Wwoof! Wwoof!

Chili Peppers

While volunteering on farms in foreign countries isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it certainly captures the imagination and interest of some travelers.  These individuals (and couples) are usually between 20 and 35 years old, traveling on a shoestring budget, environmentally conscious, and idealistic.  Volunteers usually arrive at a farm full of energy and awe, ready to implement an ecological project (like building a solar oven), plant an herb spiral or Mandela garden, and learn the local culture.  They come with open minds, a sense of adventure, and enthusiasm.  They also come with needs, unique personalities, and expectations.  At the farm I just recently visited, over 100 volunteers from over 20 different countries had contributed to farm and family life in the last three years. 

Natural Luffa

So what does it mean to volunteer on a farm in Costa Rica?  Unlike most countries that support a WWOOF (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) network, Costa Rica does not follow the conventional model where 4-6 hours of volunteer work are traded for room and board – with no money exchanged.  Instead the vast majority of farms in Costa Rica offering volunteer or internship programs charge a fee.  The fee ranges from $10 – $30 per day depending on the length of stay, with many farms requiring a minimum stay of one month.  
That said, there seems to be some farms that will host people for a full work exchange (i.e. 8 hours per day) for free, though this has had mixed results.  Fees are necessary because labour is so cheap in Costa Rica that volunteers actually cost the farm money, especially if not all the food is grown onsite.  (As a side note, the average farm worker in Costa Rica makes $2 per hour, though some farms pay $3 per hour)  A volunteer might be asked for references, or to provide a resume or fill out a list of questions, which allows the host farm have a better idea of what to expect from their new live-in volunteer.

The Farm's Livestock

But what should the volunteer expect?  Well, from my past experiences wwoofing and from the few select farms I have visited here in Costa Rica the answer is ANYTHING.  It is guaranteed that a volunteer will encounter new and uncomfortable situations, be forced to try new foods, integrate themselves into family life, and deal with animals, children, new routines and expectations. 

My open-air sleeping quarters

For instance, the first farm I stayed on, here in Costa Rica, had me sleeping in a bunk bed in the main house, while the most recent farm had a separate open-air area, quite a distance from the main house, with beds and mosquito nets.  In the first instance I quickly realized that I was not only sharing my space with other interns and community members, but quite a few cockroaches and spiders.  And so I began changing which end I put my head each night, making sure it was opposite to the end the cockroaches had chosen that particular day.  So gross!  The most recent situation, which I was actually a bit nervous about, turned into four beautiful sleeps under a full moon, with me being lulled to sleep by the insects and birds chirping away throughout the night.  Spectacular. 

Inside my cabina

Solar Shower

I found my most recent farm experience both inspiring and challenging, which I think is probably a common experience of most volunteers.  My experience started off very similar to my previous farm visit, but this time I hadn’t even boarded the bus before I met a couple who were currently staying on the farm.  While on the bus, I was given the low down of what to expect, was introduced to other expats living in the area (who were also on the bus), and again graciously shown the way to my new temporary home.  This time the ascent was a little less steep and I managed to carry my bags myself. 

5 Puppies!

I had arrived at an interesting time.  The farm had actually temporarily stopped their volunteer program in order to reassess the program and catch up with daily family life that includes small children, animals, farm workers, and the planning of upcoming events and projects.  So I was the sole volunteer, but definitely not alone!  Two adults, a few young children, seven dogs (5 of which are puppies), a couple cats, goats, cows, chickens, ducks, as well as two Tico workers, and the couple renting a house on the property were also living there.  As an only child who really never got into that whole babysitting racket, my personal challenge came simply from co-existing with the chaos of so many animals and children.  In fact, most of my volunteer time at the farm went towards domestic help – washing dishes and watching the kids.  Professionally, my challenge was commandeering the attention and time of the marvelous, smart, and ambitious permaculturalists (and parents) that own the farm long enough to do my research. 

Yucca - A Root Vegetable

Of course all new and challenging experiences also come with rewards and precious moments.  I had many of these.  I learned how to harvest yucca and then make yucca pizza, which is delicious!  Instead of dough, yucca is boiled, mashed with garlic and baked into pizza crust and then loaded with garden fresh toppings and popped back into the oven.  I harvested oranges and made a couple litres of freshly squeezed orange juice.  I also learned the valuable lesson of only harvesting what you can realistically process…I must have squeezed oranges for hours and hours, and I still didn’t process everything I harvested.  I also learned to (mostly) trust a five year old as I scrambled after him through the jungle, up and over rocks and steep paths to a waterfall.

A Family Affair - Yucca Pizza!

The pizza went so fast I almost didn't get a photo

And so, opening myself up to jobs that don’t come naturally (babysitting) and the unknown, I once again met some amazing people who are doing amazing things in rural Costa Rica. 

Orange Picking

Orange Juicing

I’ll talk more about this farm in future blogs, as they are living permaculture and they have ideas and ambitious plans to transform the region into an ecological farming oasis through local organic certification programs, buying clubs, CSAs, educational programming, and the creation of intentional community.    

I leave for my next farm tomorrow morning.

To be continued…