Photo by our host Wooden Gate Cider.
Did you know that WWOOF Canada asks every new host to go through a selective and supportive approval process?
WWOOF Canada’s diverse array of hosts constitutes the backbone of our community, and becoming a host comes with both wonderful opportunities and real responsibilities. That’s why we have a host approvals process that seeks both to ensure that potential hosts are the right fit, but also that they have all the resources they need to succeed. Though the approval process requires time from our team, as well as from new hosts, we believe it is essential to ensure that our community is made up of individuals who understand the WWOOF spirit are well-prepared to welcome WWOOFers to their farm.
What We Look for in a Host
First, hosts must always follow our Membership Terms, the Criteria for becoming a WWOOF Host, and our WWOOF Charter.
Second, hosts should understand that WWOOF is not a transaction, it is an educational and cultural exchange. While many people describe WWOOF as work for food/stay, we think that diminishes so much of what WWOOF is. Being a WWOOF host means teaching WWOOFers skills in organic farming and sustainable living. While doing this, hosts must adapt and accommodate different skill levels and cultural backgrounds, fostering an enriching environment for both parties.
WWOOF hosts also need to be willing to share their lifestyle and culture with WWOOFers with the same enthusiasm they apply to teaching farming techniques. That could mean WWOOFers have the opportunity to try new dishes, and learn about the local area and build meaningful connections.
Being a WWOOF host means being part of a community focused on sharing and collaborating to build a global movement towards a more sustainable future. New hosts should be excited to and willing to join our movement!
Hosts who don’t feel as though they completely understand the above expectations can contact our Coordinator at info@wwoof.ca.
Host Approval Steps
1. Profile Improvement & Review
When it comes to setting up successful WWOOF stays – a great profile is key. The better job a host does fleshing out their profile with honest and helpful information the more likely it is that the WWOOFers who reach out to them will be the right fit for their farm.
To this end, we review every host’s profile and provide feedback. First, we do this to ensure the host is meeting the above expectations as well as to verify that they display all important information about their farm, themselves and how they will host WWOOFers. We also check to ensure that host’s have uploaded a variety of great photos, so that WWOOFers can get an idea of what life on the farm looks like. It is mandatory for hosts to upload quality photos of themselves, their farm and property, as well as the WWOOFers’ sleeping quarters to their profile.
The host profile’s description should include learning opportunities, the type of accommodation they provide and the dietary preferences they can accommodate. Details regarding their Host type (Production farm, Non-Profit or Self-Sufficiency farm), lifestyle, and the agricultural methods they use also need to be provided.
Host’s who need help with any of this are welcome to reach out to the WWOOF team, who will be happy to provide specific feedback and support.
2. Schedule a 30-minute Phone Call
We do a 30-minute call that helps us to both vet and support new hosts.
During this call, we discuss WWOOF’s values, our organization, and our community. Then we inquire about the host’s farm, lifestyle, and their plans for welcoming and integrating WWOOFers into their daily routine.We ensure that hosts are able to offer a safe and welcoming environment for WWOOFers. We also confirm that they can provide lodging and three meals a day for all WWOOFers staying on the property.
We take this opportunity to provide them with general advice and guidelines about hosting, such as how long they should ask WWOOFers to stay and questions to ask WWOOFers before accepting their visit request.
Last, we provide hosts with the opportunity to ask their own questions. This could be about their responsibilities, about how to get more visit requests or what to do in a difficult situation with a WWOOFer.
3. Completing the Respectful Relationships & Conflict Resolution Questionnaire
Each host must fill out our Respectful Relationships & Conflict Resolution questionnaire. WWOOF Canada provides this document to assist hosts in fostering respectful, healthy, and meaningful relationships with prospective WWOOFers.
WWOOFing is about building meaningful connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Because WWOOFers rely on hosts for guidance, accommodation, meals, and sometimes transportation, hosts are in a teaching position which can lead to a power differential between them and the WWOOFers. This document has been created as a way to raise awareness among our members about this issue and the internal mechanisms that the WWOOF Canada team uses to address it.
4. ID Verification
Every host is required to send a copy of their government-issued photo ID for the WWOOF Canada team to review. This way, we can ensure that the profile they created on the platform contains truthful information regarding their identity (legal name), address and date of birth. Once we have done this, our copies are deleted from our records.
While WWOOF Canada’s host approval process demands a considerable investment of time and commitment, we believe it creates a safer, more welcoming, more vibrant community. It ensures hosts are well prepared for welcoming WWOOFers to their farm and helps to ensure that our platform features hosts who truly understand the spirit of WWOOFing, and are committed to contributing to the well-being of our community.