Welcome to WWOOF’s Hosting Standards page!
We appreciate your commitment as a host to providing a safe, educational, and fulfilling experience to WWOOFers.
For several years, new hosts have gone through a few additional steps that may not have been in place when older hosts originally signed up with WWOOF. In order to maintain the high standards of the WWOOF program, we have recently begun verifying that all hosts – old or new – are meeting these same standards. Over the next year, WWOOF staff will be following up with each host individually to provide support, if needed, in order for them to meet these requirements. You don’t have to wait for us to reach out, though! We encourage you to complete the steps below now, if you haven’t already.
WWOOF’s Minimum Standards for Hosting
Complete Profile:
All hosts should have a complete profile that includes a description of their:
- Property and surrounding area.
- Current projects related to agriculture, sustainable living, or other relevant activities.
- WWOOFer accommodations, including the types of sleeping arrangements provided.
- WWOOFer meal plan that provides adequate food for 3 meals per day, and explains if meals are shared communally or self-catered by the WWOOFers with ingredients you provide, or a combination of both.
- WWOOFer schedule. We recommend 5 half-days per week or around 25 hours of farm activities. If your schedule varies, please ensure it does not exceed 30 hours per week and includes at least one day off.
Photo Gallery:
All hosts are required to have at least three photos in their gallery to visually represent their farm and WWOOFer activities. It is also required to include at least one photo of the WWOOFer sleeping area.
ID-Verification:
To enhance the safety and security of the WWOOF platform, we require all hosts to complete the ID-verification process. If you aren’t already been ID-verified, please let us know and we’ll share instructions for how to do so.
Host Orientation Webinar:
All hosts – old and new – are required to attend a host orientation webinar that covers WWOOF’s policies, guidelines, and best practices. This webinar provides valuable information and equips hosts with the necessary knowledge to create a positive experience for WWOOFers. Register here if you haven’t already attended an orientation!
Acknowledgement of WWOOF’s Respectful Relationships Policy:
If you haven’t already, please read and sign WWOOF’s Respectful Relationships Policy to demonstrate a commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive WWOOF community. Click here to complete this step!
Response Rate of at Least 80%:
All hosts are required to maintain a visit request response rate of at least 80%. Response rates are calculated based only on your first reply to new requests received in the last 90 days, and are displayed on all host profiles. To restore your response rate to 100%, login and click on the envelope symbol to be taken to your visit request inbox. Then, from the “All Statuses” dropdown menu, select “Unanswered” to be shown all of the visit requests you have not responded to. Respond to all inquiries from the past 3 months to improve your response rate.
WWOOF is grateful to have you as a host, and appreciates your dedication to sustainable agriculture and educational exchange!
Thank you for your help in providing safe and positive experiences to the WWOOF community, and for taking the time to complete the steps above. If you have any questions or concerns about the above-listed requirements, please let us know so that we can work with you to support your continued participation in the WWOOF program.
The WWOOF Team
