Need some major prayer & brainstorming!!!

arcticow · #1 01/23/10, 08:03 PM

Looks as if time and resources are working against me up here... Divorce is forcing several decisions I would have made differently IF. Was wondering What IF??? I have been thinking of going south to try & get back on my feet. Alaska is not a place to be broke IN. Was thinking of trying to do temp jobs for farms, ranches for a couple weeks at a time so owners, hands, whoever could get a break or to fill in short-term. Maybe even some HT folks... Don't need much in the way of money, could trade out for the time. IDEAS???

Alice In TX/MO · #2 01/23/10, 08:32 PM

Can you give us more info about you?

Job experience?

How far south you want to go?

barn-apart · #3 01/23/10, 08:32 PM

Might check the midwest for farm related jobs ,like working with the custom harvest and planting companies. They will begin plantings and working fields soon, stating in Kansa and working north. They make fair money , but work long hours.Check agriculture sites for info.

mommagoose_99 · #4 01/23/10, 08:35 PM

It is a pretty bad time economically to start over. New York State has almost no jobs available right now. You know the lay of the land where you areand that is an asset. As hard as it is there, it is at least as bad to your South . I vote to stay where you are and work things out. Moving to an area where you will need new drivers licenses and you have no experience with the local laws and no connections, will be a struggle. Hang in there until things pick up. We have not had any income since the first fall frost here. It is like that for many many people. Running away from challenges never improves things. Good Luck !
Linda

FarmboyBill · #5 01/23/10, 08:44 PM

Sorry bud to here of your tough luck. Hope things turn out for ya. Keep us posted

arcticow · #6 01/23/10, 08:48 PM

More info on me... I worked a dairy farm in Texas for almost 20 years, staring at 17, raised kids (SAHD) for a few. Have been farming here for about 9 years. Cattle, hog sheep, goat, poultry experience, helped farm wheat, hay, oats, milo. Worked a BIG garden since a kid. Not much I haven't done, one time or other.

springvalley · #7 01/23/10, 08:51 PM

Like alice said, tell us more about you. What you want to do, what you know how to do, that kinda stuff. Thanks Marc.

arcticow · #8 01/23/10, 09:20 PM

I can fill in almost anywhere on a livestock or general crop situation for a few weeks, have excellent general vet skills (farmer-grade), anything I haven't done, show me once. I just want to get back south, anywhere is south of here. Can go anywhere from South Texas, yes I have spent time there, to North Dakota. Just Looking for a way to get slowly back on my feet, and help folks out while doing so. Not looking for instant moneymaker, just a way to live while God puts the pieces in place.

Tricky Grama · #9 01/24/10, 07:01 AM

I'm sorry to hear of your plight.
But I'd say TX is better off than most states at this time. Housing is not as depressed, etc.
DH has been out of work nearly a year. But his industry is 'sales' & its probably his age holding him back-they all want to hire a 25 y/o blond woman or a Tom Cruise look-alike.
There's a lot of construction going on in the N.Dallas-suburbs areas. While I wouldn't encourage someone to pack it all up & come this far, you know what you can do & how much gumption you have.

Prayers & good thoughts-
Patty

tarbe · #10 01/24/10, 07:35 AM

It sounds like you've had enough of AK and just want to get back south. Nothing wrong with that. Some of us who do not know better are tired of the deep south and want to go north!

As others have said, it is a tough time all over, relatively speaking. Best wishes to you.

Tim

farmerbrian · #11 01/24/10, 08:47 AM

CT has taken a downturn like everywhere else but overall I think its in better shape than many parts of the country, the fairly diverse economy here helps.

The tide is starting to turn back on the past 150 years of agriculture exodus from this state. Land prices are ridiculous but there are also some people with ridiculous amounts of money who want to take their lives in a different direction but have no clue how.

Someone with your skill set should be able to find work here. Take a look at some of posts on this link:

http://www.farmlink.uconn.edu/FarmOwnerList.html

Living expenses are high here, but so are wages. If you are looking for a room and board included type of arrangement then that shouldnt matter. But if you cant make ends meet working on a farm the economy is still healthy enough here that a responsible adult should be able to find work with a little patience.

Brian

tinknal · #12 01/24/10, 09:46 AM

NORTH DAKOTA!

The oil patch is running full bore and they cannot find enough farm labor. (or any other kind of labor)

ANYONE can get hired there.

Mike in Ohio · #13 01/24/10, 10:03 AM

Take a look at www.farmanddairy.com.

Here is one ad that might be of interest:

FARMER - GROUNDSKEEPER
Estate Farm. Employer provides modern on-site house + good wage + heating oil + year round employment + personal garden space + no commute time or expense. Butler County Pennsylvania. Maintain farm equipment, maintain buildings, mow, bale hay, landscaping, plow snow etc. Required good driving record and clean criminal record. Replies held in strict confidence. Send resume listing work experience and equipment operated. P.O. Box 2227 Cranberry Twp., PA 16066-1227

fordy · #14 01/24/10, 10:26 AM

.................My suggestion would be to get a commercial license , with Haz Mat , etc. endorsements ! There are jobs driving tanker trucks that pickup saltwater from gas wells and haul it too the disposal wells . All runs are probably less than 10 miles each way , you work 12 hour shifts with lots of overtime . They can make from 40k to 70k each year . Some drivers have Felonies ! One driver I know got thrown in the slammer for UNpaid child support , while he was UNemployed , and it was a felony . I never heard of such a thing .
................Another job is working on Flo back . You monitor gas well output for the company immediately after they have performed one of their massive frac jobs . This will pay 10 to 15 per hour + overtime . Understand , they pay you for maybe 2 weeks at a time . Thats 80 hours at your base rate and 256 hours at time and a half !!!!! Two weeks is 336 hours . Hard to believe , but True ! Also , I know another person who is working currently on floback , and HE has felony , also . So , there are jobs out there . , fordy