Over the last twelve months we have had several features about hosts or WWOOFers who have chosen to use the WWOOF network to connect with like-minded people at the local level. Given that this was very much where WWOOF started all those years ago it is something we would like to continue to support and encourage in 2015.
There are many benefits for hosts and WWOOFers:
for hosts
- Get regular help
- Develop a local WWOOF crew
- Encourage WWOOFers to think about their carbon foot print
- Find new markets for your produce
- Extend your social network
for WWOOFers
- Keep your travel costs low
- Follow a garden or farm through the seasons
- Get a new perspective on your area
- Extend your social network
- Sleep in your own bed
So how do we get started? Well, we have just added a new field to the host profiles on our website; a tick box which enables you to indicate that local (or even day) WWOOFers are especially welcome; please check it out! If the idea really interests you feel free to amend your online description to say you are open to negotiating ‘local/day WWOOF’ exchanges, perhaps offering a bag of produce to take away in lieu of overnight accommodation.
Similarly WWOOFers can now search for ‘local WWOOFing’ on the ‘Search for hosts’ page.
Alternatively – if you’re a host needing help on a particular day, or regular basis, or someone who wants to organise a ‘social’ for WWOOFers in their immediate vicinity … we can help you. A few tweaks of our database will allow us to find WWOOFers within a fifty mile radius of a particular post code. Hosts are welcome to email us local WWOOF-specific text to send out on their behalf.
If the whole idea really grabs you – you could have some of our leaflets and flyers to distribute via local shops, like-minded organisations or events to recruit people, or even try to become a featured farm or host in your local paper or community magazine. To get more information on any of these ‘kickstarters’ for generating a stronger local WWOOF movement, please contact amanda@wwoof.org.uk.
