Farm Seasons in Odemira: Planning Your Team Ahead
Anyone who farms on the Alentejo coast knows the agricultural calendar is in charge: there are quieter stretches and there are weeks when a farm needs far more people almost overnight. Planning the team early usually saves a lot of scrambling. Here are some practical ideas for looking at the season before it starts.
A region that runs on seasons
In Odemira and along the Alentejo coast, farming runs in cycles. There are crops picked by hand, greenhouses, ground preparation, planting, weeding, packing and maintenance. Each stage calls for a team of a different size, and it is rare for the need for people to stay the same all year.
We will not give dates or quantities here, because they vary by crop, by farm and by year, with the weather and with demand. What helps is knowing your own calendar: which weeks usually feel tight, and what tends to go wrong at that point.
Questions to ask before the season
A good starting point is to look back at previous years. When were you short of people? For which tasks? Were there days when picking was left undone, or when the team worked at its limit? With those answers, it is easier to estimate what this year will need.
- Which tasks will need more people, and at what stage of the season
- When you expect to start and for how long, even as an estimate
- Whether the work is in the field, in a greenhouse, in a cold room or in a packhouse
- Whether hours include weekends or longer days at peak times
- Whether some tasks need experience, such as driving machinery, or whether willing people who learn quickly will do
The value of speaking up early
When many farms need people at the same time, whoever plans ahead has more room to manoeuvre. Giving us an early indication, even if not everything is settled, lets us understand your need and start thinking about the right profiles. If you do not yet know how many people you will need, that is fine: you can tell us you are not sure yet and refine the details later.
On our side, we do not promise fixed lead times or guaranteed numbers. Each request is looked at case by case, and availability depends on the season, the role and the moment. We would rather tell you honestly what is possible than promise what we do not control.
Prepare the welcome on site
A new team performs better when the first day is well thought through. Who will receive people? Who shows them the work and the site? Where are the water, the toilets and the break area? Who do they contact if something goes wrong? These are simple things, but they make the difference between a team that settles in quickly and one that takes a while to find its rhythm.
If housing or transport matter in your case, mention it at first contact. They should not be taken for granted: AllGreen discusses them case by case, depending on the role, the location and the client.
How AllGreen can help
AllGreen is a temporary staffing company based in Zambujeira do Mar, in the municipality of Odemira. We work with agriculture, poultry, tourism and hospitality, and construction. You can request a team through the form on our website, by phone or by email; our team then gets in touch to understand the details. The office is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 17:00.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I ask for a team for the season?
There is no set rule, because it depends on the crop, the season and the number of people. In general, the earlier you contact us, the more room there is to prepare. Even approximate dates let us start the conversation.
Can I ask for people for just a few weeks?
You can say what period you need. That is what temporary staffing is for: short-term reinforcement, seasonal campaigns or ongoing needs. Tell us the likely dates and we will discuss what is possible.
What if I do not know how many people I need?
On the form you can choose that you are not sure yet and settle the rest with our team. You do not need every detail decided to begin.
Does AllGreen arrange housing and transport?
It depends on the role, the location and the client. We discuss it case by case, so tell us at first contact if it matters to you.