Migrant Housing

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Mike

My local travels brought me to a group of homes surrounded by acres of land. I believe that this would be temporary housing for farm workers.

The first home was a bit tattered but the outhouses appeared to be well maintained with a fresh coat of paint on them.

I always find it stunning when I see workers toiling under the sun as they bend all day to pick crops. I also think these are proud human beings who would do anything to maintain a family, and they are happy to do this work.

This may well be a kitchen building where meals are prepared, but I don’t know that for sure.

This home appears to be set up so it can be a small store which probably sells sodas, and snacks.

It is my sense that later this summer these homes will be occupied by workers with very good backs, who must be very tired by days end.

53 thoughts on “Migrant Housing”

seekraz on May 21, 2012 at 8:12 am said:

Nice series, Mike…and quite a subject…so many ways to look at it. Thank you.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:14 am said:
  
  I chose not to get political, as there is already enough of that, and focus instead on housing and hard work.
  Thank you Scott.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - seekraz on May 21, 2012 at 8:20 am said:
    
    I noticed that…and you’re welcome. 🙂
    
    LikeLike
John on May 21, 2012 at 8:13 am said:

That’s some rough-n-tough livin’ in those old boxes…

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:14 am said:
  
  Like summer camp!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Sue (Mac's Girl) on May 21, 2012 at 8:14 am said:

You find the most interesting places!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:15 am said:
  
  Thanks Sue.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
catherinebowman on May 21, 2012 at 8:28 am said:

Looks like the buildings are worked as hard as the workers. Definitely proud people, hard working.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:32 am said:
  
  Hi Cat.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - catherinebowman on May 22, 2012 at 11:10 am said:
    
    Hi darlin. 🙂
    
    LikeLike
  - m5son on May 22, 2012 at 11:11 am said:
    
    ‘ello love.
    
    LikeLike
mcolmo on May 21, 2012 at 8:29 am said:

Very nice, that frontal shot disguises its length so well. I thought it was a small house.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:33 am said:
  
  And you have a keen eye. Do you watch the borgias series?
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - mcolmo on May 21, 2012 at 8:35 am said:
    
    Oh yes I do!
    
    LikeLike
  - m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:37 am said:
    
    lol. Of course you do, my queen. My kind of pope.
    
    LikeLike
  - mcolmo on May 21, 2012 at 8:39 am said:
    
    Last night’s episode was rad!
    
    LikeLike
  - m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:41 am said:
    
    We are watching all prior episodes to get caught up and are just now into season 2. Tell me nothing!
    
    LikeLike
  - mcolmo on May 21, 2012 at 8:44 am said:
    
    I won’t say anything, they’re just a whole bunch of dysfunctional savages, hahahaha!
    
    LikeLike
  - m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:45 am said:
    
    I would have thrilled to be part of that family. If you are going to be dysfunctional, might as well have a sexual appetite and be a savage.
    
    LikeLike
  - mcolmo on May 21, 2012 at 8:50 am said:
    
    They outdid themselves…I read a bit about their history and it gets worse, I mean, if Showtime really wants to portray them in full-blast mode, we’re in for a wild ride, LOL!
    
    LikeLike
claude on May 21, 2012 at 8:31 am said:

Mike – I like the B&W!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:34 am said:
  
  Thanks claude. Me too.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Merilee Mitchell on May 21, 2012 at 8:39 am said:

You manage to find the most interesting places.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 8:42 am said:
  
  Perhaps we are alike in that regard Merilee.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - Merilee Mitchell on May 21, 2012 at 8:53 am said:
    
    Yes we are 😉
    
    LikeLike
Dezra Despain on May 21, 2012 at 8:59 am said:

It looks so hot and uncomfortable. So difficult and weary. You have to admire people who know how to work hard under difficult circumstances. An informative series.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 9:07 am said:
  
  I do admire them, and I also feel for them. Good morning, the lady Despain.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
tearoomdelights on May 21, 2012 at 9:21 am said:

Man, it looks so hot! Beautiful blue sky though. I think that little soda snack place could be done up very nicely to make a lovely cool shady little tearoom to look after the worker’s culinary requirements.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 9:38 am said:
  
  A tea room and migrant workers!!! Just what they want after a hot day. If we went with some of your beautiful cakes and maybe beer instead of tea, we have a shot.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - tearoomdelights on May 25, 2012 at 6:03 am said:
    
    Sorted.
    
    LikeLike
barbaraelka on May 21, 2012 at 9:50 am said:

great post…i wonder maybe you could document their lives…

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 9:52 am said:
  
  I probably could if I went back late summer and befriended them. I am not sure how the farm owner would feel about that, since I would be on his land and he may feel threatened by me being there.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - barbaraelka on May 21, 2012 at 10:07 am said:
    
    you could try…this society needs historic documents like that…even for a day
    
    LikeLike
  - m5son on May 21, 2012 at 10:12 am said:
    
    I will keep that in mind and see how my summer unfolds. Thank you for your interest.
    
    LikeLike
CopperLeaf Treasures on May 21, 2012 at 10:33 am said:

Grew up by the blueberry fields in Holland, Mi and remember this well. Now live near cotton fields in Phoenix, AZ and see similar…I am surprised to still see the outhouses though. Funny that they have the fresh coat of paint on them…

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 12:42 pm said:
  
  I agree about the outhouses and wasn’t really sure what to make of them. Clearly, they are outhouses but to still be in use in kind of shocking. All guess work on my part.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Photobooth Journal on May 21, 2012 at 1:01 pm said:

Great series Mike. You do get out and about a lot!

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 1:02 pm said:
  
  Just returned from today’s ride. Found a few images. I am an image thief!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
sandy on May 21, 2012 at 1:18 pm said:

I remember seeing buildings like this when I lived in Oklahoma. No one ever said what they were. When I talk to my 87 year old mom today, I am going to see if she remembers anything about this kind of housing.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 1:32 pm said:
  
  Do let me know…..thanks.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Bella Remy Photography on May 21, 2012 at 2:57 pm said:

I can only imagine just how how hot these house boxes get in the sun. They truly do have a hard life. Wonderful series of photos.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 22, 2012 at 6:52 am said:
  
  Hi. I agree, they do look very hot for sure. All that hard work and then a hot bed. Thank you.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
2 Rivers Photos on May 21, 2012 at 3:21 pm said:

We’re lucky to have multiple images today 🙂 But seriously like you said, I admire their will to support their family, talk about being responsible and providing.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 21, 2012 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  Yo. Its all about being willing to work that hard and feed your family at the end of the day. And I can’t imagine being that sound of body to be able to do it.
  Thanks Bashar.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
hutchphotography2020 on May 21, 2012 at 8:01 pm said:

Great series of shots. Nicely done.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 22, 2012 at 6:53 am said:
  
  Thanks hutch, appreciate it.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Jude on May 22, 2012 at 1:40 am said:

I do think there’s something wonderfully rewarding and peaceful about working on the land doing simple work, and sometimes maybe the people who do this are more content than the ones chasing bigger, brighter and better things. Many many years ago I was married to a sawmill owner in Canada. I sometimes worked in the mill, piling wood as it came off the planer. There were mountains all around and wild geese, and the smell of pine and fir. It was hard work but I loved it. Hard to describe the wonderful feeling of contentment it gave me.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
m5son on May 22, 2012 at 6:54 am said:

I agree Jude and the smell of that freshly cut wood sounds wonderful. You have had an interesting life, eh.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
Cold Dead Heart on May 22, 2012 at 10:51 am said:

Great shots and subject. Really like the b&w one.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 22, 2012 at 10:53 am said:
  
  Thank you CDH. You have a nice face.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - Cold Dead Heart on May 22, 2012 at 11:40 am said:
    
    Why thank you 🙂
    
    LikeLike
TimCC on May 30, 2012 at 8:15 am said:

Striking series. Sense of emptiness.

LikeLike

Reply ↓
- m5son on May 30, 2012 at 8:18 am said:
  
  Thanks Tim
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓