My WWOOF experience

New article: A first timer guide to WWOOF

2009-06-02T19:58:00.004+08:00

Came across a concise article at Matador Community about a guide for first timer in WWOOFing. This article was written by Laurie Pickard.

Laurie Pickard is a full-time student and T.A. in Geography. She lives in Philadelphia, where she's worked waitressing, driving an ambulance (for a day), translating and editing books in Spanish, line cooking, teaching music lessons, teaching yoga, playing guitar and singing, and teaching middle school science.

My first WWOOF experience

2009-06-01T16:30:00.005+08:00

WWOOF is a deserted word from my vocabulary but thanks to Joseph Tame, I was brave enough to take this challenge.

This is how the website looks like as of now.

Why do I choose Japan as the first place to do WWOOF? Hmm..apart from my craziness on everything about Japan, there's nothing much. At first, it was my first choice of budget travel but after going through the whole process, I gained more than what I gave. For only USD40 per year registration, exchanging around 4-6 hours per day for accommodation fee, I have gained new friends, learned other's culture and founded new knowledge.

On top of all, I learned to lead a healthier life. Most of the time I will eat organics food and the taste was so yummmmy!!

WWOOF at Himorogian

2009-05-27T06:24:00.003+08:00

Me at the organic paddy field in Himorogian, Chiba.

WWOOF: I don't want to work and travel. No!!

2009-05-17T12:07:00.006+08:00

Some will inquire: why do I need to work in exchange for travel?!!

This is purely my opinion:
How you determine the method you travel, by no means is your choice. However, WWOOF opens up the opportunity to not only exchange work for *FREE food and accommodation but it also laying out the foundation for those who is green at heart, loving nature and volunteering at its best.

While I was in Himorogian, Japan I learned new knowledge that I wouldn't even care to know. I am an IT programmer, living naturally is something that never even crossed my mind.
Some of the interesting facts that I learn:
1. How to grow paddy
2. Flower aromatherapy
3. How to cook japanese food - onigiri, soup
4. How to make natural yeast
5. How to make natural tea from wild herbs

*FREE - you may need to register a minimal yearly fee between ~USD40-50 for WWOOF membership.

WWOOF = frugality ?

2009-05-17T11:07:00.006+08:00

Frugality
1. The quality of being frugal; prudent economy; that careful management of anything valuable which expends nothing unnecessarily, and applies what is used to a profitable purpose; thrift; --- opposed to extravagance. (Source: Dictionary.com)

Why is WWOOF is synonim to being frugal?

Living with one of the WWOOFer host in Chiba, Japan have taught me a lot about being frugal.
It is by no means living poorly but to live with all the resources that you have, not overdo it and use it sparingly. But WWOOF has taught me a level higher than being frugal.

WWOOF answers some life's curiousity:
1. how to user resources economically
2. how to simplify your life
3. how to spend more time with the people you love
4. how to connect with meaningful experiences
5. how to deviate your focus from being materialistic
6. how to save money
7. how to save time

Related Articles: Frugality Blogs aren't stingy with advice

My preparation for Japan Trip May 2007

2009-05-17T00:18:00.009+08:00

Preparation? A boring word..Plan? Worst!
But without these, I'm sure I wouldn't even dream to go to Japan.

How much money should I save? Where should I stay?
Which place should I go/visit? What should I eat? What transportation should I choose?

If you follow group-travel/package-group, there would be no hassle to do all of this but the fun in comparison?
Only God knows! ^^

Estimation of budget (Malaysian Ringgit) for 1 month:
Return ticket : 2,000
JR Pass (2 weeks): 1,400
Subway: 400
Hostel (2 weeks): 700
WWOOF registration: 120
Food: 700
Shopping: 700

Total: ~6,100 to 6,500

A blogger musing from England's Lake District

2009-05-13T12:58:00.003+08:00

Green, mossy ... and goaty

Wwoofing at Sprint Mill Farm, in England's Lake District, is beautiful and rewarding -- if you can swallow all the goat milk

By Reb Stevenson, Citizen Special February 27, 2009

WWOOF and Japan

2009-05-11T15:24:00.002+08:00

I have decided to do WWOOF in Japan due to budget. Japan is a whopping budget to go if you're going solo. Without thinking too much but overzealous preparations..hehe, I managed to get through.

The whole preparation engulfed 2 years of my time. That long??
Yeah..the economic downturn, quitting a slumpy job and a bit ridiculous decision on my part to sustain my living at that time have vanished my first attempt to fly to Japan. I forfeited my first return ticket I bought around 2005. It was the worst decision I ever made in terms of budget travelling. I should have followed my pure gut and go but I didn't. I didn't listen to my little voice in my heart.

To cut long story short, I started saving some money again and May 2007 I managed to kiss Japan's soil, literally. Heheh..

Yeahoooo...yabedabedu!!

Here's a blog of my journey of WWOOFing..and to many more great WWOOFing in future.

Cheers!!

Why WWOOF?

2009-05-11T13:40:00.000+08:00

WWOOF? What is that?
It surely sounds like dog's bark..hahhah.
WWOOF stands for Willing workers of organic farm.
Organic farmers all around the world get connected through this organization.
Not only they plant the crops naturally but in exchange of 4-6 hours of work; the WWOOFers (travelers who registered under this program) able to learn natural, organic plantation, given free accommodation and food. Not to forget it's a full stream of cultural exchange.

What do I achieve from WWOOFing?

Slow travel — I take my time to enjoy the places I visit, make some very close friends in the process.

Cultural exchange - learn the culture from the real people, which is the natives. These people are so laid back and unpretentious.

Organic food and healthy lifestyle - most of the hosts resides in the villages. ·You get to experience a wonderful organic farming lifestyle. Not only it's peaceful but you could eat delicious home-cooked meals — no MSG and artificial stuff.

Budget travel - You just need to pay a 1 year membership around USD40 - 50· Ka-ching!! Haha..You save a lot. Your budget mostly is from transportation or if you splurge a bit.

The downside of it - you sweat, get dirty, some backpain if you are not used to this kind of job but you learn new knowledge and gain precious experiences.