My name is Luis Weber. I am 17 years old and I live in Berlin, Germany with my younger sister and my parents. Last summer I graduated from high school. Long before graduation, I knew that I wanted to spend a year abroad before starting university.

At the beginning of last year, when I first came across WWOOFing, I immediately knew this was the perfect way to spend part of my gap year: being in nature, working with my hands in the fields, gardens or with animals, meeting new people and gaining valuable experiences by taking part in the daily life of my host family. I also realized that WWOOFing is not only about helping in the farm tasks, but also about learning, personal growth and discovering more about myself.

Fortunately, WWOOF Italy also supports minors in becoming part of this unique organization through WWOOF Italy’s Minors Project. After extensive communication with WWOOF Italy, sending letters to potential hosts and having video calls with them, I finally received confirmations. Two wonderful Italian families gave me the opportunity to help them as a WWOOFer on their farms and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you so much for that!

La Ca’ Solare

I still remember the day of my departure. I can hardly put into words the emotions I felt while waiting for the bus to Firenze – excitement, curiosity, joy and anticipation for the weeks ahead, but also a hint of anxiety about being alone for the first time, far away from my family.

My WWOOF journey began at La Ca’ Solare, an 18th-century ecological farm located in the stunning Tuscan countryside. From the very first day, I loved being there – this place has a unique charm, it is truly special. Silvia, Henrik and their children welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like a part of their family. I enjoyed every moment of the six weeks I spent there.

My activities on the farm included everyday tasks such as feeding and caring for the animals, harvesting vegetables, working in the garden, cleaning the pool and mowing the lawn. In addition to these regular duties, we (the other WWOOFer and I) also took on several larger projects. We built a sturdy bamboo fence around the vegetable garden and constructed a new (hopefully wolf-proof) pasture fence for the sheep and the donkey. We also started preparations for upcoming tasks, such as the olive harvest.

We also spent a lot of free time together, swimming in the pool, relaxing in the sun, taking trips to the sea and hiking in the mountains. We played games or spent evenings by the fire, enjoying delicious pizza and pasta.

The incredibly beautiful sunsets, Merlino the family dog, the cats and the six tiny kittens, all contributed to the perfect atmosphere.

It was not easy for me to leave this wonderful place. Thank you so much for everything!

Superfruit Bio

My next stop was Superfruit Bio, a family-run organic farm in northeastern Italy, not far from the Adriatic coast. Sara and Pablo welcomed me warmly into their extremely cozy home. I loved the way they were with me the whole time: open and friendly, always in a good mood, with so much positive energy and with a big heart. Their incredibly fluffy and cuddly cats completed the perfect atmosphere. I spent another six wonderful weeks there.

I arrived at Superfruit Bio in the middle of the harvesting season for zucchini, pumpkins and persimmon (kaki). I’m still amazed by the hundreds of kilograms of kaki we were able to pick every day. Over the six weeks, we managed to collect around 25 tons of fruit and vegetables in total. Wow!

I must also mention that the boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables Sara prepares are incredible. I just wish we could order them in Berlin.

On free afternoons and weekends, Sara and Pablo showed me the area around their farm. We went on many trips together and always had a great time. I also really enjoyed the bike rides I took on my own to the nearby town and the sea. Many evenings we sat together, ate delicious food and had great conversations. We even had the chance to see the northern lights and the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet – such stunning and unique experiences.

I will not forget the day I learned to weave a willow basket. There’s something truly rewarding about holding the finished product in your hands at the end of the day. The nice Halloween evening with family friends and the ‘scary’ self-carved pumpkin are also memories that fill me with joy. Thank you so much for everything!

I am incredibly grateful and happy to have had the opportunity to go WWOOFing as a minor. I learned so much, created countless wonderful memories and most importantly, met amazing people. I will never forget this time! I will definitely go back!

A huge THANK YOU to Eszter Matolcsi from WWOOF Italy staff, without her, none of this would have been possible.

Berlin, March 2025

Luis Weber