Increasing number of people staying in farm houses under WWOOF system

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15 Comments

spudman at 09:06 AM JST - 26th September

I predict this scheme will eventually go to the dogs.
DenDon at 09:56 AM JST - 26th September

great idea, but I'd be dog tired after a day working in the fields. would be a relief to wolf down that free grub and stretch out
Airion at 10:10 AM JST - 26th September

I did WWOOF for two summers while I was a college student. I wanted to spend a few productive months in Japan but didn't have the money to spend all that time traveling. So free food and accommodation in a semi-homestay setting was a good deal for me. Conditions were very different between the hosts, but overall it was a good experience. Especially for foreigners on tourist visas, it's a good opportunity for a longer stay in Japan.
womanforwomen at 11:31 AM JST - 26th September

Yes, anything for some fresh air, helping someone and to get that pleasure after doing some hard physical work. I should do this when i do not want to do work with my head. BUT I cannot because of my obligations in the concrete jungle.

First hand experience more valuable than reading from magazines and books.
Nessie at 01:28 PM JST - 26th September

We have WWOOFers coming through Sapporo every now and then to work on farms in Hokkaido.
Midnightpromise at 01:33 PM JST - 26th September

Oh my, brings back the fond memories of us high school kids in Wisconsin spending our summer vacation at the local tobacco farm to earn some spending money......and those leafs are razor sharp.
cow76 at 03:24 PM JST - 26th September

I thought WWOOF stood for Willing Workers On Organic Farms?
30061015 at 03:57 AM JST - 27th September

As a net importer of food and fuel, Japan needs every blessed wwoofer it can get. Back to the land or tent cities ? Not gonna export itself outta this box.
Klein2 at 09:38 AM JST - 27th September

Responsible people who want to work.

It underscores the real problems with homeless Japanese people and the general problem with unemployment. Why can't people with no jobs do work that needs to be done in agricultural areas? Apparently the reason is not that jobs don't exist, but that people do not want to do them or can't be managed properly, even in their own language. Why is it that bored yuppies from abroad have to be relied upon to do what is fundamentally volunteer work to support agriculture?

Agricultural work is good honest work. It builds character. WWOOF-like work should be tied to scholarship programs and even some employment programs. It would do a lot of good.
gaijintraveller at 11:11 AM JST - 27th September

Cow76, I also thought that, but I checked. It seems that the name changed around 2000. "Workers" caused problems with the immigration in some countries. Maybe it also caused problems with labour laws and made hosts a potential target for legal action.
flammenwerfer at 09:23 PM JST - 27th September

my friend did it - said it was slave labour, that's about it in a nut shell.
Farmboy at 06:53 AM JST - 28th September

It's a good idea, and will be popular, but a new acronym might be a good idea....maybe FARM, or KNTRY, or something....
illsayit at 07:11 PM JST - 28th September

there is plenty of these systems.....i think most people dont need the training but the trust with being their own owner.....do wonder if the french cook stayed and opened a restaurant or is just being flamboyant with the word experience.
Badge213 at 02:48 PM JST - 29th September

WWOOF sort of skirts the line, as anyone with any visa including temporary visitors can do this because technically they aren't getting paid.

Any ways good way for any poor farmers out there to get cheap labour.

I know a friend who did it, he said it was quite nice.
MichaelJP at 08:19 PM JST - 3rd October

cow76: I thought WWOOF stood for Willing Workers On Organic Farms?

That's certainly that it stands for in Australia. It is meant to be a sort of cultural exchange and cheap way to get practical experience with organic farming while learning about local cultures along the way.

Here's the Australian site: http://www.wwoof.com.au/