Farm Labour is not for Locals


The economics for people to take a job as a Farm Picker just don't work if you live in a wealthy country like the UK. It's expensive to live here. Property is expensive. Rents are high. These and the high cost of living means seasonal work doesn't cover the months where there is no work. On top of that the cost of transport means low paid work in remote areas takes a big piece of whatever you earn. You're unlikely to be able to move closer as you will have family commitments or a partner working elsewhere, and you won't be making enough to have two homes.

On the other hand, for people who live in countries where property is cheap and rents are low you can make a good income by working here for the picking season. Temporary accommodation only has to be paid for during the season you are here. Farms can provide this nearby. And after the picking season you can take several months off back in your own country, where the weather is warmer and what would be a poverty income in the UK is a princely sum to have a relatively luxurious home. You can also send money home to  a partner who only needs to top up their income to keep house while you are away.

Being away for half the year will not suit everyone but for many, where the alternative is poverty, it's can be an attractive option, even if just for a few years while you are at your fittest.

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