HANDS IN DIRT, HEART WITH NATURE

WRITER: BENJAMIN GRAY

Volunteering—the act of freely giving your time and personal energy to an organization or individual—benefits giver and receiver alike. As a volunteer, you gain new experience, skills, credibility, and most importantly, the chance to do something you love. Myriad opportunities abound, from hospitals and schools to national parks and shelters, but there’s no better place to get your hands dirty—figuratively and otherwise—than on an organic farm.

The scale of the agricultural industry is vast, ranging from enormous ranches spanning thousands of acres, to small homesteads. Many organic farms occupy a middle ground, small enough to be accessible to volunteers, large enough to provide an enriching experience. What do you stand to gain?

1. Exposure to cultural diversity

The global reach of programs such as Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is dedicated to agricultural volunteerism. Volunteering makes it possible for you to not only experience the languages, cultural traditions, regional cuisine, and surroundings of far-flung lands by going abroad, but you work side-byside with international volunteers in your home country.

2. Free room and board

You won’t increase your bank balance as a volunteer farmhand, but host farms that accept volunteers through WWOOF and similar programs provide room and board in exchange for labor. Accommodations vary from host to host, such as a tent in a field, a mobile home, or a room in the family house, so be sure to inquire about living arrangements before you arrive.

3. Delicious food

Stroll through any major supermarket and you’ll notice a trend, the words “fresh” and “local” abound in the produce section. Meat that is “traditionally raised.” You can almost imagine that what’s on the shelves was picked just the other day on a farm down the road. But don’t believe the hype. Nothing beats sitting down every day to a plate of delicious and nourishing food grown and harvested with your own two hands.

4. Your choice of work

Not only can interested volunteers find hundreds or thousands of host farms (if you’re willing to travel), but each has something unique to offer. Perhaps you have a strong curiosity about working with animals or maybe vegetables hold more appeal. Then again, fruit trees, flowers, or beekeeping may call to you. But wait. Could it be what you really want is to learn how to build a barn? Wherever your interests lie, organic farms have something to offer.

5. The chance to get in shape in the great outdoors—free!

Small-scale farming is the antithesis of a desk job. Forget about sitting and typing. You’ll be walking, squatting, lifting, pushing and pulling—rain or shine. Weeds must be removed, vegetables picked, flowers cut, buildings repaired, boxes to fill, plants to water, wood to chop, and maybe even a cow or two to milk. The work may be a challenge, but you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment as you become stronger, healthier and more capable.

6. Practical experience

Trends change, but some things never go out of style--like eating. Why not participate in the creation of something everyone loves and needs? Great satisfaction can be derived from knowing how to transform tiny seeds into flourishing plants from which a bounty of food is harvested.

7. Peace and quiet

Many small-scale agricultural operations are off the beaten track, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, allowing you to enjoy cleaner air, clear, star-filled skies, and a sense of calm hard to find in our busy, urban lives.

Donate some time to an organic farm, and you’ll make new friends, eat wonderful food, gain practical skills, and get fit. The work is hard, but the rewards are many. It’s a volunteering experience like no other!