Imagine a cool breeze on your face and mud squishing under your boots as you set out to do your farm duties for the day. You might be harvesting the crops that you’ve worked so hard to tend all season. You might be going to visit that baby calf you helped birth last week. You might just be checking on the plant experiments you’ve been conducting for research into the field of agriculture (get it?). Living and working on a farm could be yours, and in a foreign country to top it all off!
Few things are more tangibly rewarding than the choice to live and work on a farm.
Live-in farm jobs are a hugely popular option for many travelers with an interest in agriculture. From livestock to field work to marketing or research, there’s plenty of options to fit any traveler with an interest and a good work ethic. It’s an awesome deal for everyone involved: the farm gets free labor and you get great experience plus free room and board!
But why else should you live on a farm for free and work? And where should you start looking? We’ve got the low down on farm jobs abroad, just for you.
Why find live-in farm jobs?
1. Agriculture work has been around for forever!
Agricultural work has existed since the earliest human civilizations, so chances are it’s not going away any time soon. Humans will always need to eat, so there will always be a need for agriculture!
Choosing to travel abroad through agriculture jobs is a fairly steady and safe option. Because there’s such a need, there are plenty of jobs and opportunities to go around. You can work on a farm for room and board, jumping from one farm job to the next, whether you’re changing countries or continents, and count on finding a job in your next dream location.
2. You’ll learn tons about agriculture around the world.
The world is a diverse place and that includes agriculture! Depending on where you go, you’ll get a totally different experience and learn different things. If you live and work on a farm in Europe, chances are you’ll be working with fruits, grains, meats, and, of course, wine.
Vineyards are a top spot for live-in farm jobs around the world.
If that doesn’t interest you as much, you can always try farming abroad jobs in Asia, with the major exports being vegetables, nuts, tea, spices, and even textiles. Or, even better, you can do both!
Agriculture travel varies wildly around the globe, but the one thing they all have in common is that you’ll learn a ton about the crops and food, which means you’ll become more connected with the people and country in general. When you live on a farm for free and work, you’ll get to know the area like no one else.
3. You’ll come away with tons of great skills.
There are two main types of jobs when it comes to live-in farm jobs. Some jobs offer a look at behind-the-scenes work at farms. You might be helping to organize shipments, promoting a company, or even doing research in the agriculture area.
Other jobs are more hands-on and have you working directly in the field. These are more common, especially if you’re looking to move around a lot and need a more temporary placement.
You don’t need to have any prior skills to start working with this kind of job. As long as you’re motivated and have a good attitude, most farms will teach you the skills you need! You might go in knowing nothing about farming, but when you finish your experience, you’ll be a pro.
Depending on the career path you choose, these skills might even be valuable later on! But, even if the exact skills you learn don’t apply, the attitude and hard work ethic you develop will help you for years to come.
4. You can work on a farm for free room and board.
Agriculture jobs might not be the most high paying gig in the world, but many of them offer free room and board. Just think — you could juggle a budget abroad and pay for expensive hotels, oooor you could have all that taken care of!
You might not stay in the most luxurious accommodations, but you’ll be safe, warm, and (probably!) happy. You can work on a farm for free room and board, a definite pro of traveling this way.
5. You’ll see the world.
Working and living on a farm is an authentic way to travel and immerse yourself into a new place!
When you live on a farm for free and work, you’ll have all of these pros and also get to see the world in the coolest way! Most people see the big sights, like the Colosseum or the Pyramids. Working in agriculture gives you a more intimate experience with the land itself.
There aren’t many opportunities that will give you a chance to see the world quite like an agriculture job abroad. You’ll see gorgeous landscapes and also work with any landscape that you want.
Where to find farm work abroad
The best places to live and work on a farm will be based on what the season is, so plan accordingly. If it’s not harvest season, you might need to bide your time until you find work!
1. France
Wine, wine, and more wine! France is one of the best places to go if you’re interested in the wine industry. Many agriculture jobs for wine in France will take you through the entire process of wine making, from planting to fermenting. If you’re not interested in wine, then other farm jobs include dairy farms and other crop farms.
Over three fifths of the land in France is used for farming, so you’re sure to find a program that matches your interest. No matter what program you end up going with, you’ll love farming abroad in France, with its charming countryside and elegant cities. You might even pop over to Paris for the weekend and see the Eiffel Tower!
Recommended programs:
2. Australia
Australia boasts over 973 million acres of agricultural land! This astounding number means that you won’t have any trouble finding agriculture jobs in Australia. The main types of farms there are fruit and livestock. Whether you want to pick cherries or milk cows, Australia has a program that’s perfect for you.
Australia also has the pro of having a fair minimum wage. Working there means you’ll likely be paid, so you can travel and not be broke. With the extra cash, you can explore the rest of Australia! We’re talking weekends at the Sydney Opera House, scuba diving around the Great Barrier Reef, the works. Australia is a wonderful choice to work and live on a farm abroad.
Recommended programs:
- BUNAC - Work Australia
- Oyster Worldwide - Farm Work in Australia
- View ALL Farm Jobs in Australia
3. Japan
Japan is one of the most unique places to experience farm work abroad.
If cherry blossom trees, mountainous national parks, and expansive imperial palaces sounds like your kind of adventure, then a farm program in Japan might be just what you’re looking for! There are over 10,000 farms in Japan, from the frigid north point to the balmy southern isles, each with their own specialty.
Your work could be anything from riding gorgeous horses at a riding stables farm to growing ornamental plants and flowers, with everything in between. Japan offers a huge variety of agriculture work programs, with an amazing and ancient culture to experience while you are there as well. Work on a farm for room and board in Japan for the experience of a lifetime!
Recommended programs:
4. Ireland
Ireland isn’t called the Emerald Isle for nothing! Its expansive grassland means tons of farms for you to work on. Many farms in Ireland are dairy farms, which means you’ll get a close up look of the lactation process and calving period.
If you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty and you want to work with adorable baby cows, Ireland is the right place for you to find an agriculture farm job. And, after a hard day of work on the farm, you can head over to the nearest pub to enjoy some pub grub and a pint with the locals.
Recommended programs:
- Agricultural Farm Programme in Ireland
- Interexchange Work & Travel in Ireland
- View ALL Farm Jobs in Ireland
5. China
China is another huge country with tons of farmland. China is responsible for almost a third of the world’s rice. Other major crops include wheat, tea, barley, and cotton.
When you go to China to live and work on a farm, you might end up in a rice field out in the gorgeous rural landscape of the country. Or, you might find yourself in one of the bigger cities in the country, such as Shanghai, working on marketing or research for agriculture companies.
Either option means you’re living in a diverse and interesting place. Farming abroad jobs in China mean you can spend your weekends and days off walking along the Great Wall or wandering the Forbidden City.
Recommended programs:
- Knowledge Must Best Jobs in China
- View ALL Farm Jobs in China
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Work on a farm for free room and board, and never spend a penny!
Your choice to live and work on a farm might just change your life!
Farming has been around basically as long as humans have, and for good reason! It’s vital to our way of life, which means farming jobs aren’t going anywhere soon. Working on a farm abroad is a steady option and also a valuable one! When you work and live on a farm, you’ll learn valuable skills.
Whether you’re working in the fields or behind the scenes, you’ll come away with skills that you can use for the rest of your life. Add free room and board to all of this and you’ve got one sweet way to see the world.
And what a world it is! You could try a farm in the mountains of Japan working with horses at riding stables. Or you could try a gorgeous winery in France, a rice field in China, and so many others. Live the farm life and see the world when you work and live on a farm abroad. Get going!