Through WWOOF Germany e.V., people gain firsthand experience of small-scale farming. We facilitate educational stays on organic farms and organize events, workshops, lectures, and webinars. This work is made possible by you – through membership fees, donations, and occasional external funding. Find out here what drives us and how we work!
Why We Do It
As part of the agroecological movement, WWOOF Germany supports the promotion of a just and sustainable food system by making alternatives to industrial agriculture tangible. The following principles guide our work:
Biodiversity, Soil Health, Animal Welfare, and Circular Thinking
We promote these areas by including only farms that operate within natural cycles in our farm list. WWOOF farms use environmentally friendly cultivation methods, thereby contributing to the preservation of biodiversity, soil health, and animal welfare. On-site, WWOOFers learn about these sustainable farming practices.
Self-Determination Over Resources
Our farm members run self-sufficient farms or small-scale agricultural operations. Within these small structures, natural resources such as land, seeds, water, and soil are managed responsibly, and artisanal techniques are preserved. Unfortunately, the number of these small farms in Germany is declining, while the number of large, industrialized agricultural operations is increasing. We encourage people to visit small farms in Germany, to learn from their handling of our resources, and to appreciate their societal significance.
Connecting Urban Areas with Agriculture
Since industrialization, the connection between people who produce food and those who only consume it has changed dramatically. Especially in urban areas, many have lost their connection to agriculture. Many people do not know how food is grown or how much care and labor goes into cultivation. Through WWOOF, people can experience how food is grown and help produce it. This increases appreciation for agricultural work and re-establishes personal relationships and trust between consumers and producers.
Lifelong Learning
WWOOF Germany e.V. promotes non-formal, lifelong learning and knowledge exchange on an equal footing. In webinars and workshops, farmers share their knowledge with colleagues and interested parties (free of charge). WWOOFers of all ages learn on-site from farmers. Additionally, our digital platform and app make it possible to network with all members of the association.
Local Action in the Spirit of Global Justice
The agroecological movement builds on a long history of indigenous, anti-colonial, and peasant struggles. To this day, they advocate for the recognition of local knowledge, the right to political self-determination, control over natural resources, and the protection of biodiversity and soil health. These rights should apply to all without exception. When we support small-scale agriculture here in Germany, we also keep in mind a fairer global food system in which all farmers can operate self-determinedly on their land. Therefore, we are networked with other WWOOF organizations worldwide to strengthen agroecology locally in each region.
How We Do It
With our impact chain, we demonstrate which resources we use, how we use them, and why.
We Are a Certified ESD Actor
People learn most sustainably when learning happens holistically. This is exactly what occurs on WWOOF farms, as they engage the head, heart, and hand equally. WWOOFers do not learn passively; instead, they learn by actively contributing, having a say in decisions, shaping things independently, and being challenged to shift their own perspectives. For this learning-supportive work and our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we were awarded the “National Award for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)” by the German UNESCO Commission.
