WWOOF New Zealand

Read Laura Flower‘s post in the Wasatch Community Gardens Blog What I learned from WWOOFing in New Zealand  

  This is an opportunity for you to show your appreciation to your outstanding WWOOFers, and WWOOFers to do the same for their favourite hosts!  We’ve all had them and you know what I’m talking about.  Below a few WWOOFer and host quotes to get you thinking: The atmosphere was simply perfect!! Our stay was way too short and we wish we could have stayed longer! Thank you so much for your amazing hospitality, the fun times and friendship!! I felt absolutely comfortable, home and welcome in a way I have not felt on my travels before. I don’t think it gets better than this, she is endlessly kind, patient,… Read More

We understand that WWOOFers emailing hosts and then not replying when hosts respond can be an issue for hosts. The problem arises when WWOOFers send messages to a number of hosts and then receive a number of positive responses. After deliberating for a few days they will pick the host they like best and confirm only with them without letting the other hosts know that they wish to decline their offer. This is understandably frustrating for hosts. On the other hand a WWOOFer may read a number of host profiles, spend time writing a personal message tailored to one particular host, and then not receive a reply at all or maybe… Read More

All new hosts are given clear definitions of WWOOF and Cultural Exchange and are taken through a series of questions to determine which program is most suitable for them.  At next year’s renewal date you will be given the opportunity to go through those questions to ensure we have you listed in the right program. You know what you can offer far better than we do! Just to clarify, a cultural exchange does happen with both programmes and it is a very important part of the experience. The difference comes in that WWOOF is a more specialised group which offers organic learning opportunities. Below are the definitions, if you are… Read More

Here is another very interesting and inspiring experience by two American WWOOFers who cycled and WWOOFed around New Zealand.  I love reading and sharing these!  Please keep those stories and images coming!  Below Kristen and Jeff’s story: The idea to travel from America to cycletour and WWOOF in New Zealand blossomed from an afternoon looking at an atlas and making excited movements with our arms, into actual plane tickets and taking care of the things you have to do in life to make such an adventure possible. We wanted to experience New Zealand in a deeper, more meaningful way than the average traveller. I was quitting my job to do… Read More

It seems like Christmas and New Year is ages ago already and it’s all business as usual here in the office. Just a few quick updates: We have received some great photos and updates from the grant recipients.  It’s really exciting to see what has been done with the help of their WWOOFers.  We are looking to hopefully offer more grant opportunities this year. The skills section has had a bit of an issue recently by displaying expired members in searches – this has been fixed! And lastly, we are aware that the website is not displaying correctly on some devices and for slow internet connections.  We have been working… Read More

The Garden Bed Walls Project at Arohanui We are fortunate enough to have been offered a grant by WWOOF NZ to support the development of our garden bed walls project. We are Michael and Jocelyn McKenzie and we live in the Kaipara, Te Tai Tokerau. Our project together started just over six years ago when we moved onto our 10 acre property. The first thing we did (even before building a whare) was to start cultivating the soil, double-digging clay heavy soil to begin the process of introducing fertility to the earth in which we can now grow nutrient dense food. Six years on our gardens are super productive.  … Read More