What's inside? .w w o. Newsletter, April World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms

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Horace Holt
5 years ago
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We welcome on average 750 visits a day and the busiest month ever was January 2011 when there were 26,617 visits! Over 2100 WWOOFers from 38 countries were members at the end of January this year.

1 Newsletter, April 2011 World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms Carraig Dúlra Welcome to the spring newsletter and a chance to catch up with what's happening in the very busy world of WWOOF! A few statistics to put it in perspective - since WWOOF.ie started operating in February 2009 more than 11,000 people have registered an account on the website. We welcome on average 750 visits a day and the busiest month ever was January 2011 when there were 26,617 visits! Over 2100 WWOOFers from 38 countries were members at the end of January this year. The number of hosts has also risen - peaking at 360. The new joint/family account has also proved popular with 190 subscribers since last November when it was introduced. Worldwide, WWOOF also continues to thrive. 120 countries now support WWOOF hosts. 57 of these have a national organisation Greece being the newest! The WWOOf team continues to strive to make the organisation vibrant, dynamic, sustainable and useful. Two areas that need immediate consideration are the structure of WWOOF as a legal entity and the introduction of Regional Host Representatives. Peter outlines the possibilities but we would very much like to know your opinions and welcome your feedback. Annie and Jenny describe some of the events relevant to WWOOF that have been happening locally and worldwide, including an update on immigration issues. Several hosts have written in and describe their WWOOFing experiences and these are complimented by some WWOOFers' eye views! Interestingly both hosts and WWOOFers from Sunny Meadow Farm and Carraig Dúlra wrote in independently both parties thoroughly enjoying and benefiting from the whole experience. What's inside? The way ahead News round-up Tales from the field Book reviews Swapsters The WWOOFer House WWOOF Ireland is a member of Volunteering Ireland, the national agency for volunteering in Ireland This newsletter is also available on where members may comment on issues raised Enjoy the Spring and happy WWOOFing! w o of.ie

2 The way ahead Have your say about the future of WWOOF Ireland! Regional representatives Now that WWOOF Ireland has become reestablished, we need to look ahead at how it can grow as a sustainable organisation in every sense. The purpose of this article is to float some ideas and ask for your responses as members. Where we are now Options for an official structure A flexible and responsive organisation We are inviting your responses to these questions... How to respond Please help to get this right - it s your opportunity to be involved in the development of WWOOF Ireland! 2

3 News round-up Annie and Jenny describe some of the developments and events relevant to WWOOF that have been occurring nationally and internationally Immigration Update Organic cotton 4 colours 10 euro each Weekend WWOOFing European Year of Volunteering

4 In house news - new membership software Grow it Yourself! Meet Rob Coppard WWOOF Worldwide news 4

5 Tales from the field Hosts and volunteers describe why WWOOFing works so well for them Cleire Goats, Cape Clear Island Ed Harper describes hosting WWOOFers at his island goat farm Sunny Meadow Farm 5

Change Makers Carraig Dúlra Organic & Permaculture

secrets of a successful exchange and explains how she

to the way we live The Cahn clan Mulching in the

6 Change Makers Carraig Dúlra Organic & Permaculture Teaching Farm Suzie Cahn from Carraig Dúlra shares the secrets of a successful exchange and explains how she believes WWOOFing can make real and important changes to the way we live The Cahn clan Mulching in the permaculture food forest Niko cooks pizza in a 'beehive' oven 6

7 The yurt - our sitting room and classroom Laughter yoga at Glendalough 7

8 Coincidentally two of the farms Matt and Laura WWOOFed on were Sunny Meadow and Carraig Dúlra. They give a WWOOfer's perspective... Our WWOOFing year 8

9 Saving the world! Tiffany also visited Sunny Meadow farm, an experience that has changed her life Communication! 9

10 Book reviews Meat: A Benign Extravagance Simon Fairlie The Polytunnel Book: fruit and vegetables all year round Joyce Russell 10

11 Photos by Ben Russell from The Polytunnel Book Swapsters Dundrum shopping centre or an organic goat farm? How would you like to spend your day? Emma Nolan from RTE Two's Swapsters threw down the gauntlet to some brave youngsters! 11

12 The WWOOFer House Susy Greaves describes how WWOOFers helped restore an old barn to its full glory From top-left... The original barn Sebastien and Christine building walls Arno gets technical Arno having fun Putting on the slates The completed 'WWOOFer House' Francis and WWOOFers Pascale, Christine and Sebastien

WORLD WIDE OPPORTUNITIES ON ORGANIC FARMS. CEEweb Academy Budapest, 18 October 2016

WORLD WIDE OPPORTUNITIES ON ORGANIC FARMS CEEweb Academy Budapest, 18 October 2016 Tamas Varga tamas@wwoof.hu Federation of WWOOF Organisations (FoWO) Vice Chair & WWOOF Hungary National Coordinator WWOOF