One of the great things about wwoofing is that is is completely individual. The only age limit is what you yourself can do and what your host prefers. In general if you are in good health and willing and able to help out you will be welcome! Always read your host description carefully and contact a new farm well in advance if possible so you can learn more about the hosts and what you’ll be expected to do. If you’re not in great physical shape don’t sign up for long days of labor-intensive chores. And always remember that you are in a volunteer position and able to refuse anything you’re not comfortable with.

A recent host asked me to climb his makeshift ramp to the roof every morning to water strawberry plants. Afraid of heights at the best of times, looking at his slippery boards he expected me to climb up gave me the willies. I was uninsured and of course not getting paid to do this, though we did have a longer-term living arrangement. I managed to talk him out of it, including convincing him that he himself should find a different, safer solution. Use common sense. Don’t ever do anything you believe could be dangerous. If possible, especially if WWOOFing in a foreign country, you should have insurance for yourself and your family, no matter what your age. I had a lot of trouble in Canada when I showed up in the emergency room with a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy and no insurance and very little money. You never know when accident or illness will strike unexpectedly, so be prepared.

Just as with any living arrangement where you live in someone else’s house, you must tell your WWOOF host about any pets you have, and be honest about their demeanor and behaviour. Ask about any pets or livestock they may have. Remember that if your animals damage anything you are liable as in any other situation. I wouldn’t suggest bringing dogs to any place with livestock and especially smaller animals like chickens or rabbits. Even the best behaved pet can succumb to the natural instincts when a succulent chicken walks under its nose. Be honest with yourself, if your animal likes to dig make sure any gardens are fenced or otherwise inaccessible, and be sure that your pets won’t be likely to run into a busy street or highway. Similar to WWOOFing with children, your hosts are not babysitters and you are responsible for your animals at all times. And never show up with a pet without explaining and asking permission first.

Why did we choose France… several reasons. We were living in Germany, where my husband is from, and though language was not too much of a barrier, the strict laws there (such as homeschooling being illegal) were a big downside so we wanted something else. I would have preferred Italy but Dan has a personal prejudice against it… I think he thinks all the food has tomato sauce, which he hates. France was close by and seemed like a pretty free place. And he also has a pretty good command of French and had visited as a teenager. My impressions of France were of a country that loves freedom and individual spirit. The rebel spirit is very much alive and having your own land where you can do your own thing is important. Similar to the American South where we’re “from”. I’m still very much a traveler and although we’re finally settling down (my husband finally has his residency status for the US and we’re moving back to arkansas very soon) I will continue to seek out world travel opportunities including Italy, Ireland, France again (I was much impressed with Paris and didn’t get nearly enough time to experience it), Eastern Europe and more exotic locations. But for now it’s exciting to think of returning to our old homeplace and applying all the things we’ve learned in the world.

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