Transformations in Agricultural Non-waged Work: From Kinship to Intern and Volunteer Labor: A Research Brief

Abstract

What is the relationship between unpaid and non-waged work and the survival, and even growth, of small ecological farms? This research brief examines this question through examining the growth of internships and volunteer positions (non-waged work) on small ecologically oriented farms in Canada. Despite the decline of non waged family labor in the broader agriculture sector, there is an increase of non waged (but also non family) work on ecological farms in the form of internships. The conclude it can be positive for knowledge exchange and transmission, but also responds to economic needs of many farms who can't afford waged labour, and there is also a gender cmponent (most interns are women) Conclude the brief by raising several challenging questions regarding the politics and sustainability of farmers' dependency on interns and volunteers.