When we first built WWOOF’s review system, it started with two simple thumbs up or down:
- Did you have a good experience?
- Did the host’s profile match what you experienced on the farm?
It was a good start, but pretty quickly, the need for more nuanced feedback became clear. Since then, thousands of members have written reviews, and we’ve learned there are many different ways to write a review that truly makes a difference and helps the whole community. After all its the second most important criteria when a wwoofer search for a host.
A review doesn’t need to be long — a few sentences is more than enough. In fact, we’d rather you write just one word than leave no review at all. What matters is that your voice is heard.
Writing a review after a WWOOF experience is one of the most important things you can do, whether you’re a visitor or a host. Reviews help build a safe and transparent network where everyone feels welcome and informed. They make it easier for future visitors and hosts to find a good match and provide valuable feedback to those involved.
Click on the titels to read more about each topic.
Where to write the review?
You can always leave a review if you’ve had contact through the WWOOF platform, as long as you are an active member. To write a review:
1. Go to the message thread where you had contact with the other person,
2. Click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner,
3. Select “Write a review”.
Start with what you learned
A good review often begins with reflection. What did you take away from the experience? Maybe you helped build hügel beds, installed rainwater harvesting systems, assisted with lambing, or learned to hand-milk. Perhaps you discovered how a farm can diversify its income, by combining vegetable growing, beekeeping, and farm shop sales, or how to calculate feed use and sow green manure at the right time. These concrete and sometimes advanced lessons are not only fascinating to read, they help others understand the kind of knowledge that can be shared.
Safety and wellbeing
Safety is the foundation of a good WWOOF experience. As a visitor, did you feel welcome, listened to, and safe during your stay? As a host, did the visitor follow instructions and respect boundaries? A review that reflects on whether the environment felt safe and whether open communication was possible is incredibly valuable to others.
Communication – before and during the exchange
Communication is often key to a successful exchange. How did the contact feel before you agreed to meet? Was it clear, respectful, and welcoming? For both visitors and hosts, it’s important to feel heard, to have questions answered, and to set expectations in advance. During the visit, were you able to speak openly about things that came up? Were misunderstandings resolved together?
And if the exchange never happened — mention that too. If someone doesn’t show up without notice, or if a host cancels at the last minute without explanation, that’s important to share. This is often called a “no-show”, and it affects other members’ planning and trust. It’s important to highlight, especially if it happened without communication or respect.
Work-life balance and shared time
Feel free to describe what a typical day looked like. Was there a good balance between work and free time? As a visitor, did you take part in the daily life of the household, or did you have a lot of personal time? As a host, how did the collaboration go? Was communication about tasks and schedules clear?
Food and accommodation
Many people wonder about lodging and meals. Describe how you lived — was it warm, clean, and comfortable? What were mealtimes like — did you cook together, eat with the family, or prepare your own food? As a visitor, were you part of the shared household, and did routines around cooking and cleaning work smoothly? As a host, how did you experience the visitor’s contribution to the shared household?
Sustainability and biodiversity
WWOOF is very much about learning sustainable ways of living. If you encountered agroforestry, biodiversity, compost toilets, solar energy systems, or regenerative farming, feel free to write about it. Perhaps you were inspired by how the farm managed natural cycles, integrated animals into crop rotation, or created pollinator-friendly environments. Or maybe you saw something that could be improved — that too is important to share, as long as it’s done respectfully.
Did the profile match reality?
Did what you read on the host’s profile match your experience on the farm? Sometimes profiles are outdated or idealized. An honest reflection helps hosts keep their profiles accurate, and helps visitors set realistic expectations.
What if I don’t feel comfortable writing a public review?
If you choose not to write a review, take a moment to ask why. Is it because you’re so dissatisfied that you don’t feel comfortable addressing it publicly? If so, there’s an alternative. On the profile page or in your message thread, you’ll find a special form where you can submit a complaint or incident report directly to the WWOOF team. This feedback won’t be published, and will only be seen by WWOOF’s administration. Your report will be handled anonymously, and we will only contact the person involved with your permission and in agreement with you. This is an important option if something serious occurred and you need support.
Where to write the review?
You can always leave a review if you’ve had contact through the WWOOF platform, as long as you are an active member. To write a review:
- Go to the message thread where you had contact with the other person,
- Click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner,
- Select “Write a review”.
And remember, a review doesn’t have to be long. A few sentences is enough. We’d even rather see a single word than no review at all. Your voice matters, even if you don’t have time or energy to write something in detail right now.
Go to the message window where you were talking to the host/visitor to write the review. Click the three dots to open the menu.
