This weekend Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio is coming to you from the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea, Wales. This year we’ve highlighted volunteer work in the UK from summer community development in London and archaeology in Devon, so for our voluntourism spotlight this  week we’re looking at agritourism and giving back through WWOOF. Check back every Wednesday for more voluntourism opportunities and tune into Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio on Saturday for more information.

With all the talk of genetically enhanced food there has been a huge push and renewed interests in organic agriculture. This summer, you can help farmers in Wales and the UK harvest cultivate organic crops. Learn about farming, explore new terrain and help increase the world’s clean food supply.

Originally known as Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, WWOOF is a international volunteer organization that helps link volunteers with farmers around the world. Volunteers trade their services helping growers in their daily duties in exchange for food and board. These host farms are located all over the world however it is necessary to sign up for a membership in the country you wish to volunteer in.

Becoming a member of the UK, WWOOF organization allows you to volunteer on UK farms. Volunteers must be 18 or older and a membership into the organization costs 20 pounds and is necessary in order to get in contact with WWOOF’s host farms. When you become a member you are given access to a regularly updated complete list of UK hosts with all their contact details, a print version of this list is also available to members.

While WWOOF does not keep track of its volunteer numbers last year it did have more than 4,500 members in the UK organization alone. WWOOF works as an intermediary putting its volunteers in direct contact with the host farms. This allows volunteers and hosts to personally hash out and negotiate all the terms of their service such as; the minimum and maximum time they’ll be working on the farm, food, housing, training, and orientation.

For more information about WWOOF and to get in contact with them please visit their website.

Then keep reading with Meg Pier’s interview with WWOOF Founder Sue Coppard.

By Kevin Theal for PeterGreenberg.com