Getting Started

Where to start!!!!

After my initial post on the WWOOF forum I have been lucky enough to get offers from 2 generous hosts that will help me get my hands dirty in the wonderful world of WWOOFing. Many thanks guys!! The dilemma I am facing now though is that having read the WWOOFer guide cover to cover (well almost) I am in awe of just how many different and awesome hosts there are offering places.

There is such a diverse cross section of skills it is hard to decide who to contact. I think logic would be to go geographically and try to avoid criss-crossing the countryside (or else all my money will surely be sucked into transport costs) but even in each region decisions will need to be made. Of course ultimately it comes down to whether the host has room and useful work for me to do, but I needed to take stock of what it is I am trying to achieve here.

I stopped to ask myself what end result I wanted from this, other than meeting and sharing good times with some great new friends. Answer, I think I would like to get to know enough about sustainability and self sufficiency to either put that these into practice myself in my future years or at least be able to confidently share what I learn with others somehow. After all there will come a day that I won't be able to physically pull up weeds any more!

So my next thought was to digest just some of what is on offer across the hosts and list those skills I am interested in experiencing and which I feel I can grow to understand more about. My initial list (below) is in a word "huge"! but I figure that I am in no hurry to have this all done and the longer the list the more adventures I can look forward too. I centred my list around Building, Food Growing, & Animal Husbandry skills and then added on some personal growth items to remind myself to experience more and tap into the creative elements of life. Some of the items maybe a little on the fruity side but I never again want to be type casted.

Bring on the jack of all trades label, but I intend to record as much as possible not just a tick against each item but to be able to quantify how many hours I spend in each skill area and to regularly test my competence. Some of the things I have already started on before but I am starting this with a clean slate. I am sure that other opportunities will open up and be added onto my list over time and I am open to comments from others who can suggest other skills and no doubt help me get my terminology right.


WWOOFing Apprenticeship- Skills List
Last updated 7 April 2013

1. Building Skills
1.1. Design
– Understand principles of:
1.1.1. Eco friendly /passive solar housing
1.1.2. Water collection and filtering
1.1.3. Plumbing water systems including recycling /grey-black water systems
1.1.4. Safe load bearing wall construction
1.1.5. Constructing different roofing techniques

1.2. Permaculture design
– Develop a working understanding of:
1.2.1. Design solutions used in at least 5 different sites
1.2.2. 40-50 Companion planting combinations
1.2.3. Soil preparation and fertility maintenance techniques
1.2.4. Swale and dam construction

1.3. Construction
– Gain practical experience building with:
1.3.1. Straw bales and rendering
1.3.2. Mud brick / rammed earth
1.3.3. Rough sawn & local timber
1.3.4. Installing doors and windows
1.3.5. Hand build cabinets and furniture

1.4. Tools
– Gain practical experience with:
1.4.1. Using a welder
1.4.2. Using a range of hand and power tools
1.4.3. Using a chainsaw
1.4.4. Using farm machinery including tractors etc
1.4.5. Tiling, painting and minor repair work

1.5. Farm Maintenance
– Gain practical experience with:
1.5.1. Maintaining pumps and irrigation systems
1.5.2. Maintaining fences and gates
1.5.3. Maintenance of waste systems

2. Food Skills
2.1. Growing
– Gain a working knowledge (incl growing seasons/conditions/picking and packing) of :
2.1.1. Fruit orchard management
2.1.2. Vineyards (for wine and grape production)
2.1.3. Small crops vegetables
2.1.4. Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Pigs & Poultry
2.1.5. A range of Aussie Bush Tucker foods and their uses
2.1.6. Oyster farming
2.1.7. Fishing techniques and seasons
2.1.8. Beekeeping, including honey collection and processing
2.1.9. Coffee bean, growing and processing

2.2. Food Processing skills
– Gain practical experience of:
2.2.1. Handpicking fruits/ vegetables and berries
2.2.2. Milling flour and other grains
2.2.3. Baking bread/s and cakes (including flat breads)
2.2.4. Butchering and dressing (Poultry/ Game / Livestock)
2.2.5. Scale and clean fish
2.2.6. Making Wine & Beer
2.2.7. Preserving fruits and vegetables
2.2.8. Making sauces, chutneys, jams (with particular focus on applications for bush tucker)
2.2.9. Making Butter and Cheese (particularly Fetta and Cheddar)
2.2.10. Pressing oil from olives
2.2.11. Making pasta

2.3. Recipe collection / Cooking skills
– understand fundamental ingredients and techniques of and build a library of approx 20 dishes from each of the following cuisines groups:
2.3.1. Asian
2.3.2. Indian
2.3.3. European
2.3.4. Vegetarian
2.3.5. Seafood
2.3.6. Bush Tucker (include own experimentation)

3. Animal Husbandry skills
3.1. General animal
– learn the care, breeding and management of:
3.1.1. Poultry
3.1.2. Goats
3.1.3. Sheep
3.1.4. Cattle
3.1.5. Alpacas
3.1.6. Horses
3.1.7. Pigs

3.2. Farm production
– gain practical experience of:
3.2.1. Paddock sustainability - rotation and fodder care
3.2.2. Mustering a variety of herds
3.2.3. Milk collection (goats and cows)
3.2.4. Shearing (sheep /goats / alpacas)and fibre processing

3.3. Horse skills
– learn through practical experience of:
3.3.1. Care and preparation including feed, grooming and tack care/use
3.3.2. Stable management and hygiene
3.3.3. Riding effectively and confidently
3.3.4. Natural horsemanship techniques /training

4. Personal Growth experiences
4.1. Creativity Projects
4.1.1. Carve something in wood
4.1.2. Build a sculpture / useful item with metal
4.1.3. Write 10+ poems
4.1.4. Write 10+ short pieces of fiction
4.1.5. Maintain a travel journal /blog
4.1.6. Improve drawing / sketching technique
4.1.7. Play 5+ songs on guitar or uke

4.2. Cultural growth
4.2.1. Make 10+ international friends and correspond regularly
4.2.2. Learn 2 more languages to a conversational level
4.2.3. Learn basics of 5 more languages
4.2.4. Understand the history(overviews) of 5 other cultures

4.3. Spiritual growth
4.3.1. Understand more about my/our connection with the earth
4.3.2. Learn to quieten my mind through practicing meditation
4.3.3. Stay open to and appreciate all others ideas / philosophies

4.4. Other life skills/experiences
4.4.1. Learn the basics of herbal medicines
4.4.2. Learn to sail in open coastal water
4.4.3. Learn blacksmithing skills
4.4.4. Learn basic farrier skills
4.4.5. Learn basic coppering
4.4.6. Learn a range of cottage industry handicrafts (spinning / weaving / basket making)
4.4.7. Make natural soaps
4.4.8. Make candles from natural materials
4.4.9. Learn techniques to effectively give massage
4.4.10. Go prospecting for gold / gems


I hope by putting this list out into the aether (via the internet), the universe will help me find the pathway to the right hosts who can share their homes and these skills with me...... so here goes! Wish me luck!!