Are you a longtime WWOOF host? If so, thank you! Your commitment has helped shape WWOOF into what it is today.
Over the years, our standards have evolved. Every new host now goes through a selective and supportive approval process to ensure they are the right fit for our community before being listed on our website.
Requirements have likely changed since you joined our community as a host, so it’s important that you update your profile to meet our latest standards. A complete profile will increase the number of visit requests you receive while also ensuring that the WWOOFers that find and connect with you are the right fit.
Updating Your Host Profile
Your profile is customizable to showcase the unique nature of your property and your WWOOFing opportunities. Regularly reviewing and updating your profile ensures that WWOOFers have all of the important information they need to know about you as a host.
Ensure All Profile Sections Are Complete & Up-To-Date
Your profile consists of seven sections, all of which need to be filled out: Basics, Description, Practices, Availability, Accommodation, Address, and Photos.
Please go through each of the sections below and ensure that they have the most accurate and up-to-date information about you as a host.
Need help filling out your profile sections? Contact Catherine via email for assistance at info@wwoof.ca
Write a Detailed Description
A well-written host description helps to attract WWOOFers excited and eager to visit your farm. With over 600 diverse hosts in our community, highlighting what makes your place unique is the only way you’ll ensure that your WWOOFers are both the right fit and have the right expectations.
Your Profile Description should describe:
- Your farm and its inhabitants (family members, employees, animals, etc.)
- The projects, activities, and tasks WWOOFers will assist with (e.g., sowing, weeding, harvesting, processing, eco-building)
- A WWOOFer’s typical day (activities, meal times, and free time)
- WWOOFer accommodation and meal arrangements (i.e., Is the WWOOFer sleeping area a modern suite, comfortable room, or summer cabin? Is the shower nearby? Does it have hot water? How many meals are shared versus eaten alone?)
- Other important details:
- The social life on the farm (Are folks up late playing guitar around the fire, or does everyone have dinner and go to sleep at 9 pm?)
- What you are excited to teach to (and learn from) your WWOOFers
- Your farming techniques and methods/your approach to agriculture
- etc.
The most important thing? Be honest and upfront about the things that might not be a good fit for certain WWOOFers. Have a big scary dog? Make sure to mention it. Is your farm especially isolated? Say it! Being forthcoming now will save you many headaches down the line.
If your description is too brief -just like the example below- WWOOFers may not have enough information to decide if your farm is the right fit:
A strong profile includes multiple sections, providing clear expectations for volunteers:
Need help crafting your profile? Reach out to Catherine for support at info@wwoof.ca
Include High-Quality Photos
Photos are one of the most important factors in whether or not WWOOFers send you a visit request. Our current standards require that hosts include a variety of photos of their property and themselves. Among your ten photos, you must include photos of:
- The WWOOFer accommodations (interior)
- You and the other people living on your farm
- Your house (inside and outside)
- Your property, gardens, and farmyard
If your photos are outdated or low quality -just as in the example below- now is the time for an update:
Ensure your photos are high-resolution, well-framed, and well-lit to represent your farm best. Photos like the ones below are a good example of what to use:
Need help choosing or uploading photos to your profile? Reach out to Catherine for support at info@wwoof.ca
Hot Tip: Choose Your Main Photo and Short Description Wisely!
Your Main Photo is the first thing that WWOOFers see from your profile while browsing the host list. Choose a photo that might get WWOOFers excited about coming to your farm, such as a beautiful picture of your vegetable gardens or a photo of you and your previous WWOOFers around the table for Thanksgiving dinner. You can change which of your ten photos is your Main Photo from the Photo page by clicking on the “Set as Main Photo” button underneath the photo.
The Short Description is the second thing that WWOOFers see from your profile as they browse the host list – it’s like your elevator pitch. You should write something that will entice WWOOFers to check out your full profile and send you a Visit Request. For example, “Family Farm by the Stunning Bay of Fundy” makes a promise that WWOOFers will find a family-friendly atmosphere on a beautiful maritime farm. The Short Description is the third field down in the Basics section.
Need More Resources?
You can consult these additional documents:
- Host Welcome Package
- What are the criteria for becoming a host?
- What Should I Include in my Host Profile?
- WWOOF Canada’s Membership Terms
For further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact Catherine via email at info@wwoof.ca
Keeping your profile updated ensures a great experience for both you and your future WWOOFers.
Thank you for being part of the WWOOF community!