How My Fantasy became a Reality (Thanks to WWOOF!)

  Richmond, Virginia
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

This spring, while researching "intentional communities" at which I could live and work for a few weeks this summer, I noticed the mention of "WWOOFers" on a few of the communities' websites.

One weekend, as always, frustrated by (what I perceive as) the banality and relative lack of adventure in my life, I decided, just for fun, to explore (what I thought at the time were) completely unrealistic options for summer work exchange in other countries. After researching for a while, I came across a website that mentioned the familiar WWOOFer and linked me to the WWOOF website (www.WWOOF.org). I discovered a brilliant organization that makes it possible for almost anyone to visit any and every corner of the earth.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) organizations link interested individuals with hosts that need volunteer help. In exchange for volunteer work, WWOOF hosts provide food, accommodation, cultural immersion, and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles. There are WWOOF hosts in over 80 countries! (Anyone interested in rice farming in Sierra Leone? How about pineapple farming in Hawaii?) For most national WWOOF organizations, the interested individual must purchase (for a small fee) a yearly membership to that country's branch. The individual is then sent regular e-mails with the link and password to the "host list" (a list of every host farm/family/agriturismo/intentional community/any other place that uses organic growing or eco-building methods). In addition, the now official "WWOOFer" is provided with health insurance that will cover him/her while living with and working for the host.

Still fantasizing about a summer escape to another country (psh, like that would ever happen!), I sat back and tried to envision the perfect place to immerse myself in beautiful, natural surroundings. After deciding against the tropical and exotic rainforests of Costa Rica (been there, done that) and islands of Hawaii (who would want to stay in the USA!?), the lush emerald lands (and totally uninteresting potatoes) of Ireland, and Spain (where I was told "one should lay on the beach and drink beer, NOT farm"), I thought of a place with golden, rolling, sun-soaked hills, fields of sunflowers that stretch to infinity, rows of vineyards with endless wine pouring from the tap, and a culture almost richer than its food. I thought of Italy!

Immediately I joined WWOOF Italia and got right to work, and my "unrealistic fantasy" became a reality. I read through the 42 pages of hosts and sent out 30 e-mails to the most appealing farms. After receiving invitations from a few, I chose two to live with for two weeks at a time. The first, in Lucca, Tuscany, is a small farm called "Il Puntato," only reachable by an hour and a half walk along a footpath. The following is its description from the host list:
"The land is of 7 hectares with a chestnut and beech wood and pasture. The farm has chestnut trees for fruit and wood, bees, varied cultivation and rabbits, chickens and horses. Help needed with dry stone walling, hay making, maintaining the vegetable garden, pruning, and for the chestnut harvest. Accommodation in chalet, length of stays to be arranged, children welcome. Meals vegetarian or not, not all food organic. French & English spoken."

Il Puntato is very rustic and remote, located in a national park. Thinking that this secluded retreat to the mountains would be rejuvenating and healing, I decided to make it my first stop.

(Visit http://www.il-sentiero.it/sources/rif/puntato.htm and click on the links under "Caratteristiche e dotazioni" to see more photos)

For my second two weeks in Italy I chose "Agricola Coccorano," a much larger farm in Perugia, Umbria, which also runs an agritourism, "Agriturismo Ca' Mazzetto." The following is its description from the host list:
"120 hectare farm on a hill at 500 m above sea level of which 100 hectares is completely organic (wheat, spelt, barley, maize, oats). We practice crop rotation so therefore only 30-40 hectares are cultivated every year. There is also pasture and woodland. We have 400 Sardinian milk sheep, 6 horses, chickens, turkeys, dogs and cats. We make pecorino and ricotta cheese and also produce olive oil. We also make textiles (we have an antique loom with 8 heddles and pedals), and practice shiatsu massage. Accommodation is in double room, minimum stays of two weeks. We have a small family run agritourism. Languages spoken: English, German, French, Finnish & Swedish"



(Visit http://www.camazzetto.it/index-en.php)



After some months, I finally made all of my travel plans and arrangements (all by myself, I may add). I might also note that I am paying for the entire six week trip with (not necessarily all of) the earnings from my 2007 and 2008 University of Richmond bio-chemistry summer research job with the fabulous Dr. Lisa Gentile (thank you). I also received a generous donation from my dear Grandmother Martha, and Grandpa Bob (thank you!), which I used to purchase my plane ticket (the most important part of the trip!).

On Sunday, July 20 I will depart from Dulles Intl. Airport in Washington, DC. Monday morning I arrive in Munich, Germany where I catch my second flight to Florence, Italy! Upon my arrival in Florence (about 10:30 AM), I will catch a train to Massa, where a friend of the "Il Puntato" family with will pick me up. On Saturday, August 2, I pack my bags (or should I say my ONE backpack!) and take a train, then a bus to Valfabbrica, where I will meet my second hosts, Marjatta and Pasquale. On Saturday, August 16, I'm off to Rome and the Vatican for three days. Then, the evening of Monday the 18th, after a long day in Rome, I catch a ferry in Civitavecchia and travel overnight to Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia. I spend one day and night in Cagliari, and then travel to the less touristy San Vito (about 1.5 hrs). After soaking in some sun on Sardinia's pristine, white beaches and splashing in its beautiful turquoise waters, I board a train the afternoon of Thursday, August 21 and admire Sardinia for 4 hours through a window while I travel to Porto Torres, at the top of the island. Here, I catch a late ferry and will awake to find myself back on the mainland, in Genoa. Immediately, I will catch a train to Cinque Terre, where I will stay in Monterosso from Friday, August 22 thru Sunday, August 24. The (early) morning of Monday the 25th, I head off for two days and nights in Venice, and finally I catch a train for Florence on Wednesday morning (the 27th), spend two nights in the famous city, and depart 6:30 AM on Friday, August 29 for the good ol' US of A.

I hope that you will continue with me on this journey as I update my travel journal (as time and internet access permit).