Temporal fix, hierarchies of work and post-socialist hopes for a better way of life

This paper proposes to rethink the agriculture–migration nexus through notions of temporal fix and migrant hierarchies. Its empirical setting is post-socialist migration Latvians who move Channel Island Guernsey Norway, where they take temporary jobs picking crops such as tomatoes strawberries. I analyse both how agricultural migrants are viewed by others evaluate themselves. The research material comes from long-term ethnographic engagement with Latvian in these two destinations. In geographical contexts, work positions at bottom labour hierarchy. Yet, because their experience agriculture homeland Soviet early post-Soviet times, being close nature part cultural identity, fundamental positive. Experiences abroad nevertheless ‘shocking’ tough under strict capitalist regulations. Yet endured either a step better job abroad, or means accumulating income for life upon return ‘home’.