interest you.

Q. How long does it take roughly to place me ?
We do NOT place you - you place yourself. Once you have a WWOOF Host list for the country you want to WWOOF in, it is up to YOU to write to the farms. How long they take to reply depends on them. We suggest it may take a month between writing and receiving a reply.

Q. Is buying a WWOOF list the same thing as becoming a member?
Becoming a member of a WWOOF and buying a list are essentially the same thing except that you need to be a current member of a WWOOF organisation to be able to volunteer on WWOOF farms. If you are not a current member, you may not WWOOF and you won't be accepted by the hosts.

Q. How long does it take to process my application?
All applications are processed on the day they are received. After posting, it depends on the various post offices' delivery times. Printed Booklets are sent PRINTED MATTER to anywhere other than Europe. All applications are processed speedily if there are no problems such as cheques not in pounds sterling, indecipherable writing or incorrect email addresses.

Q. I joined with a friend on a joint membership ; why hasn't my partner received an access code to the Internet site?
Joint membership means you receive a single card and only a single email address will be registered in our database.

Q. Can I take my dog?
Only with the host's permission.