Anyone know where one might find work on farms (preferably organic) in BC, for the summer?? I found a whole bunch on http://www.wwoof.ca, but it's strictly volunteer work, and I was hoping for something that maybe payed a little bit. Fruit picking, orchard work, whatever. Anyone know anything? Any help would be awesome. Thanks!
pple i know who have picked fruit in the OK just show up and go work. someone will give you work, all you have to do is ask around a bit, or wander around in orchard country during fruit picking season. that's seriously all there is to it.
We have picked in Oliver. Did it all. Cherries, plums, pears, apples, peaches, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cauliflower and ect. There are lots of different fruits to work throughout the season. Great money in the apples and grapes. Especially the ice grapes if you can get taken on. All the ground crops you can imagine. There was a dollar a day camp ground for people/pickers a little North of Oliver. Alot of the orchids let you stay on thier properties. It has been 5 years or so now, but finding work was usually not an issue. If you do not get taken on somewheres, you will find day labor in a jiffy.... even if you are standing around the main little area. Automobiles are not really an issue but come in handy. We got around just fine without one and hitching the valley was pretty simple. Always made it out to where I needed to work Alot of East Indie and Pakistani run places. Most of them pick up day laborers for what their familys can't accomplish on their own. Had some of our best times in BC out in that Valley! Kind of wish we never left! Az
Thanks, poorphucker! Sounds like you had some good times! I really want to go out and do this, for the summer. Still not sure if I will, though. Got a job offer here at home, and I can always just go camping with my friends all summer. Still not sure. Thanks for the advice, though!
When I was living in Keremeos (south Okanagan, near Oliver) I had friends who worked at the local employment office and it sounded like they had really good contacts with all the farmers in the area. On any given day they would have a list of farms, and how many pickers were needed, so people would just show up and they'd tell them to check out such and such a farm. The whole thing seemed pretty informal in general, if the farmer liked your numbers then they'd keep you on, if not, there were plenty of other places to check out. And it seemed like most farms were cool with pickers pitching camp on the property. Anyways, good luck with the farming thing, its good times for sure peace
Come to the Okanagan! We have LOTS of fruit. I used to live near tons of orchards, I wish I could hook you up with a job but I'm out of touch with my fruit-grower friends. I live in Kelowna, quite a few friends work on the orchards in the summer... good luck! PM me if you're on the lookout for places to stay or whatever. Kelowna is BOOMING right now, so even if there's no orchard jobs, there are other ones around town that can tide you over.
Aww, awesome, thanks for the help yovo and wonderboy! (sounds like a super-hero duo) Wonderboy, do you know how many of the orchard jobs around there pay, if any? I'm mainly looking at it as a means to get out of the hole of a town I live in, but it would definetly help to make money all the while. Especially since I'm trying to save money to buy band equipment, ha. Also, what kind of other work is there, around there? Kelowna sounds awesome, I would definetly dig livin there.
Hehe, thanks for the offer, but I've been to Winnipeg. Mind you, I never spent a sufficient amount of time there, to get to know the place, but I'm pretty sure it's not the right place for me. Thanks for the offer, though!
In courtney on the island the is a place called "eatmore sprout" which is an organic alfalfa sprout farm, working there is pretty good but the money is not that great, i think i started at 8.50$ when i worked there.
umm, in Kelowna I think it pays alright. Don't quote me on anything, but I've heard good things about the money from working at orchards. Hard hours, though - early morning to mid afternoon out in the sun. I know a girl who does cherry picking all the time, next time I talk to her I'll ask her what the wages are. Your best bet is probably to phone a farm and ask, or try to get in touch with some people in Kelowna who've done farm work. Sorry I can't help more - if you're thinking of moving to Kelowna, make sure to give me a shout! I'll get you half off pizzas at Domino's .
actually, that's pretty good pay for a feildhand, most fieldhands out here tend to get minimum, I made $8/hr, and that was the most on my crew, because I had experience and age the latin americans work for $6/hr, and they work harder than anyone I've seen. I spent a day with a mexican crew my boss hired in at a particularly bussy time in the harvest, and tryin to keep up with them was near impossible, real good guys though
