news from the office

Nov 24, 2018

As you know, we are working towards the launch of our new website; a platform also used by 15+ other WWOOF organisations worldwide, with the potential for many more joining in the near future.

We had hoped to launch during November but have decided to spend some extra time getting things right to ensure your data is transferred as accurately as possible and to make the transition to the new site as smooth as we can. We are currently hoping to launch in mid-December and will be in touch with every member just before we do to give you the information you need.

Since the beginning of WWOOF UK we have always provided the option of having a Book Membership which includes a printed directory of our hosts’ details.

In recent years very few WWOOFers have bought this option; in October less than 1% of WWOOFers were book members. At the same time the cost of printing and postage has increased so much that it currently costs us money to offer this type of membership and so, at our recent Council meeting, it was decided that we can no longer do so. We will honour existing memberships but they will not be able to be renewed.

This year our formal AGM was held as part of a Council meeting held in York during October, which trustees and staff attended.

We were very glad that host David Beaton and WWOOFer Alice Law were willing to be confirmed as full trustees. Welcome to both of you! Host Matthew Pumphrey attended his second meeting as a potential trustee and, very sadly, Katie Hastings, who has been a trustee for several years, has decided to leave us due to all her other commitments. We will miss you Katie.

The meeting was hosted by Tony Chalcraft and Jane Thurlow at The Nursery and we were all immensely grateful for their welcome and wonderful hospitality. Thank you both so much; among other things for the battle of the pear cakes, the late night walk around York’s inspiring city centre and most of all for the chance to spend some time in your amazing garden!

Classifieds – Autumn Equinox ’23

Classifieds – Autumn Equinox ’23

Welcome to the WWOOF UK Classifieds section. Here, you can find postings from members and other friends of WWOOF UK regarding opportunities, job listings, property advertisements and more. Have something you’d like listed in our Classifieds section? Send us an...

Hive mind – letters to the editor – Autumn Equinox ’23

Hive mind – letters to the editor – Autumn Equinox ’23

Do you have a question for the ‘hive mind’? Do you have any answers to these questions? Do you have any top tips you want to share? Feel free to email the editor – editor@wwoof.org.uk Slugs galore! The latest question for the hive mind is...

Seasonal recipe – Autumn Equinox ’23

Seasonal recipe – Autumn Equinox ’23

Parsley Pesto Do you have a glut of parsley? We don't have enough customers for our luscious crop of parsley so we're enjoying it in bulk! But maybe you have a plant that's gone a bit mad in your greenhouse or herb garden and want to prune it back? Serves: 4 + •...

Barn to be wild

Barn to be wild

An opportunity to live in the Brecon Beacons Ten years ago I bought a dilapidated stone barn high on a hill in mid-Wales. I had been visiting the area for several years, staying in my campervan, walking and exploring. I started to look for somewhere to make a more...

The joy of reciprocity

The joy of reciprocity

By Sue Pritchard My WWOOFing relationship started at a tough point in my life. Newly divorced, a single parent, with caring responsibilities for my own parents, and running another business off the farm, I was hugely relieved that I had managed to keep the farm - our...