Farm Stay / Agri Vacation

thestartupman · #1 05/11/15, 07:29 AM

I have a question for those that are getting ready to start into, or are planning to start a homestead. The question is also for those that have already started a homestead. If you have already started a homestead, did you in the past ever go to stay at a farm stay in your preparations to get knowledge before you began? If you are still in the planning stag, have you stayed at a farm stay, or are you planning to stay at a farm stay, to gain more information. If you have, did you find it to be a benefit for you in any way? If so, how? How farm did you travel, or plan to travel to go to one? What was the things you liked, and disliked about it? I know my wife and I went to stay at 3 different farm stays, and we found it to be a benefit in many ways. I would love to here feed back from everyone.

thestartupman · #2 05/11/15, 08:44 PM

I am really surprised that out of 86 people that have viewed this post, not even one has stayed or plans to stay at a farm stay. I felt it was some of the best vacation time / learning time that we had taken.

gone-a-milkin · #3 05/11/15, 08:49 PM

Honestly, I don't really know what a "Farm Stay" is?
I do farm sitting for some of my neighbors, but they have to pay *me* to take care of their stock and gardens while they go away.

I am imagining it to be like a B&B but with animal chores and stuff?
Tours of the fields? I don't really know. I guess it would be different regionally?

Could you tell us about the places you have stayed?
How much does something like that cost and what is the draw of it?
Are you thinking of setting something like this up on your place?
Educate us.

TnAndy · #4 05/11/15, 08:52 PM

Yep....hard to comment on something I never heard of....

thestartupman · #5 05/11/15, 09:19 PM

The first that we went to was a farm near the oregon cost. They raised sheep, and had chickens and turkeys. They had a nice cabin that set off at the edge of the property. The cabin was stocked with the basics for food, plus there was some homemade muffins, and we were welcome to get eggs for breakfast. It was up to us if we wanted to join them for morning, or evening chores. They would just let us know what time they would be at the barn. The second one was in southern Oregon. They had a set up that was off grid. I wanted to see how they lived being off grid. They also raised organic hogs, and chickens. They had the pork USDA inspected, and it could be purchased at the farm. The third was in eastern Oregon. They were in a very rule setting. They raised some cattle, but our main reason for going to this one, was because we were looking at maybe moving in that area. For someone who had lived in the country, but had always worked in a factory in town, it was a good way to get a feel for what living full time on a homestead would be like.

thestartupman · #6 05/11/15, 09:23 PM

Gone a milkin, the prices very a lot. They have some that include a lot of extras, so the prices are higher, and others are just a place to stay. Yes, I have thought about starting one myself, but I am not real sure how to find out how much interest there might be in it.

Phil V. · #7 05/11/15, 09:23 PM

A farm stay is where you work on a farm and instead of being paid cash you get it in room and board. It can last for the summer or up to a year depending on how long the person that you are working for needs the help.

thestartupman · #8 05/11/15, 09:30 PM

Phil V, I think you are thinking of an internship on a farm that last several months to a year. I think there is another name for it, but I can't think of what it is. A Farm stay is just a short vacation on a farm from a day or two, up to maybe a couple of weeks.

gone-a-milkin · #9 05/11/15, 09:36 PM

I do know about internships, like WOOFers.
I saw a lot of that when I lived out west.
Usually youngsters, often from EU who came and helped out during planting season
and often helped vend at farmers markets.
They didn't get paid though, just a place to stay and fed.

I get the feeling a "Farm Stay" is a different thing.
Probably with better amenities and less slave laboring.

thestartupman · #10 05/11/15, 09:41 PM

Yes, they are more of a pay someone to go and stay (usually in a cabin) at a farm and see how things are done. No work is usually expected, but is welcomed for those that want hands on experience. It is also set up for single people, couples, or families with young kids.

thestartupman · #11 05/14/15, 08:20 AM

Let me ask this another way. Would you and/or your family be interested in going on a vacation to a farm that might have the following things. First let me list the animals that are, or will be raised on the farm, and how they are being raised. First, will be Angus cattle being MOB grazed. They are moved multiple times per day. The next would be a Group of sheep, a few goats, chickens, along with a couple of LGD's, that would follow behind the cattle. These will only be moved about every 4-7 days, using electric netting, or several strands of polywire. I also have heritage Mulefoot hogs on the farm. The Place that a person, or family would be staying in, would be a old remodeled farm house. It we be set up were you could see most of the farm animals from the house. You could watch the lambs jumping and playing outside the windows, or from the porch. The kitchen would have all the basics of what a person would need for meals. Eggs, would be provided, and if a person wanted, they could help gather the eggs. There would be a large garden that the guest would be allowed to make use of during the season. There will also be a large berry patch that they could see how it is operated, and a small orchard. There would also be fresh pork, and beef that could be purchased. There would be special times during the year for things like strawberry shortcake for the guest, or maybe fresh pies in the house upon their arrival. In the future, the farm house may be off-grid, and a person could see what it takes to set it up, and keep it running. I know many are thinking that why would I go there, I do these things every day. I think there maybe some on here, that are living in town, and are wanting to know what its like to live on a farm. Pricing would be something like $100 per night, or $500 for a six night stay. These are just rough figures though.

My2butterflies · #12 05/14/15, 08:35 AM

I'd say no. Coming from town life to farm life I'm hands on. I'll learn from asking questions and doing things myself. For $100 a night I'd rather stay at a hotel with a pool and free breakfast. For less then $100 I can get all that and have a beautiful view of Lake Superior. I'd much rather go there then on a farm.
I really can't wrap my head around paying to stay at a farm just to see how things are run. If I wanted to learn hands on from an experienced farmer I'd offer free help in return for the education. I can't imagine many farms would pass that up.

If this is something you really want to try, marketing to big cities will likely be your best bet.

Bellyman · #13 05/14/15, 08:55 AM

It's always interesting to see how other people do things. I wouldn't feel like I needed to spend a lot of time, though.

Maybe if I was from the city and had no clue of how things happened on a farm, I might be more inclined to want to do something like you describe, an "immersion" experience in farm living. But I grew up in farm country. I milked cows for years. I worked in big gardens for years. I had chickens for years. So maybe it's harder for me to connect with the concept you're looking into. (?)

Wishing you the best of luck! I hope you find the situation that's just right for you.

thestartupman · #14 05/14/15, 09:52 PM

I agree that most people who grew up on farms, or who are currently living on farms might not want to vacation on another farm. I know for myself, even though I have my own farm, if I had another farm that was doing things that I was really interested in, I might want to farm stay there, but for the most part, I enjoy being on my own farm too much.

thestartupman · #15 05/14/15, 09:54 PM

My2Butterflies, I do agree with you about marketing to big cities.

Rectifier · #16 05/15/15, 12:05 AM

I can see it as a getaway for city folks but not as an educational thing. Dude ranches are still popular after all. Riding, roping, gopher shooting, 4-wheeling, big breakfasts with pancakes, farm fresh eggs and milk. Sitting around the campfire in the evening drinking whiskey under the stars. Get someone to play the guitar. Everyone loves that stuff.

As far as learning about farming, IMO the best way to learn is to grow up on a farm or work as a hired man. Or pitch in with neighbours on jobs just to be helpful and maybe get a meal out of it. I've learned a lot of old-school techniques that work from my 84 year old neighbour while helping him farm.

However people have succeeded in getting people to pay to build their house - putting on straw bale construction workshops and such. So if you can market to the right people, you could get folks to come out for sure.

Chucknbob · #17 05/15/15, 05:45 AM

I'll let you crash on my sofa if you want to work with my sheep, gather eggs, plant the garden, and stretch some fence for me.

jtsummie · #18 05/15/15, 06:17 AM

My wife and I were just talking about wanting to do this as a customer. I was planning on contacting the local 4H to see if they have any kids that want to make us their project. Grandpa had cows but would've say I was raised on a farm and my wife was raised in Chicago, no farm animals there.
We had and raised chickens but are looking for a "workshop" for other animals. For instance learning about goats, what feed is necessary how to trim hooves things like that.

simi-steading · #19 05/15/15, 08:45 AM

Not really....

When I was a kid, my mom's grandmother had a large cattle ranch. I'd go there during the summer.. .

My father's family had a farm that I'd help out on when I was young...

I also spent a summer in Youth Conservation Corp, learned a lot about land management there...

I spent a lot of time on friends farms even as I got older, even though I lived in town..

I never made it a point to take a vacation to learn...

Now I got my own place, and I do well, without having to go learn from others...

Buy a place.. dive in.. you'll learn..

mzgarden · #20 05/15/15, 09:11 AM

joining a bit late. We did. While still in the burbs and planning, I stumbled over a goat farm/dairy that offered a secluded cabin. Your choice to spend time with the goats, or if you preferred, stay in the cabin, come and go and enjoy the peace and quiet. I spent every waking moment following the gal around - feeding, walking, talking, learning, milking, etc. Only thing I didn't do was cheese making - she's FDA inspected and an award winner for her cheeses and doesn't allow others into her kitchens, etc.
It confirmed dairy goats were in our future and it confirmed Nubians. I Went back 4 times for a weekend across two years - two times in the Fall - breeding times and two times in early Spring for kidding. One time DS/DIL came along. She was extremely generous with her information and letting a newbie stumble through jobs. Last trip, I got to take the goats for their afternoon walk (lots of land). It was one of the best experiences I've had.