Adventure Holiday on the Farm
(by WWOOFer Clara, mother of two)
Where do the eggs on the supermarket shelf actually come from? And what is bread made of? Do strawberries grow on trees? And melons too?
Of course, our children today get answers to these questions from us parents, from books, videos, from educators, and teachers.
But what really goes into food production—how much energy goes into making a piece of cheese, how laborious it is to harvest strawberries, and how lovable and funny a pig can be when we only get ham on our plates. And even we adults often find it difficult to appreciate our food and to constantly remind ourselves how valuable it is. Everything is available in abundance on supermarket shelves all year round at rock-bottom prices. It’s easy to forget the long journey these foods have taken and how much work goes into each one, especially high-quality, environmentally friendly foods. And that’s why it’s so easy for us to throw away food.
I regularly see schoolchildren throwing their breakfast sandwiches and fruit in the trash, while they prefer to buy sweets from the local supermarket. But we adults also often overbuy without thinking and then throw away food as soon as it’s past its best-before date to make room in the fridge. Where will this lead?
It has long been a passion of mine to teach and model responsible, respectful behavior towards our environment, our flora and fauna, and thus also towards our food.
The wisdom of indigenous peoples: “We did not inherit the earth from our grandparents, but only borrowed it from our children…” is very dear to my heart. We must protect our environment so that our children and grandchildren can continue to live on this earth.
And an adventure holiday on an organic farm with the whole family is perfect for this!!!
For the past five years, I have been going on WWOOF holidays with my two children during the school holidays, and we all absolutely love it.
Our first visit took us to a small farm near the Baltic Sea coast. We moved into a caravan surrounded by mirabelle plum bushes on two sides. A huge cow pasture stretched in front of us.
Fruit, vegetables, grain, and potatoes were grown on the farm; there were chickens, geese, ducks, pigs, a whole herd of dairy cows, and a beekeeping operation. Once a week, they baked their own bread in a wood-fired oven. The fields were worked by two draft horses.
My children were enthusiastic from the start. Before breakfast, we were allowed to care for the little ducklings. For breakfast, we had our own bread with homemade jam, freshly picked cherries, freshly milked milk, and herbal tea. In the mornings, we helped harvest berries, tomatoes, and beans or mucked out the chicken coop. During the potato harvest, the two draft horses plowed through the rows and waited patiently for the next row.
My children were 10 and 13 years old at the time and ready to lend a hand. My son was delighted that the farmer regularly took him along to do the “men’s work” and proudly sat next to him on the tractor or on the coach box.
At noon, a bell rang, and everyone gathered at a large wooden table under an old cherry tree in front of the farmhouse. Lunch consisted almost exclusively of home-grown produce: delicious stir-fried vegetables with boiled potatoes and large bowls of salad. Much of it had just been harvested that morning.
When work was finished in the early afternoon, we hopped on our bikes and spent the rest of the day on the Baltic Sea beach.
For me, this was one of the most relaxing vacations I’ve ever had. My children were so busy that they didn’t even have time to argue. They had fun helping out on the farm and, of course, enjoyed the afternoons at the beach. Of course, some of the work became tiring after a while, but in retrospect, they were able to truly appreciate the value of these products.
Since then, we’ve visited various farms and had many different experiences. I’ve found that having to help out isn’t a “punishment” for the children, but rather a very satisfying experience. They are proud of what they create and achieve, and they’re happy that their help is so appreciated.
On some farms, the accommodations are very basic, and even food is cut down. We once experienced a situation where we were offered only oatmeal with chlorinated water for breakfast. For lunch, we were allowed to pick our own potatoes and onions, and also lettuce, but only the lettuce leaves, which had holes in them and therefore couldn’t be sold. Luckily, the blackberries were just ripening and nettles were growing everywhere. So, after a short time, we were able to prepare some delicious meals.
During this time, my son would gaze longingly after the chickens; all he could think about was a delicious scrambled egg, all he could think about was potatoes with salad or potato and nettle soup. But the eggs on this farm were only for sale… After 10 days, we moved to another farm. There we were given our own holiday apartment, and the refrigerator was stocked with eggs, jam, milk, and butter. There was fresh, homemade bread. My children could hardly believe their luck. And I laughed myself silly. Of course, we always have a well-stocked refrigerator at home, and even our own chickens, which means we get fresh eggs every day. But it was only after these 10 days of oatmeal and chlorinated water that my children were able to truly appreciate these foods and truly enjoy them.
Incidentally, this oatmeal chlorine water farm remains a very fond memory for us. The family there was welcoming, and the location was very idyllic. There was only one outdoor shower where you could take a cold shower, which was a bit of an effort in 15 degrees Celsius and constant rain, but even that made us all consciously reflect on how fortunate we are and what a luxury it is to be able to simply turn on the tap and have warm running water. My son, with the help of two other WWOOFers, built a stone staircase on a slippery hill on this farm. At 12, he apparently knew more about staircase construction than the other two young men and ended up guiding them. As we left, our host said that for the rest of his life, he would always think of my son whenever he walked up those stairs. And that, of course, was a very nice experience for my son.
I would like to encourage you all to go WWOOFing with your children!!! Your children will have so many wonderful, formative experiences and understand that it’s not a given that everything is handed to them all the time. It will make your children strong and proud when they see what they can achieve with your help. And how they themselves, with their own strength, are capable of creating lasting memories. You will meet so many new people and also make friends with the animals on the farms.
Realize for yourself and your children what you would normally pay for a few weeks of vacation with full board. And for all that money, you might be lying bored on the beach, trying to settle arguments between your children the whole time.
Why not WWOOF yourself instead! Have many great new experiences yourself and, in the process, help organic farmers who really need your help!
Many WWOOF farms are willing to accommodate families with children. Younger children are also welcome, if the parents are willing to provide childcare, for example. Some farms have children of their own who would be happy to have playmates.
If you decide to WWOOF on a farm as a family, you should definitely consider beforehand whether your children are old enough and willing to help, or whether they will need supervision during your stay. Make your children aware of what to expect and get their consent to help. As parents, ask yourselves whether you are willing to take turns caring for young children so that one parent can always help. And then communicate clearly with the farms so they know what to expect. You will have an unforgettable experience!
WWOOFing as a family – tips
✅ Good communication: Discuss expectations with your hosts in advance. Tell them how old your children are and what they can expect. Discuss everything with your children, too!
✅ Adaptability: Be open to new experiences, flexible daily routines, and simple living conditions.
✅ Teamwork: Divide tasks fairly so that both parents and children have a positive experience.
✅ Respect & gratitude: Treat your hosts and their way of life with respect – a small thank you (e.g., a postcard later) is always appreciated.
✅ Child-friendly planning: Make sure your children are involved in the work while still having enough time to play.
