Rural Work Exchanges

If the idea of life down on the farm appeals, why not try it out through a rural work exchange? This program allows young people to work on farms in other countries and combine work with the pleasure of discovering a new country and language.

The exchanges are confined to people between the ages of 18 and 30, and require at least a 3-month time commitment. A number of countries participate, including the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. If you choose a non-English speaking country, you are expected to know or at least make an effort to learn the language.

I was able to find Websites for the groups in Canada http://www.irecanada.ca, and in Australia http://www.ire.org.au and it should not be difficult to find the sites in other countries.
The farm workers are paid according to the wage rules of the country they choose, usually minimum wage. With the cost of travel and program administration, participants usually break even or better.

For those over 30 who want to sample farm work, check sites such as http://www.workaway.info. To get an idea of whether this might be the right career for you, a good recent book to read is "The Shepherd's Life: A Tale of the Lake District" by James Rebanks. His family has raised sheep in this beautiful region of England for many centuries, and while the life sounds pleasant it is also extremely demanding.