How to get into farming these days?

Post date: 2019-04-16 13:01:04

I have, after years of consideration, decided to quit my desk job in Seattle and find a farming job next spring. What do I need to know??

I would prefer to work on an organic produce farm within a 1-3 hour drive of Seattle. I have woofed before but have no official previous experience. My qualifications are a mechanical engineering degree and 4 years work experience as a mechanical engineer (not exactly relevant :/). Looking for suggestions on where to start looking for farm jobs, red flags to watch out for, where to live while working, what to do in the off-season, etc. Would love to hear personal stories/experiences. I am 95% sure that this is the right choice, but am still open to well-reasoned arguments if anyone out there has made this switch and thinks it's the worst idea ever.
I've wanted to do this for years, I haven't made the switch yet because I have been worried about money, lack of health insurance, fear of feeling isolated out on a farm, etc. but I feel that it's probably time to try now that I have some savings to fall back on if something goes wrong. I am leaning towards living in a camper van during the work week and driving into Seattle to stay with friends on any weekends/days off. Would love suggestions on how to find a farm with a good community feel so it doesn't get too lonely (I am a woman in my mid-twenties, and while I am definitely introverted I still value having people to talk to on the day-to-day).

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