Jaunted

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Volunteer Travel: It's a WWOOFer's World

If you're a Trader Joe or can easily spend a whole day in Whole Foods, listen up. This summer you could be organic farm hopping and learning how to work the land in Italy, Argentina, Chile or New Zealand.

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or WWOOF is the name, and sustainable living is the game. Anyone with €25 ($39) and an interest in learning about ecologically sound lifestyles can join the movement. Once you're a member, you'll be sent a directory of farming hosts around the world who you can contact directly to customize your farm stay. In return for your hard labor, which ranges from 3-10 hours a day, you'll be fed and provided with "clean, dry accommodations."

We got our paws on a WWOOF directory and were astonished at the sheer number of possibilities available. Some of the best we found were harvesting wine at a Tuscan vineyard, planting scented gardens for the blind in New Zealand and producing organic rice and sake in a rural Japanese village. On the flip side, we also noticed quite a few opportunities to "help with daily chores" and "sleep in a tent." That's the key takeaway: Research thoroughly!

Related Stories:
· WWOOF [Official Site]
· You've Got to Get a Little Dirt on your Hands [SMH]
· Volunteer Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Working Holidays coverage [Jaunted]