Frequently Asked Questions

1. I just signed up for WWOOF-USA. How long will it take until I get my directory and online password?
2. I never got a username and password for the online directory. How do I get one?
3. Why do I have to get my online log in and user name by USPS? Why can’t I just get it via the Internet like with many other things these days?
4. I can’t find the online directory. Where is it and how do I use it?
5. My annual membership is still active but I don’t have the most recent directory. How can I get the additional host information?
6. How do I become a member?
7. What forms of payment do you accept for people signing up internationally?
8. What forms of payment can people signing up in the US use?
9. Does WWOOF-USA also include Hawaii?
10. Will WWOOF help me get a visa or work permit?
11. Why can’t I speak to WWOOF-USA on the telephone?
12. Do you offer workers’ compensation or any other insurance?
13. How long will it take to find a host?
14. I joined with a friend on a joint membership; why hasn’t my partner received an access code to the Internet site?
15. Once I am a member of a WWOOF organization, can I use the membership all over the world?
16. I’m not 18 years old can I still WWOOF?
17. What do hosts expect from me?
18. What should I expect from a host?
19. My directory has not arrived and I leave for the US tomorrow. What can I do?
20. Can I bring my children with me?
21. How many hours a day am I expected to work?
22. Do I need to be able to speak English?
23. Can I stop by your office in person and pick up a directory?
24. Can I see a sample WWOOF-USA directory?
25. How do I become a host?
26. Can I WWOOF in the winter?

I just signed up for WWOOF-USA. How long will it take until I get my directory and online password?

You will receive your directory and online access information through the US Postal Service (USPS). If you live in the continental US, it takes approximately 7-10 business days. Outside the continental US and Canada takes approximately 10-15 business days.

I never got a username and password for the online directory. How do I get one?

For security purposes we will send you a username and password through USPS.

Why do I have to get my online log in and user name by USPS? Why can’t I just get it via the Internet like with many other things these days?

We are working on upgrading our system to enable us to send the user name and password to members shortly after signing up through email. In the meantime we appreciate your patience.

I can’t find the online directory. Where is it and how do I use it?

The online directory is located at www.wwoofusa.org. Simply click on the box that says, “WWOOF-USA directory available to members online see details.” You will then be prompted to enter a username and password which can be found on the inside cover of your paper directory which you will receive through USPS.

My annual membership is still active but I don’t have the most recent directory. How can I get the additional host information?

We update the directory each month online. Please log in to see the new host farms. If you do not have your original online log in and username send your name, date membership began, and current address via email to info@wwoofusa.org. We will need a few days to confirm your membership status and will then send you a user name and password.

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How do I become a member?

Complete and send us your application form and payment (USPS or online). You will receive a paper directory and user name and password via USPS. Then you are free to contact the hosts you want to visit, to make plans, and go WWOOF!! DO NOT SHOW UP AT A WWOOF FARM WITHOUT CONTACTING THE HOST AND MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FIRST.

What forms of payment do you accept for people signing up internationally?

You have two options 1) you can sign up on our website via PayPal with a credit card 2) you can mail us an international money order-IT MUST BE IN US DOLLARS!

What forms of payment can people signing up in the US use?

If you are signing up from the US you have three options 1) you can sign up on PayPal with a credit card 2) you can mail us a domestic money order 3) or you can mail us a personal check.

Does WWOOF-USA also include Hawaii?

Yes, when you join WWOOF-USA, you gain access to all US hosts, including Alaska, Hawaii, and the US Virgin Islands. WWOOF-USA provides a printed directory of over 725 hosts in the US, with more than 50 in Hawaii.

Will WWOOF help me get a visa or work permit?

NO. We CANNOT help you get a visa as we have neither the staff nor the recognition as an institution to do this. You are responsible to make your own visa arrangements. WWOOF is NOT about paid working, and WWOOF organizations CANNOT help you obtain work permits. You should not join WWOOF-USA as a means to getting a visa or work permit. Most people outside the United States come WWOOFing using a holiday or tourist visa. WWOOF-USA cannot assist with visas in any way, including answering questions about visas or providing papers or letters of introduction for visas. Please direct all your questions about visas to the United States Embassy. You can WWOOF here on a holiday or TOURIST VISA.

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Why can’t I speak to WWOOF-USA on the telephone?

We are a relatively young non-profit organization with limited funding and capacity. We do our best to serve you but sometimes we take longer than usual. We only have voicemail, and it is checked once per week. Email is the best way to get in touch with us

Do you offer workers’ compensation or any other insurance?

No, we do NOT offer workers’ compensation or any other type of insurance. We are not experts on workers’ compensation or insurance, so we can’t give you advice. Most hosts have some types of coverage in their homeowner’s policy. When you sign up for WWOOF-USA, you assume responsibility for whatever legal risk that entails. If you are a WWOOFer we encourage you to get traveler, medical, or other adequate insurance.

How long will it take to find a host?

This depends on variables such as the time of year, the host you want to go to, whether the host already has a WWOOFer, the nature and quality of the your communications to the host, and the work the host is doing. If you have the time, it is better to plan ahead to make it more likely that you can stay at the places you prefer. Some hosts like it and others prefer not to commit so far ahead. Ideally a few weeks to a month is time enough in advance to make plans with hosts. If due to unforeseen circumstances you must cancel your plans to visit a host, please be sure to contact the host promptly to inform them. If you have problems with a host, please tell us right away. Please ensure you tell family and friends where you are going, and the name and contact details of the host(s) you are going visiting. Be sure to update this information to them as you move about. Hosts can be busy and some hosts are in demand more than others for reasons of what they do, or their location, and it can be that at such times a given host will be unable to accept you. However we have not known of a WWOOFer who could not find a host somewhere to take them.

I joined with a friend on a joint membership; why hasn’t my partner received an access code to the Internet site?

Joint membership is for two people traveling together. The discount is because we only print and post one directory for the both of you. This means you receive a single directory with online access information on the first page.

Once I am a member of a WWOOF organization, can I use the membership all over the world?

All WWOOF organizations are independent and you need to join each one separately. The membership fees are small and cover the cost of running each service.

I’m not 18 years old can I still WWOOF?

Not alone. Anyone under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or guardian.

What do hosts expect from me?

The most important quality for a WWOOFer to have is to be able to fit into the very different lifestyles that the hosts lead. You are expected to be interested in what they do, work hard for up to 6 hours a day 5 1/2 days a week, help with the chores (such as cooking and washing up) and not create more work for your host. Hosts are all very hardworking people mainly living on a tight budget, and you should accept and respect this. WWOOFing is NOT a cheap holiday and way to travel. It is a voluntary organization set up to teach people about the organic movement and give them hands on experience and to help out organic producers as organic production is very labor intensive. If you are solely looking for a cheap way to see the USA WWOOF IS NOT FOR YOU. Always respect the dates you arrange with your host, if you have to change them for any reason you must give your host ample warning so that they can make other arrangements. Please don’t just not turn up. This can cause major problems for your host (who has probably turned down other people as they were expecting you to come). Please be responsible and thoughtful and take your responsibilities seriously. If your stay is not working out for your host, they can always ask you to leave, although with good communication between host and WWOOFer this should be rare.

What should I expect from a host?

A host should offer you basic accommodation and food, you should check before you go exactly what this is as it varies greatly from farm to farm. Some may have a tent only; others may ask you bring your own tent. You may well need to take a sleeping bag. Most have a room for WWOOFers. If you have special dietary requirements (i.e. vegetarian, vegan, etc.) or specific allergies (i.e. to animals) you should check with your host that this is all right before you go. The host should work with you at times and be willing to teach you about organic farming. It is very likely that you will have to work on your own a fair amount of the time. Many of the tasks may be mundane, but a lot of agriculture work is. Once again, check with your host about what jobs you will be doing. If for some reason the situation is not working for you, discuss it with you hosts and if a solution cannot be reached you are under no obligation to stay. Any feedback to us would be appreciated.

My directory has not arrived and I leave for the US tomorrow. What can I do?

Unfortunately the postal service is not always reliable and this happens occasionally. All you need to do is contact us via email and tell us the following information: name of member, date membership was purchased, address at time of signing up, and form of payment (i.e. PayPal, check, etc); and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Can I bring my children with me?

Sometimes. A lot of the farms like to take people with children, especially if they have children themselves. ALWAYS check with the host first though, and if you have young children who need a lot of your attention discuss them with your host first. Farms can be dangerous places, and parents should be willing to take total responsibility for the safety of their children.

How many hours a day am I expected to work?

The working hours depend a great deal on the work needing to be done. We say that you should work up to 6 hours a day, 5 and 1/2 days a week, but this needs to be flexible. During a harvest, for example, when a crop needs to be collected you may end up working much longer hours, but you should be given extra days off at the end to make up for this. Once again, good communication with your host at the beginning of your stay should avoid misunderstandings about this.

Do I need to be able to speak English?

Many of the hosts speak languages other than English, and it states clearly in the directory which languages they speak. Do not go to a farm where they speak only English if you can’t speak it; this only leads to misunderstandings and confusion. If you wish to learn English choose a farm where they speak some of the language you speak and ask them if they could speak English to you or would be willing to exchange English lessons in exchange for the language you speak.

Can I stop by your office in person and pick up a directory?

No, you cannot stop by our office in person because we do not have a public office; only a P.O. Box address.

Can I see a sample WWOOF-USA directory?

You can preview a sampling of the WWOOF-USA directory of host farms online. Look at the link “What is WWOOF?” and scroll down to “Example Farm Descriptions”- this gives an idea of what to expect among the 725 hosts in the directory. We also give you the statistics of where our hosts are located in this section. The example includes all the information we provide in the actual directory, with the exception of locations of host farms. If you decide you would like to participate in the WWOOF program, sign up for a membership. Then we will send you the directory with contact information for all the farms.

How do I become a host?

Visit our website www.wwoofusa.org/host.html and fill out the host application. The application asks for farm name, contact name, phone, email, location (address and description of land), a brief description of organic activities (crops, projects, goals, etc.), suggested length of stay for volunteers, months of the year you accept volunteers (i.e. do you take WWOOFers in the winter?), accommodations (number and type), non-farming opportunities and activities (alternative construction or restoration project, alternative energy, etc.), expectations of work for WWOOFers, transportation access, languages spoken, host children or pets, special diets, and any other specifics for your farm. To cover postage and printing, please send a suggested donation of $5.00 along with your farm description.

Can I WWOOF in the winter?

During the winter months (Dec-Feb) we recommend WWOOFing in states with year-round growing seasons. Among them are California, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii, but other states also have extended growing seasons. Many hosts in other areas also offer year-round opportunities in greenhouses and such.

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