[suziequeue]

We are starting to take WWOOFers this month.

Anybody got any experience with them?

It looks like we've got a 22 year old French architecture student from Lillle in mid July followed by an older german lady who has a flower garden and then a French girl.

I'm excited about the German lady as she will be able to tell me where I am going wrong (oops - better start pulling up that goose grass)

[OhLaLa]

What response did you have initally? What tasks will they be undertaking? How long will each be staying? How long did you have to wait before a placement?

Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Rosemary]

I thought about it but read the submissions by other hosts and felt too intimidated to proceed  They all sounded so organised, whereas we're just muddling along 

I'll look forward to hearing about your experiences, suziequeue

[suziequeue]

We went "live" about a week ago and have had three responses since then - two this morning in fact.

So we're booked up for three weeks from 17th July now through to the first week in August.

We have put initially that we'll only take people a week at a time so if it all goes pear shaped and we or they don't like it then they can leave and we can just de-register.

We've got a big caravan for them to go in (which DH will move into next year when we knock the house down)

I agree Rosemary - we're just muddling along too and we are hoping that we can learn things from them as well as give them a good experience.

I have found myself doing things like - cleaning all the pots ready for next year and pulling up a load of goose grass and nettles - just because I don't want them coming here and thinking we're a mess  

Silly I know

Jobs include:


• Preparing the new polytunnel
• Building raised beds
• Getting more well-rotted manure from Keith's pile up top
• Helping create my new composting emporium
• Getting all the wood split, stored and organised for the winter
• Peening the scythes and preparing the blades
• Scything the middle meadow
• Making a hay stook
• Clearing the brash from last winter's hedge laying (I'm still only half way through!)
• Daily routine with chickens, sheep and veg etc
• Clearing the coppice and getting rid of all the cr4p that's lying around in there
• Clearing out the workshop in preparation for the new workshop
• Sorting and clearing all the old workshop stuff into useable bits
• Putting up the new sheep shelters

Later on there'll be


• coppicing
• willow planting
• hedge planting
• hedge cutting
• getting the middle field in shape for fruit and veg
• planting new apple trees
• pruning old apple trees
• hedge-laying
• jam making
• cider making
.

I've just thought that we could make some rustic steps down to the stream...... ooooh and digging out a deeper pool in the stream - that would be good.

Then next summer there'll be green woodworking, hurdle making etc etc etc

The list is endless

[Fleecewife]

I'm not quite sure just what to say as I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm.  We had HelpXers not Wwoofers, and they are different (Wwoofers are apparently more in tune with the general aims and approach to life of smallholders, HelpXers are more looking for somewhere free to stay), but after about 4 months we decided we could have done what they achieved ourselves in the same time and without the damage to tools etc caused.  They were all lovely, which makes it more difficult to set rules, but you do need to.  Also you need to keep your own space.  Good luck with it and let us know how you get on - I hope it all goes ok.

[suziequeue]

Yes - we are a bit nervous but we shall see.

My grandmother had WWOOFers all her life at her place in Cambridge (she was doing it long before it became WWOOF) and she was quite harsh with them at times but they towed the line and worked hard - mostly!!

I loved it when I was in my teens. We'd go and visit and there would be all these young French and Italian guys and gals - all looking for a laugh.

I'm hoping that their presence will galvanise us a bit aswell!!!

Will keep you posted.

[princesspiggy]

so how does the insurance work then?
we had french farming students asking to help with our ponies etc but when i checked my business insurance id hav had to pay £300 extra even tho they were voluntary. was a shame to turn em down.

[Dizzycow]

For those of you who may not qualify as an organic farm, check out the HelpX site. Set up by the cousin ( or something ) of the person who set up WWOOFERs. We've had people who come for about six weeks, which is what we want, we tell them in advance all the dreadful jobs which we want help with, and they come, stay and do it. We get six hours work, five days a week, in exchange for board and lodgings. We try to make their stay a really good experience. I've learned that a lot of communication before they arrive is essential, getting to know them and telling them what is expected of them, because I'm crap at asking people to do things for me! Couples are excellent as you get help in the house as well as outside. It has been brilliant for us.

[suziequeue]

Well our first French girl has been with us for two weeks and she has been PRODIGIOUS!!!

She's played a major part in clearing out the wood ready to start coppicing this autumn and then went on to build all the  boards for the raised beds in the polytunnel as well as doing all the routine daily jobs and not being a pain in the neck.

Whilst I have learnt the French for: "nut and bolt", "ridge and furrow", "wheelbarrow" and "to dig", my husband has learnt some rude phrase about cats in swimming pools     

[goosepimple]

I just read Suzieque's list and my list is practically identical.  I've thought about this for quite a while, we are so desperate for help and have a couple of great places that would suit a couple, but I have it in the back of my head I'll just end up with loads of things not done right - oh that must make me a control freak I expect.  I know I'm a bit of perfectionist...

[ellied]

Interesting, I was wondering about whether to advertise for help and offer accommodation in return - was put off because I only have a 2 bed bungalow and was concerned about sharing space that closely with someone for any length of time

I have lists a mile long of jobs to do that I either can't do or just can't manage alone so I'll be interested to see how these experiences progress with both WWOOF and HelpX.. thanks

[nihicib2]

well we have hosted many wwoofers now for since March 2010 and I must say overall it has been great, there's no way we could have covered all the work that has been done here without them, especially since my OH has been laid low with a hernia problem this past few months ( and will continue to be by the looks of the waiting lists  )   We have had many different people, from students to married couples, you kind of have to use your gut instinct to let you know who to pick from the numerous emails you get when you post the dates available, it is a bit of a job to go through emails and await responses and then try and slot everyone in so we dont have too many at the one time or 'double bookings'.  We are luck that my dad has a self contained flat attached to his house so they stay there as we have only a 2 bed house and I couldnt stick living with strangers for 8 months of the year, but some people do it and love it, a lot of hosts have caravans for the wwoofers and you can let them know about accommodation etc on your profile and also when they get in contact by email.

Yes you have to babysit them when they come first (show how much feed the animals get, make sure they dont pull up your veggies, mistaking them for weeds) but like I said it has been a great help to us and we have met many great people who have come back and/or offered us  their homes if we wanted to go to their neck of the woods for a holiday ( ah if only we could get babysitters for our animal family  ).

We have had one or two encounters, one guy wasn't so keen on me (a woman) asking him what to do but he wasn't long being told, and another fella who up an left after a week (when he was supposed to stay for a month) because he had a better offer  .  But like I said we have had a very good experience being hosts.

Generally our guys start at 9 have a tea break at 11 and lunch for an hour at one and finish off around 4/5.  Some days are longer and others are shorter depending on weather/work needed doing, we are flexible if people want to head off for a day or two.  Weekends are free.  We supply breakfast and they join us for lunch and dinner and at w/ends we supply them with meals so everyone has a bit of space/freedom, we also have friends with kayaks and boats who take them out to the islands if they want.  One thing I would say is to specify that you want people to stay for 2 weeks or more ( or whatever period of time you want)  for the simple reason is that you dont want to be showing new wwoofers what to do every week etc.  It also great to 'book' someone in for a month if you  want to get away for a night or two in the middle of that month, (thats of course if you trust em enough)

So thats my tuppence worth on our experiences, if anyone needs any more info or advice sure Id be more than happy to let you know how we are getting on


Bríd

[SallyintNorth]

It's great to hear so many largely positive stories.

I WWOOFed for a while myself, and helped out in WWOOF's office for a while. 

As some have said, communication is the key, making sure you know what the WWOOFer(s) want and they know what you want. 

I would say, however, that generally control freaks do not perhaps make the happiest WWOOF hosts...    But if you are a control freak, make sure you're upfront about it - and only the kind of WWOOFer who likes that will confirm their visit! 

As a WWOOFer, every WWOOF was as different as could be from every other, and every experience enriched me in ways I never expected.  I never had a bad WWOOF.

[goosepimple]

Hmmm...now you've got me thinking....must get that list out

[northfifeduckling]

must get a "newer" caravan!