WWOOF (World-wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) says it aims to enable people to learn first-hand about organic growing techniques while helping farmers to make organic production a viable alternative. It also wants to to enable town-dwellers to experience living and helping on a farm.

Working on a farm is fun for families. It is also a good way of working your way across a country on a gap year.

If you want to stay at an organic farm or smallholding - without the work - try www.organic-holidays.com.

www.helpexchange.net has a list of organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&B, inns, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation.

For a farmstay, try www.farmstayuk.co.uk, www.farmgarden.org.uk and www.farmcott.co.uk.

Or to work on a farm, try www.pickingjobs.com, www.fruitfuljobs.com, and www.anyworkanywhere.com.