Travel abroad without blowing your budget, live with local people and discover a country in a different way from tourists: that’s what wwoofing is all about. Every year, thousands of travelers join the WWOOF network to finance part of their stay abroad. Gap year students, WHV holders, digital nomads or other profiles: the profile of woofers is far more varied than you might imagine. Before booking your first stay on a farm, it’s a good idea to take a look at how the network works, the status of the woofer and the coverage you’ll need to ensure you don’t get any nasty surprises.
- Visit WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a global network present in over 50 countries, founded in 1971.
- The wwoofer works on a voluntary basis for 4 to 6 hours a day in exchange for accommodation and meals, without any remuneration.
- He is not a salaried employee and has no social security protection linked to his activity, which makes him particularly exposed in the event of an accident abroad.
- Australia, New Zealand and Canada are the most popular destinations, especially for WHV holders.
- Depending on the length and type of stay, travel or WHV insurance covers medical expenses, hospitalization and repatriation.
Woofing or wwoofing: what exactly are we talking about?
The acronym WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. The idea was born in 1971 in England, when city-dwellers spent their weekends helping out on organic farms in exchange for board and lodging. Since then, the network has expanded more than 50 countries on every continent. The terms “woofing”, “wwoofing” and “WWOOFing” refer to the same practice and are used interchangeably.
The principle is the same all over the world: the wwoofer volunteers to help a farmer who is a member of the network, and in return receives room and board. No remuneration is paidThis clearly distinguishes wwoofing from an employment contract.
What does a wwoofing trip actually involve?
1) Join the WWOOF network
To access the farm listings, you need to join the WWOOF branch in your country. Each national organization manages its own membership, usually at a cost (a few dozen euros a year). Once registered, you can access farm profiles: location, type of production, hosting conditions, languages spoken.
2) Daily life on the farm
A typical wwoofing day involves between 4 and 6 hours of work. Tasks vary according to the season and the farm: market gardening, harvesting, building maintenance, animal care. Accommodation and meals are provided by the host. The quality of accommodation varies from farm to farm: private room, dormitory or tent pitch.
3) Length and organization of stay
The WWOOF network does not impose a minimum length of stay. In practice, most stays last between one and four weeks. Some woofers link up several farms over several months, reducing their accommodation costs while discovering very different regions.
What status for woofer abroad?
This is often the point least anticipated, and precisely where the risk lies. The woofer is not an employee because they don’t pay contributions, they don’t benefit from any social protection linked to their activity, and they aren’t covered by any professional insurance for their farm work.
But physical work in the agricultural environment exposes you to real accidents falls, tool-related injuries, muscular pain. Even a short hospital stay abroad can cost several thousand euros. Without appropriate coverage, you’ll have to pay the full cost!
Each country has its own rules governing agricultural volunteers. In some countries, the legal framework is explicit, in others it remains vague. Always check local regulations before committing yourself to a farm.
Interested in wwoofing in the near future?
Top wwoofing destinations around the world
1) Australia and New Zealand: the global benchmarks
Australia is home to the largest number of farms affiliated to the WWOOF network, with over 2,000 active operations. It is also the destination of choice for holders of a Working Holiday Permit (WHV) New Zealand offers a similar profile, with a dense network and a strong culture of participatory tourism. New Zealand offers a similar profile, with a dense network and a strong culture of participatory tourism.
2) Canada, Ireland and Europe
Canada represents a serious alternative, particularly in Quebec, for French speakers wishing to combine language immersion and rural discovery. Ireland attracts many European woofers thanks to its geographical proximity and the boom in agrotourism. In continental Europe, Spain, Italy and Portugal also have active networks with a wealth of listings.
Find out more about our offers for each destination:
Wwoofing and WHV: a proven combination
The Working Holiday Permit enables young adults to reside and work legally in a partner country for a limited period, usually one or two years. For many beneficiaries, wwoofing is a natural part of this adventure: it reduces the cost of accommodation and food during periods without paid employment, while opening up access to rural areas far removed from conventional tourist circuits.
This WHV + wwoofing combination is particularly widespread in Australia and Canada, two destinations where the WWOOF network is mature and well organized. For this type of travel to be completely worry-free, the question of insurance coverage must be dealt with before departure, not after.
What health insurance do I need for wwoofing?
There are two possible situations, depending on your travel plans.
- Going wwoofing for a few weeks or a few monthswithout a WHV: a travel travel insurance covers your medical expenses, hospitalization and repatriation in the vast majority of countries worldwide. It adapts to the length of your stay, and remains valid regardless of the activity you carry out on site, including volunteer work on farms.
- Combining wwoofing and WHV, or living abroad for an extended period of time : WHV and digital nomad insurance is designed for long stays abroad. It includes the medical coverage required by WHV countries, and is designed for mobile profiles who alternate between several countries or types of activity as their adventure unfolds.
At Mondassur, our advisors will guide you towards the formula best suited to your project: length of stay, destination, mode of travel. Get your personalized quote online in just a few minutes.
Need advice on finding health insurance ?
These are two spellings for the same practice. “WWOOFing” is the official form, derived from the acronym WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). “Woofing” is the simplified version, widely used orally and in online searches. In both cases, the idea is to work as a volunteer on an organic farm in exchange for accommodation and meals.
Yes, as long as you respect the framework set by the WWOOF network and the legislation of the host country. The wwoofeur is not a salaried employee: he or she receives no remuneration and signs no employment contract. This voluntary status is recognized in most WWOOF member countries, but rules vary from country to country. Always find out about local regulations before committing yourself, and check that the farm is affiliated to the official WWOOF network.
Yes, and it’s one of the most popular combinations for long-term travellers. The Working Holiday Permit authorizes you to work legally in the host country, and wwoofing complements this scheme during periods without salaried employment, reducing your daily living expenses. This combination is particularly widespread in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. For the best conditions, a WHV insurance insurance covers your entire stay, whether you’re on the farm or traveling.
The WWOOF network does not require you to take out a specific insurance policy, but the absence of suitable cover represents a real risk. Physical work on a farm exposes you to accidents, and medical expenses abroad can quickly reach several thousand euros. If you’re going away for a short or medium-term stay, you’ll need to take out an insurance policy travel insurance covers your medical expenses, hospitalization and repatriation. For long-term stays or WHV projects, insurance specially designed for extended stays abroad is more appropriate.
Australia remains the benchmark destination, with the densest WWOOF network in the world and a strong culture of participatory tourism. New Zealand, Ireland and Canada also offer well-structured networks accessible to French speakers. In Europe, Spain, Portugal and France are excellent starting points for testing the experience without going too far afield. For first-timers, choose a farm with recent reviews and a clear description of accommodation conditions.
