Volunteering on an organic farm

Holidays aren't just about kicking back on a beach anymore. These days, there's a big trend for self-improvement, from yoga retreats in Tuscany and cooking lessons in the Loire to photography holidays in Scotland... and of course, WWOOFING (Worldwide Opportunities On Organic Farms). What's great about wwoofing is that it's so much more than a holiday, it's a genuine experience living and working on an organic farm, and it's absolutely free.

All you have to do is pick a country (many countries in Europe participate, including the UK), browse the various farms and get in contact to arrange your stay. You can stay for a few days or a few weeks. You help out on the farm doing anything from planting, weeding, building, fishing and cooking in exchange for a meal and a bed for the night. But beyond this, it's also a fantastic way to live with a local family, learn about organic farming and do some outdoorsy manual work.

My sister had a incredible experience wwoofing a couple of years ago. She'd send photos of her and the host family's kids on a boat with the catch of the day, of the other wwoofers working together in the garden, of everyone sharing a meal in the evening. You work hard for a few hours each day, but there's plenty of time to yourself, for you to explore the area, take a dip in the sea, go for a nice long walk, eat the strawberries that you've picked. Whether you have a keen interest in organic farming, or you're looking for a budget break in the outdoors, wwoofing seems to be a rewarding and memorable experience.

For a list of all the participating WWOOF organic farms in Europe: www.wwoof.org.