As We Hunker Down for Winter…

As the days get shorter and we settle into the quieter months, winter is a good time to catch up on a few things- including your WWOOF profile and reviews.

🌿 Host Tips

Clear Expectations Lead to Better Experiences

One of the best ways to create a successful WWOOF experience is through clear communication from the beginning.

Hosts can help by:

• Describing accommodation accurately
• Explaining the types of activities WWOOFers can be involved in
• Being clear about food arrangements
• Discussing arrival and departure plans in advance
• Communicating household routines or other expectations

And don’t underestimate the value of good photos! Showing your home, accommodation, gardens, animals and the activities WWOOFers may take part in gives people a much better idea of what to expect.

As the saying goes, “A picture paints a thousand words.”

When expectations are clear from the start, both hosts and WWOOFers are more likely to have a positive, enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Have You Left a Review?

Reviews are one of the most valuable parts of the WWOOF community.

They help future hosts and WWOOFers make informed decisions, build trust, and create safer, more transparent experiences for everyone.

If you’ve recently completed a WWOOF stay, please take a few minutes to leave a review and share your experience. Your feedback can make a real difference to someone planning their next stay.

🌱 Moments from the WWOOF Community

Our Community, Their Stories

One of the things we love about WWOOF is seeing the connections that grow from a stay. Many times friendships are made that last long after a WWOOFer has gone home.

Here are a few recent reflections from hosts and WWOOFers:

“What an absolutely lovely person! We had Rumi here for 10 days and she was so helpful, friendly, considerate and respectful. She helped with all kinds of gardening, planting, weeding and harvesting, and even helped build a fence so our pet bunnies could have a larger enclosure.

She also looked after all of our animals while we were away for the day — our bunnies, kunekune pigs, ducks and chickens. It was so nice to know our animals were well looked after. We really enjoyed having Rumi here and would definitely recommend her to other hosts without hesitation. She will always be welcome at Blockhill. We hope to see her again someday.”

— Olmec & Melisa, WWOOF Hosts, Cheviot, Canterbury

And Rumi had this to say about her stay:

“I got to stay with Olmec and Melisa for only 10 days, but every single day I learned so much about permaculture and sustainable living through a variety of tasks. It was an amazing, eye-opening experience!

They have created a very unique and fascinating garden, designed and managed in a way that makes the best use of the beauty and strength of nature, which inspired me a lot. The organically grown vegetables and fruits were super fresh and delicious, and all the adorable animals made me smile every day.

They are extraordinarily considerate and kindhearted people, full of useful knowledge and creativity. I cannot thank them enough for such a fruitful stay. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn about permaculture practically and make it their own!”

— Rumi, WWOOFer, Japan

Another wonderful connection developed at Kahikatea Farm in Hawke’s Bay, where Maggie originally planned to stay for a month — and ended up staying for around eight months!

“Heaven! Kahikatea Farm is a truly beautiful place, cared for and worked hard on by the most amazing custodians. Jo is a fountain of knowledge and welcomes sharing it. We learnt bucketloads and had plentiful opportunities to develop our skills in various areas.

We also simply had a lot of fun and were showered with canine affection daily. I genuinely left feeling like we had gained an expansive Kiwi whānau.”

— Maggie, WWOOFer, Cromwell, England

Jo was equally enthusiastic about having Maggie as part of the farm:

“Maggie was the absolute best, top-notch, amazing WWOOFer you could ever wish to have. She stayed over six months and we’ve been crying every day since she left! The whole family and wider farm whānau adored her as a person, not just a WWOOFer, and would have her back in a heartbeat.

Her skills are wide-ranging, from carpentry to planting and pruning, barrowing horse manure and, notably, cooking some of the best food we’ve ever eaten! She is positive, friendly, down-to-earth and fun to have around. We will be eternally grateful to her and her partner for the wonderful time we had together.”

— Jo, WWOOF Host, Hawke’s Bay

❤️ More Than Helping in the Garden

Stories like these remind us that WWOOF is about much more than the activities people take part in.

It’s about learning, sharing cultures, discovering new ways of living, building friendships and becoming part of each other’s lives , even if only for a short time.

Thank you to all our hosts and WWOOFers who make these experiences possible and who continue to be part of the WWOOF journey.

Together, we’re creating opportunities for learning, sustainable living, cultural connection and friendship — one stay at a time. 🌿

Happy WWOOFing!

The WWOOF New Zealand Team