Give it a Shot!
Who’s dreaming about a job that requires no commuting, no dress code, and is extremely relaxed on the swearing? Let’s add the fact that you get to play with a lot of big boy’s toys and pets of all sizes. Convinced yet? Despite all of that, farm work still gets a bad reputation amongst young people that might see it as a low-level job. So why should you work on a New Zealand farm?
Farming is a unique experience, a job that teaches real life skills, and gives you a better understanding of the world we are living in. Here are 11 reasons why getting your hands dirty on New Zealand’s farms will be an invaluable part of your trip. With this list, you’ll see why so many backpackers opt for farming jobs down under! For more information, check out Seasonal Work in New Zealand’s Dairy Industry and Working a Fruit Picking Job in New Zealand.
1. Farming is Not a “Job”; It’s a Way of Life
Remote locations, early starts, hard labour: working on a farm is as far as it can be from working and living in a city. Trying a different lifestyle is a great way to learn about yourself.
© NZPocketGuide.com2. Get to Know How Your Food is Made
Buying food in a supermarket is so last year… Grow your own food and be proud of the meal that you put on a table. After working a few months on a farm, you will look at produce differently knowing the hard work that got it from the ground to your plate.
© Pexels3. Living on a Farm is a One-of-a-kind Life Experience
Fresh air, great food, lots of exercise, fun co-workers… For sure, your farm work experience will be unique. When stuck in your every-day career in 10 years, you’ll look back at it thinking: “that was the life…”
© Pexels4. Hard Work Keeps You in Shape
Throw away the gym membership and join the farming industry! It’s the perfect mix of exercise and healthy food. You’ll get in shape in no time! For sure, you’ll look like this fella walking in a field…
© Pexels5. Experience True Responsibility
Even when working an entry-level job on a farm, you will be responsible for the well-being of animals, the safe handling of the produce, and operating heavy equipment. You’ll learn to trust and be trusted at work faster than any “assistant manager” or “team leader” will ever do. It’s a great way to prove your gap year was an invaluable experience on your CV.
© NZPocketGuide.com6. Every Day is Different: Break the Routine!
Routine is not what you are looking for when on a working holiday in New Zealand. Every day on a farm brings new tasks, challenges and problems to be fixed. You’ll never get bored when mastering the skill of “thinking on your feet” and always finding solutions to keep the workflow going.
© Pexels7. Respect the Almighty Weather
The New Zealand weather is one of the most unpredictable. Yet, whatever the weather, the job needs to get done. After a few hours working in the rain or in the cold, you’ll find pride in not being bothered by it anymore. You’ll get the “since you can do this, you can do anything” feeling.
© Pexels8. Learn to Respect the Environment
The earth feeds you but not the other way around: this is a major lesson that you will learn when working on a farm. It takes patience, planning and skills to get food onto the plates of hungry all over the country.
© pexels9. Find Peace in Your Time Off on the Farm
Working and living in the countryside will also change your day-off habits. Instead of roaming around a noisy city or getting drunk in a crowded bar, you’ll get to ride a horse around the fields or just find peace watching the cows graze.
© NZPocketGuide.com10. Become Excellent at Multitasking
If there is one skill that any farmer must master and master quickly it is multitasking. You will always need to think one step ahead, especially when working with animals where you will need to anticipate the beast’s next movement.
© memegenerator11. Save a Lot of Money in a Short Time!
Probably the biggest motivator of them all: MONEY! Working in a remote farm means spending nothing. It also means a lot of hours and decent wages. Workers often get great free food too! This perfect combo means that working holidaymakers will get to put almost their entire wage into their savings! Perfect to plan this next backpacking trip, right?
© PexelsMore About Farming Jobs in New Zealand
