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To: reformedliberal

Interesting.

As an aside, it used to be that we had hoards of college students eager to go work someplace over the summer. That arrangement would likely also appeal to college kids, and an organic farm ought to be right up their alley, too.


14 posted on 12/30/2014 4:18:05 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: 9YearLurker

*hordes*


15 posted on 12/30/2014 4:30:59 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: 9YearLurker

So one might think. The truth is vastly different.

This is a farming area colonized over 30 years by leftists and environmentalists with means. We have many small organic farms, in fact, I have read we have the largest concentration of such of anywhere in the country. We have a Waldorf School and a Waldorf-inspired High School, a very New Age charter HS and the largest organic co-operative in the country (turns close to $1B/year). Also, several grant-funded food production businesses that are spin offs of the farms and co-operative. Also a few subsidiaries of the organic co-op.

Every spring, several graduates of the New Age schools apply for work at the organic farms. They last maybe 3 weeks. They expect to choose which days they show up and for how long. Any personal reason at all is considered legitimate for not working. They all want to be bosses instead of workers. They argue with the owners and dispute everything from hours, to pay to procedures. They are such royal PITAs, that the costs of the green card workers is a bargain by comparison.

Some of the wealthier kids pay to be workers in European organic enterprises. This is sort of like a summer abroad program. They return and do not go into any sort of farming or food production at all. Mostly, they are slackers and Mom and Dad continue to support their transient enthusiasms.

Every year, one or more of these American kids decides to try their own hand at small-scale organic farming or livestock production. The opinions of the area vets and farmers range from amusement to disbelief in their practices. AFAIK, none of these have succeeded. The American kids, instead, start up companies to produce some variety of organic processed food...sodas, fermented foods, herbal extracts, et al. They usually get reams of great media and within a year or two, sell the business to the next in line and then go off to another start up of some sort. Tiny Houses are popular at the moment.

I have asked several successful producers, as well as a few who are scraping by and a few who have failed, about local workers and in every instance, I receive an hours long exposition of the subject, none of it favorable to the American kids.


20 posted on 12/30/2014 4:57:54 AM PST by reformedliberal
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To: 9YearLurker
............
As an aside, it used to be that we had hoards of college students eager to go work someplace over the summer. That arrangement would likely also appeal to college kids, and an organic farm ought to be right up their alley, too.


Used to work for lots of other seasonal work, e.g. at resorts, restaurants, construction. College students would work to pay part or all of their tuition.

Interesting how CHEAP DESPERATE workers from third world countries, i. e. neo-slaves replaced them. At the same time college students got the opportunity to start a lifetime of debt via college loans.
28 posted on 12/30/2014 6:01:43 AM PST by khelus
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