Farm Work Tips: Tackle the Many Tasks with Appropriate Clothing
Have you ever done something exciting and new in the heat of the moment? Something like going on a trip or applying for a completely new job? If not, and you are eager to try something different, we strongly suggest you try seasonal harvest work, fruit or veggie picking or simply anything related to farm work. You have the freedom to choose from the large selection of exciting jobs on a farm. On top of that, you’ll be able to experience something new, something you have never dreamed of while benefiting from breathing fresh air and eating organic food.
Now, while this sounds fun, what you need to take into account is that your urban clothing might not be the best option for such kind of work. Instead, you will need something comfier and more durable without compromising your style, of course.
Headwear and Sunscreen
Wearing a hat is a must when talking about farm work, especially during summer. Since at this time of the year the sun is at its ‘fullest power’, it is of vital importance for you to protect the head, face and neck. When in the search for the right type of hat for this season, make sure to choose one that is made of breathable material and one that is well ventilated. Although canvas and straw wide brim hats are among the most popular, you can also invest in cowboy hats, the iconic Australian Akubra, ponytail hats, baseball caps, etc. The winter and colder months of the year are in need of the use of warmer hats like bennies and some other knitted woollen hats.
One thing is certain, regardless of the weather conditions, protecting your skin from the sun rays is essential, even during winter. Exposing yourself to winter sun can be as harmful as being under it during summertime. So, when packing your things, make sure you don’t forget to pack a 50 SPF face and body cream.
Work Boots
Giving the fact that your work will be related to walking on soil and muddy areas, then you will need to invest in the right type of work footwear. If planning to stay on a longer period of time (say more than 3 weeks), you will need to invest in more than one pair of boots. When in the search for the right type of footwear, practice shows that you will need more than one pair of boots. Generally speaking, by choosing quality work boots you are investing in ones that will keep your feet dry and comfortable all the time. Experienced farmers say that quality boots for farm work should keep your feet dry during summertime and warm in the winter.
Generally speaking, these types of boots should be sturdy enough to withstand everyday wear. By investing in such, you can have peace of mind that they will protect your feet from injury even if something heavy falls on them or a horse steps on your foot. That helpful they can be.
Leather and rubber boots are among the most commonly used materials for work footwear. The leather steel toe boots are perfect when working with heavy objects or with livestock.
Rubber boots, on the other hand, are a must for those of you who have decided to work in vegetable and fruit gardens. The greatest benefit of having rubber boots is that they are completely easy to clean and maintain. All you need to do is to clean them with a hose and leave them air dry, which is not the case with leather boots. They are best if cleaned with a damp cloth and special leather coating in order to protect the leather from cracks and dirt.
When it comes to choosing the style, this can mainly depend on your taste, however, the choice is not that huge especially when talking about rubber and steel toes boots.
While cleaning these boots might be easy, one of the most common problems people face is about how to clean smelly work boots?! The easiest and most effective way to get rid of bad odour is by sprinkling thoroughly baking soda on the boots inside and leave it for at least 12 hours. However, depending on the type of boots, there are some other effective ways that you can try to get rid of bad footwear odour.
Gloves
Protecting your hands while working is essential not only for having softer skin but also for protecting your hands from injuries. When working in gardens, rubber gloves are the most common choice for the job as this work can get messy. Being inexpensive, having a few pairs of them is recommended.
For those of you who plan on working with livestock and anything related like moving hay bales, feeding and doing many other farm chores, opting for leather gloves is the best you can do.
Warmer gloves and mittens are the ideal choice for wintertime as they will keep you warm while giving you the ability to work without a problem.
Overalls and Trousers
When talking about farm work, comfiness and quality should be the first thing on mind. So, when in the search for the right type of clothing, make sure you ‘treat’ yourself with at least one pair of overalls. They are comfortable and useful for the job while also providing good coverage on the legs and torso area. Nowadays, you can choose from a large selection of them, but the one thing that stays the same for all of them is the many pockets. They are ideal for carrying everything you need.
Overall can come in a large selection of fabrics, out of which denim, cotton, canvas and polyester are among the most commonly used. They are breathable, washable and easy to maintain. When the weather is colder, you might want to invest in insulated bib overalls since they can provide additional protection from wind, rain and snow.
Besides overalls, you can also invest in work trousers since they are considered to be more fashionable (in case this is something important to you). Just like choosing overalls, when in the search for the right trousers, make sure to choose ones that are made of sturdy yet comfortable fabric.