ABC Wide Bay / By Eliza Goetze July 2020
Up until earlier this year, Luen Free was typically in a dimly lit nightclub, entertaining.
But with the Coronavirus pandemic putting her and many others out of work, she is using the time to pursue her other passion: Organic Farming.
And with the pandemic leaving fewer backpackers who typically go 'WWOOFing' — volunteering on organic farms — Australians are being encouraged to help out on home soil. Soaking up knowledge.
WWOOF stands for Willing Workers on Organic Farms, a worldwide movement that has connected thousands of volunteers — many of them travellers — with farmers who offer food and a bed in exchange for gardening know-how.
G'Day Farm co-founder, Greg Dixon, said he and his wife Dionne would struggle to run the farm smoothly without WWOOFers.
They welcome a small number of regular volunteers, who donate a few hours each week, as well as visitors like Luen and her husband Patch who stay for a week or more. "Each WWOOFer we've had, they've been great — a huge help," Mr Dixon said.
WWOOF Australia manager, Traci Wilson-Brown, said border restrictions meant fewer backpackers, who typically make up 80 per cent of WWOOF volunteers — but more Australians were taking their pandemic passion for gardening to the next level.…
