Farm Work Abroad

Paying and Volunteer Organic Farm Jobs Overseas

Farm work at the Permaculture and Ecovillage Institute of the Pampas in Bage, Brazil.

"In the past decade, the world has been opening up to unique opportunities through farm-stay work exchanges. As interest in healthier lifestyles, homegrown food, and international living has surged, forward-thinking individuals have invested in properties abroad to disconnect from conventional living, explore self-sustainability, and embrace eco-friendly living. Consequently, these environmentally conscious property owners seek assistance from like-minded travelers willing to work on their farms in exchange for room and board in a natural setting. This arrangement, offering affordable lodging in return for labor, proves to be a mutually beneficial arrangement for all parties involved and, most significantly, a boon for our planet when it is most needed.

In the past, long-term travelers and adventurers often spent a few weeks engaged in seasonal work on large farms, such as fruit or vegetable picking, to earn modest yet valued wages. This work, while sometimes physically demanding and repetitive, served as a means to sustain their travels and experience different parts of the world. However, seasonal farm work was more readily available in affluent regions like Europe, Australasia, and North America, often requiring specialized work-travel visas. Unfortunately, citizens from certain countries were ineligible for many of these opportunities, as some governments did not engage in reciprocal working relationships with other nations.

To address this challenge and streamline the process, online volunteering organizations like WWOOF, HelpX, and WorkAway have flourished in recent years. Savvy travelers have discovered innovative ways to sustain their long-term journeys without depleting their savings or navigating the complexities of obtaining work visas. Simultaneously, property owners have learned how to find and retain enthusiastic farm workers without straining their finances or transforming their ventures into formal businesses." — Jonathon Engels

BUNAC
Work and Travel Abroad
An agency that facilitates a combination of living, work, and travel in countries such as Australia, Britain, and New Zealand, inclusive of farm work should you choose, for up to 12 months.

CAEP
International Paid Agriculture Exchange Programs
Work abroad program in a range of countries for people aged 18-30 (some programs vary) with at least two years of practical experience in agriculture, horticulture, or equine husbandry. For winemaking, exchange participants must be aged 21-35 and have experience of at least one grape harvest.

HelpX
An extraordinary website offering free information from hosts who provide addresses and descriptions for those seeking farm work and other seasonal jobs in exchange for free accommodation and meals worldwide. 5,000+ host addresses in Australia, 3,000+ in New Zealand, 5,000+ in Europe, 1,000+ in Canada, 1,000+ in the U.S., and 1,000+ in other locations worldwide. The network of hosts offering farm exchanges abroad — including organic farming and permaculture — is growing at an incredibly fast pace.

Jobaroo
Provides information about seasonal farm work and fruit picking opportunities in Australia. Jobaroo also has visa information and many other useful resources for travelers interested in living and working in Australia.

Oyster
Farm Work in Australia
Live life as a station hand in the vast and beautiful Australian Outback. Following a few relaxing days at the beach, you will take part in a farm induction course learning to ride horses and dirt bikes, muster cattle, work in the yards,fencing skills, how to use a chainsaw and operate tractors. Following the course you are guaranteed a paid job. This is an excellent way to meet real locals, save money for your travels and make life long friends on the program and in rural Australia!

PickNZ.com
The place to find interesting seasonal jobs abroad. As the name suggests, fruit picking features strongly but you can now also find work in the fields of organic farming, nature conservation, the environment, as well as green and sustainable energy. Working Holiday visas are required for those from abroad.

Workforce Australia
Harvest Jobs
A centralized source of information on the Australian Government website offering job vacancies in fruit and vegetable harvests and other farm work throughout Australia — especially during the busy harvest season. Citizens from the U.S. with the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462), and other citizens are eligible for harvast jobs as well.

WorkAway
"The Largest and Safest Community for Cultural Exchange, Working Holidays, and Volunteering in 170 Countries"
Workaway hosts offer various jobs and activities, including many different types of volunteer farm work abroad, much of the organic variety and permaculture. Also offered are individual exchanges, teaching projects including English, farm stays, community projects, NGOs & charities, environmental projects, animal welfare, hostels, families & homestays, house sitting, boating & sailing, and much more across the world.
Many of the opportunities offer free room and board with various options depending on the host. Workaway provides resources to help you get the most out of your experience and emphasizes safety. All for a small membership fee.

WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)
A global website has links to the national offices in the countries that have a WWOOF coordinator. National WWOOF coordinators compile a list of their member farmers willing to provide free room and board to volunteers who want to help and are interested in furthering the aims of the organic movement through work on local farms. Currently there are WWOOF branches in over 130 countries, with including 1200 farms, and a total of over 100,000 participants during the past 50 years.