In return for a few hours' work everyday, volunteers have free room and board and the chance to learn about organic farming in some of the world's most scenic areas. "Basically, it's an exchange for people who are genuinely interested in organic growing, " says Fran Whittle, the UK's only paid WWOOF employee. "It can be on a variety of organic holdings, it could be people's gardens or self-sufficiency farms, right up to bigger farms. There could be Just vegetables, or animals and vegetables, and a huge variety of different farming techniques. "
Whittle co-ordinates both the UK's scheme and WWOOF Independents, a collection of hosts in countries where there is no national organisation.
"It allows people to meet like - minded people, " she says. " If they have skills, there's an opportunity to contribute to the growers who may just be starting up, and there's the opportunity to learn from people who have experience. There's also a huge cultural and international exchange going on."
The list of countries involved in WWOOF, either through their own national organisation or through WWOOF Independents, is enormous. You could find yourself on farms throughout Europe or in Mexico, Korea, the US or Africa. This gives you the unique opportunity to learn about organic farming techniques in a multitude of different countries and to meet local people.
"You should bring an open mind, a sense of tolerance, a desire to help, " says Whittle "You can't go with preconceived ideas; you could end up in a place where they only have one gallon for all the animals and all the plants once a week.
"You're not going to like everybody, every situation is not going to be wonderful, but you can leave with grace. It's your attitude that makes or breaks the experience. You don't have to be skilled - you may have non-agricultural skills that can be helpful. If you're willing to learn, you will fit in."
One of the best perks of taking up a WWOOF placement is trying the homegrown organic food. Janine Israel spent 12 days on a farm just outside Byron Bay in July 2000 and found it both relaxing and educational.
"They made their own yoghurt, their own feta cheese, had homegrown avocados and bananas, " Israel says. " I had access to the most amazing food on earth and it was all homegrown or homemade. " Having spent time as a 'Wwoofer' in Australia, Portugal and Spain, Israel would recommend the experience.
" It's cheap and it's a brilliant way of seeing inaccessible parts of the world, " she says. "You meet locals and integrate with communities which you don't usually do as a backpacker. "