When you think of backpacking jobs, your mind most probably goes straight to bartending and waitressing. While these are both great job opportunities, working in the agricultural industry allows you to really see the country you are visiting, rather than being stuck indoors all day. Throughout the world, various agricultural positions are available, often in high demand, throughout various seasons. If you’re concerned about finding work upon arrival, it is always a smart idea to investigate the best seasons for when high quantities of workers are needed. During your next holiday, consider farming or forestry as a change of scenery, you never know, you might find your dream career.

Fishing

Not only can fishing provide a great source of income, but it can also be a lot of fun too. Professional fishing charters often require help on deck, giving many backpackers the opportunity to learn the skills of the trade, for further employment. If you do have your mind set on a fishing job when backpacking, be aware that they are often more difficult to acquire, than jobs such as fruit picking. While jobs like fruit picking require little prior knowledge, some fishing companies prefer job candidates with some experience or background within the industry.

Fruit Picking & Packing

Probably the most common of all the agricultural backpacking jobs, fruit picking and packing is usually easy to come by and requires little experience. Found in most corners of the world, fruit picking can vary from strawberries and grapes to bananas and apples.

Farming

The most common farming job for backpackers is working as a farm-hand. While fruit picking generally takes place amongst orchids or vineyards, farming involves the planting, growing and harvesting of foods on a farm. The foods that are produced during the farming process are for human consumption and so a farm manager is always on hand for supervision.

Forestry Help

Not a very common backpacking job, however not impossible to come by, forestry work involves planting and caring for forest surrounds. Generally employed by lumber companies, workers could be required to do anything from moving logs to retaining records.

Ranching

Unlike farming, ranching involves assistance with animals. Ranching may include, but not be limited to, helping out on the farm, with the day to day running of the property, where you may be required to assist in the feeding of animals, the cleaning of pens and the gathering of produce.

For anyone holidaying on a budget holiday package deals often provide an affordable means of travel. Backpackers commonly book deals through their travel agents, combining airfares, other means of transportation, accommodation, sightseeing and job connections, often lowering the price of the overall total. If you’re planning a working holiday and want to get the most out of your money and time, consider talking to your travel advisor about agricultural positions in your country of choice.

Hats off to our farmers!

http://www.yearofthefarmer.com.au/

My name is Lauren Howe and I am an American student studying with the School for International Training (SIT)’s Sustainability and Environmental Action Program based in Byron Bay, NSW.  As part of my program, I undertook a five-week independent study project for which I researched farm tourism in Australia. 

As farms across Australia look to expand their income streams, many have turned to tourism as a viable and auxiliary funding source.  For many of these farms, the necessary infrastructure for such an expansion already exists, as does the consumer demand.  Farmers looking to transform their businesses to include tourism, however, should keep in mind the ecological impact of their endeavors.  In this case, ecotourism or low-impact nature tourism offers many ‘best practice’ principles, which may be used to guide farm tourism in the future.  Using these ecotourism principles as a guide, I investigated how eco-friendly farmstays actually are.  This examination involved sending out 124 surveys nationally (and only receiving 19 completed ones back), interviewing four farmstay operators in the Northern Rivers region of NSW and two ecotourism-certified ‘best practice’ farmstays, and doing content analysis of 134 farmstay websites and online listings.

My study results reveal that although few farmstays actually market themselves as eco-friendly, many currently uphold environmentally sound practices.  This may come in the form of land and wildlife conservation and/or re-vegetation.  For instance, some farmstays in the Northern Rivers are working with local land care groups on rainforest and bush regeneration on their properties.  Renewable energy in the form of solar is popular and many farmstays have invested in energy efficient appliances.  I’ve seen farmstay cottages with solar panels on their roofs and individual rainwater tanks for water catchment and recycling.  Moreover, most farmstays exhibit proper waste disposal habits, from recycling to composting in the form of worm farms and feeding food scraps to chooks.  Sustainable agriculture is widespread and includes practices of organic farming, permaculture, aquaponics, integrated pest management, paddock rotation, and low-intensity animal husbandry.  Many farmstays also make efforts to source food, household goods, and farm equipment locally. 

The primary shortcoming of the farmstay industry, however, is the lack of acknowledgement given to Aboriginals/traditional landowners.  ‘Respect the sensitivities of other cultures’ is one of the principles included in the Ecotourism Association of Australia’s Code of Practice and is that which could be improved the most.  This could come in the form of consulting with local Elders, verbalizing an informal Aboriginal ‘welcome’ to guests, or simply posting a sign on the farm property. 

My study results also indicate that few ecologically sound farmstays have invested the time and funds to become officially certified through Ecotourism Australia.  Despite the lack of official certification, it is very possible for farmstays to engage in environmentally and socially sustainable practices, as exemplified by farmers in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.

So next time you are booking your holiday accommodation, think about staying at an eco-friendly farmstay.  You can help support a local farm business and reduce the environmental impact of your travels! And in the mean time, check out these eco-conscious accommodations in the Northern Rivers: Byron Bay Farmstay, Mooyabil Farm Holidays in Mullumbimby, Imogen’s Farmstay in Whian Whian, and the Shed Bed and Breakfast in Dunoon.

Reminder – FarmReady Financial Year Eligibility

FarmReady Reimbursement Grants provide funding of up to $1500 to eligible primary producers, wild game harvesters and Indigenous land managers to attend approved training courses. The grant can be used to cover course costs and additional funding is available for travel, accommodation and childcare expenses.

FarmReady registered courses aim to improve the capacity of primary producers to adapt to the impacts of climate change and increase self reliance and preparedness.

Over 520 training courses are registered with FarmReady, on a variety of topics including:

> understanding the implications of climate change
> whole farm planning
> financial management
> farm business management

FarmReady Reimbursement Grants are capped at $1500 per financial year. Eligible primary producers and indigenous land managers will need to have participated in pre-approved training by 30 June 2010 and have submitted all necessary paperwork by no later than 30 July 2010 to access available support in the 2009/10 financial year.

To see what courses are available, confirm that you are eligible and claim your reimbursement, visit www.farmready.gov.au or phone 1800 087 670.

There´s less than a week left to ensure your tourism business is part of Tourism Australia´s next international marketing campaign. It´s easy. Spread the word to your colleagues, guests, family and friends and ask them to upload a photo of a unique experience or aspect of your tourism operation to www.nothinglikeaustralia.com. A digital map containing all the photos will be unveiled at the Australian Tourism Exchange.

Make sure your area is on the map!

Good Luck!