Guide to Organic Farms in Canada
Organic Farms are looking for volunteers. Canada has a large network of Organic Farms and it’s growing.
More and more Canadians are disgusted with artificial food production and the additives and poison in the food we buy in supermarkets. Many environmental groups are fighting against GMOs (genetically modified organisms), but the big companies making the big buck are fighting back. GMO is legal in Canada and it doesn’t have to be labeled.
This is probably one reason that Organic Farms are doing well. The market for organic food is constantly growing.
Finding seasonal work on Organic farms is easy as many of the Organic Farms are short-handed and are looking for Volunteers. They offer accommodation and food in exchange for your work, and a learning experience.
This is a pretty good deal and a great opportunity to experience Canada. It won’t cost you any money while you work at the farm and you get accommodation and meals.
How To Find Work On Organic Farms
The easiest way to find work on organic farms is to join WWOOF Canada. WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Their slogan: living, learning, and sharing organic lifestyles.
WWOOF Canada is part of a worldwide network of organizations. It promotes awareness of ecological farming practices and provides volunteers with the opportunity to live and learn on organic properties.
Many organic farms depend on volunteers to keep the farm going.
This is a great way to learn about organic food, agriculture, and sustainable ways of living. It brings together people with similar human values and philosophies.
WWOOFing Canada
Volunteer help in exchange for food accommodation and learning opportunities in organic farming/growing and sustainable living practices. It is meant to be a partnership based on mutual trust and respect between the host and the volunteer.
There are a wide variety of hosts as part of the WWOOF program which ensures that each person WWOOFing in Canada will find a place that suits them.
Make sure you know what to expect before committing to a host.
The Aims Of WWOOF (from WWOOF Canada Website)
are to provide individuals from all around the world with the opportunity:
- to get firsthand experience on organic farms to lend a helping hand wherever needed.
- to get into the countryside and experience Canada and Canadians.
- to help the organic movement, which is often labour intensive and does not rely on artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
- to make contact with other people in the organic farm movement.
- to have a wonderfully enriching experience.
- to have a cultural exchange with Canadians.
Who Can Sign Up And What Does It Cost
- You think that WWOOFing is for you and you would like to try it and work on organic farms!
- The cost to become a WWOOFer is $55 for a single account or $65 for a joint membership.
- To WWOOF in Canada, you must be 19 in most Canadian provinces and territories.
- Providing you are fit, there is no upper age limit for WWOOFing on organic farms.
- Sign up online to be a member and you will get access to the host list.
Other Volunteer Networks
Workaway and HelpX are other databases of hosts looking for volunteers. The hosts may be on farms, guest ranches, Resorts, B and B, or in restaurants.
Do I Need A Work / Tourist Visa?
This depends! Volunteering on farms in exchange for room and board for a period of up to four weeks per farm does not require work permits. However, depending on your nationality you may require a tourist visa.
There still seems to be confusion among the officials at the borders. Please check out the WWOOF website for more information on that.
Are you planning to volunteer on organic farms for longer than four weeks? In this case, you will need a work visa for Canada.
Or you decided to WWOOF in Canada without a work visa and move to another place each month. Make sure to convince the border officer, that your main reason for entering Canada is as a tourist. If he suspects that you will work in Canada without a visa, he will send you back to where you came from with the next available flight.
Other work in Canada if working on organic farms is not what you are looking for.
Where ever there are tourists you can find a job.
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