A nonprofit with a mission of connecting people to agriculture now has a presence in the Augusta area.
WWOOF USA, short for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, USA, has spent decades connecting people with the land through hands-on education, cultural exchange, and sustainable agriculture with organic and organic-practicing farms across the country. As conversations around food security, environmental responsibility, and local food systems continue to grow, interest in the program has increased as more people take a closer look at where their food comes from, how it is grown, and how everyday choices influence communities and ecosystems.
Wallace’s Farm in Hephzibah is the first confirmed WWOOF host farm in the CSRA.
At its core, WWOOF USA connects volunteers, known as WWOOFers, with farms committed to sustainable and organic practices. In exchange for food and board, volunteers participate in daily farm life while learning directly from farmers. The program is intentionally educational and community-based rather than transactional. WWOOFers are not employees and are never treated as laborers. They are respected volunteers who typically contribute 30 hours or less per week, working alongside hosts in an environment built on shared responsibility, learning and mutual respect.
Those shared expectations are clearly outlined in the official WWOOFer Information Packet, which is provided to all first-time WWOOF volunteers. The packet walks volunteers through how to build a profile, communicate with hosts, prepare for a first visit, and navigate the two-way review system that helps maintain accountability and trust across the network. It also includes the WWOOF Charter, which frames WWOOF as a worldwide movement linking visitors with organic farmers and growers through education and cultural exchange.
That worldwide movement is structured as a federation rather than a single global organization. WWOOF USA is part of the Federation of WWOOF Organizations, known as FoWO. In 2012, a group of forward-thinking national WWOOF coordinators came together to formally establish the federation.
Their goal was to work collaboratively across borders, create shared strength among national organizations, and support one another while preserving local identity. FoWO exists to unite, promote, protect, and support the WWOOF movement around the world, while each national WWOOF organization remains independent and locally governed.
Sarah Potenza, Executive Director of WWOOF USA, is also a founding member of FoWO and currently serves as vice-chair representing the United States. She said WWOOF’s continued growth reflects a broader cultural shift. According to Potenza, people are increasingly seeking healthier food systems, stronger community connections, and more intentional ways of living. Each year, tens of thousands of people join WWOOF USA and connect with more than 1,300 host farms nationwide. Participants include students, career changers, retirees, creatives and individuals specifically seeking hands-on sustainability experiences that extend beyond classroom learning.
This context matters because American agriculture itself is changing. According to the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture, the average age of U.S. farm producers is now over 58, continuing a long-term trend of aging. The same census reports that women make up just one-third of U.S. producers, while Black producers only represent just over 1% of the total.
In response, WWOOF USA has increasingly emphasized outreach, storytelling, and program access aimed at underserved and underrepresented farmers, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color–owned farms, women-owned operations, and younger-generation growers seeking alternative pathways into agriculture.
Many WWOOFers arrive with deliberate goals and relevant experience. Matthew Choe, a WWOOFer who volunteered in Tennessee in 2024 and Georgia in 2025, stated that he was drawn to WWOOF out of curiosity and a desire to learn by doing. He noted that he is not a farmer and does not plan to become one, but he values outdoor work, getting his hands dirty, learning new skills, building community,and serving in tangible ways.
A photographer and storyteller, Choe said WWOOF allowed him to pair hands-on farm work with documenting meaningful stories and moments, deepening his appreciation for sustainable food systems and local agriculture. Like many WWOOFers, his participation was entrenched in sustainability and service rather than travel or convenience.
That exchange is now beginning to take shape in the Central Savannah River Area with Wallace’s Farm in Hephzibah becoming the first confirmed WWOOF host farm in the CSRA. Historically, the CSRA has never had host farms participating in the WWOOF network, making Wallace’s Farm’s official admittance a notable milestone for the region’s agricultural community.
Brandi Wallace acknowledged a mix of hesitation and excitement with the opening of her farm to volunteers.
“I was nervous at first because inviting new people into your farm space is a big decision,” Wallace said. “But I’m genuinely excited about the opportunity. WWOOF aligns with our values of education, inclusion, and community, and I believe it’s going to be a positive experience for both the farm and the volunteers who come here to learn.”
Wallace’s Farm reflects the inclusive, community-centered values WWOOF USA promotes nationwide. The farm welcomes volunteers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and prioritizes safety, respect, open communication, and shared responsibility. WWOOFers are encouraged to ask questions, learn at their own pace and become part of the farm’s daily rhythm.
While Wallace’s Farm has taken the lead, the absence of other host farms in the CSRA highlights a significant opportunity for local growers, homesteaders and small-scale farmers. Volunteer interest in WWOOF continues to grow nationwide, and the region’s limited participation points to untapped potential within the local farming community.
For host farms, participation in WWOOF offers more than extra help during busy seasons. Hosts are required to provide WWOOFers with clean, safe shelter and sufficient food, typically three or more meals per day. Accommodations may include a private room in a farmhouse, a guest cabin, an apartment, a finished basement, an RV, or a well-maintained tent, yurt, or tiny home. Food arrangements vary by host, but the standard is that volunteers are consistently well-fed, often sharing meals with hosts or cooking from a stocked kitchen using farm-grown ingredients and independently preparing meals with food provided by their host farms.
In return, WWOOFers contribute their time and skills in a voluntary and educational capacity and do not receive wages. They are not permitted to replace paid employees. Many volunteers arrive with college credits and certifications or prior experience in animal husbandry, horticulture and carpentry, and often bring additional strengths in photography, marketing, infrastructure repair and community outreach. Depending on the season and the farm’s needs, volunteers may assist with planting and harvesting, animal care, composting, greenhouse work, irrigation setup, fencing, carpentry projects, general maintenance or farmers’ market preparation.
Chloe Sullivan, WWOOF USA Membership Program Manager, said WWOOF USA prioritizes support for first-time volunteers because WWOOFing can feel like stepping into the unknown. She said that new members receive resources, including the WWOOFer Information Packet, live introductory webinars hosted by staff, ongoing guidance through newsletters and social media, and direct staff support so they are not navigating the process alone.
According to Tori Fetrow, WWOOF USA’s Marketing and Outreach Manager, storytelling and education are central to WWOOF USA’s mission. She stated that the organization works to amplify the real people and farms behind the program through outreach, educational resources, webinars, host and WWOOFer spotlights, and storytelling campaigns that highlight what sustainable agriculture looks like in practice.
The organization’s status as a nonprofit classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) allows it to partner with educational institutions, foundations, and mission-aligned organizations to expand access to agricultural education for both WWOOFers and host farms. This nonprofit structure supports programming that reduces financial barriers and creates clearer pathways into sustainable agriculture.
One example is the WWOOF USA scholarship program, which covers the cost of a one-year WWOOFer membership for selected applicants, with Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) applicants especially encouraged to apply. The goal, according to WWOOF USA, is to ensure participation is not limited by income, age, or background.
The nonprofit model also supports WWOOF USA’s Future Farmer Program, which builds on the traditional WWOOF experience by offering structured training, mentorship, and financial stipends to experienced WWOOFers who are exploring farming as a long-term livelihood. According to the WWOOF USA website, the 2025 Future Farmer Program awarded 25 $4,000 grants to participants nationwide.
These stipends are intended to help offset travel and living expenses while Future Farmers complete immersive on-farm training, including special projects such as raising, dispatching, and processing meat chickens. The program also includes a weekly online organic farming course focused on crop production, provided through a partnership with Tufts University’s New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, allowing participants to pair hands-on experience with formal agricultural education.
WWOOF USA has indicated that applications for the 2026 Future Farmer Program will open later this year. While details for the next cycle are still being finalized, the organization has stated that the program will continue to focus on mentorship, financial accessibility, and educational partnerships that support aspiring farmers who may not have access to traditional agricultural education or land ownership opportunities.
READ MORE: Nick Lovett writes about her experience with the 2025 Future Farmer Program
For farms, WWOOF participation is similarly flexible. A location can be accepted into the WWOOF program even if it is less than an acre, as long as it can demonstrate the capability and desire to mentor, provide consistent meals and lodging, and offer meaningful learning experiences. This opens the door for a wide range of potential CSRA hosts, including backyard market gardens, urban farms, school gardens, small livestock homesteads, cut-flower operations, permaculture food forests, beekeeping setups, and other small-scale agricultural projects.
It is also essential for prospective volunteers to understand that WWOOF memberships are country specific. A WWOOF USA membership allows participation on host farms within the United States only. Volunteers interested in WWOOFing abroad, such as in Germany, must join that country’s WWOOF organization separately, each with its own membership fee and requirements.
To encourage regional participation, WWOOF USA is offering a free one-year host membership to the first five farms in the CSRA that apply and are officially admitted into the program. The incentive is contingent upon acceptance into the WWOOF USA host network. It is intended to support farmers interested in teaching, mentoring, and contributing to a national community focused on sustainable agriculture and education.
To learn more about WWOOF USA, visit their website at wwoofusa.org.
Nick Lovett is an independent journalist with over 20 years of experience in news media and marketing. A former writer for Aiken Standard and Fort Gordon’s Signal newspaper, she focuses on human interest stories that highlight resilience, community and positive change.
