Do you have an "agritourism" business dream for your homestead?

BobbyB · #21 03/14/12, 07:52 PM

We dont want anyone around. If we get to the point of selling vegetables , eggs and the like, I'll meet em on the highway.

rockbottomranch · #22 03/14/12, 08:34 PM

yes, i do want to be open to public, and i am working towards that goal.

VERN in IL · #23 03/15/12, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wally

Maybe its just me but I dont want the city folks on my farm. The less they know about my large garden, Orchard, the animals I raise and the wildlife here the better off I will be.

Show them the 10 ft high manure piles, "now folks this is not a pine forest, this is a Year's worth of Turkey manure..."

texican · #24 03/15/12, 09:33 PM

I'm always hesitant about letting total strangers have access to my bank account... and my farmstead is my bank account... everything I have is invested in and on it...

I'm also a prepper, and letting any ol body 'visit', could come back and haunt you later on.... just think about the farm tourists you allow on your place, and then the shtf ('stuff' hits the fan)... where do you think they plan on heading for?

Or, let some rabid animal activists on your place, and one of your animals is having a 'bad day'.... next thing you know, the 'authorities' are at your place, saving your animals from you!

Beef11 · #25 03/16/12, 01:58 AM

I would like a smaller farm say about ten acres with a house and a cottage on it. The house for the manager and the cottage for renting. Use the place as kind of a show room and retail outlet. The real place i will keep more private. Seems to satisfy both my desire for lots of people in my retail outlet and my not wanting people around while i'm yelling at the tv during football season.

Big Dave · #26 03/16/12, 03:12 AM

There are several Agritourism places close by. One is a strawberry patch, two are blueberry U PIC EM. O yeah there is a peach orchard also. There are corn maizes and pumpkin patches in the fall. Agritourism is not for all, but you must learn the areas where they may not go and your cost in keeping the clients under control.We have run a B&B and it is quite interesting the folks you can meet.

hengal · #27 03/16/12, 08:32 AM

Thanks for all the reponses - very interesting. I'm more of a mind to have (young) childrens groups out with a focus on teaching about different aspects of living in the country/growing food / raising animals, etc. Have a "make-it, take-it" farm craft. It's sad to me that so many kids don't know where their food comes from and have never really experienced "nature". I'd also like to host luncheons for seniors groups, where they could enjoy the gardens, cut their own bouquets, etc. We've feel very blessed with what God has given us and really want to be good stewards and share and give back. This is just something I have felt drawn to do for a while now. I don't have any intention to do this for money - so I guess agritourism was not the right word to use, but ideas of what others might have along those lines is interesting. I still work full time but would like to try this out a few times this year and see how it goes. Who knows what it could lead to down the road, as maybe a second career - I don't know. I know some will not probably understand the whole thing - especially the no money thing. It's a dream coming from the heart that I'm working on.

chickenista · #28 03/16/12, 08:38 AM

Nope.
Not a chance.
The public is a horrible thing.

And the insurance is brutal!!

We no longer even sell chicks from home.
Everyone would want a 'barn tour' or the go 'shopping' in the barn etc..

We stopped letting anyone on site for 'biosecurity' reasons.
And that is partly true.
I don't want anyone tracking in stuff from their place in to where my critters are.
But it is also for their biosecurity.
Hard to keep that smile when they have been standing in the barn for an hour...

And they don't want you telling their kids not to touch this or lean on that or open that door.
Little Johnnie is about to open a pen door and release a group of roosters out to mingle with another hen breed or to rumble with the roosters that are already out and the parents surely do not like you telling their precious not to do something.
"oh, he's ok"
'Oh, let him. It's fine'
'We see him. No need for you to say anything'
'It's just a few little rocks. He's not hurting anything'
'He thinks it's funny to run the stick along the fence and hear the birds squawk'

But you are just not allowed to disagree with them or insert logic over property ownership or rules or anything without them getting bent out of shape.
And if you want return sales etc.. you cannot make a fuss or word spreads that you are sharp tongued or disagreeable..

nope
not a chance in hades.

piglady · #29 03/16/12, 08:08 PM

I for one am so sick of folks wanting to bring their kids to "see" our animals and destroy everything they touch. We still haven't found the tractor key from the last kid on the farm! They always bring too many for me to watch so someone is bound to get hurt or hurt something. I now tell most people they can see the animals from the road but are not allowed to enter the property. Of course we have plenty of family and friends that love to come and we enjoy them because they know how to respect the farm and I know they aren't going to sue us if they do get hurt. What we sell we sell off farm.

kasilofhome · #30 03/17/12, 01:05 AM

Beachm Fishery, Inc. - Farming/Agriculture - Kasilof, AK | Facebook
Beachm Fishery, Inc. - Welcome to BEACH'M FISHERY, Home of "Alaska's Best Wild Salmon" Harvesting Premium, WILD ALASKAN SALMON For Over 15 Years. …

Beachm Fishery, Inc. - Farming/Agriculture - Kasilof, AK | Facebook · Cached page

These are the best neighbor in the world. They do run a tourist deal along with everything they do. It is a great way to teach and show people how wild Ak setnetting fishing is done.

Riverdale · #31 03/17/12, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wally

Maybe its just me but I dont want the city folks on my farm. The less they know about my large garden, Orchard, the animals I raise and the wildlife here the better off I will be.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^

I am a private person, and my family is private.

DebM · #32 03/22/12, 06:30 PM

Farming is a business, homesteading is a lifestyle. I had both until a job relocation for my hubby forced us to move 600 miles away. I was just at the point of starting sustainable living classes.

For me, teaching others how to make and use a solar oven, how to cook over an open fire, how to make tinctures and rain barrels and save seed, was what I wanted to do (to borrow an over-used phrase from my corporate days - empowering others.) This very well could be done somewhere other than a farm, but I wanted to show people "this is what jewel weed looks like, this is a cornishx is, this is a hair sheep, this is elctronetting - see how easy it is to move, blah, blah, blah.

I was up front with our insurance agent and already had a large liability policy for products made with stuff I raised on the farm for retail sales and he was more than helpful about advice on how to do things AS we built towards our goal (this is an important consideration if one is thinking of going this route). The grand total added to our existing house/farm policy was $168/yr. As a side note the health department was my worst enemy, greatly curtailing some of things I wanted to do, so keep them in mind too, if you plan to feed anybody.

equinecpa · #33 03/22/12, 07:21 PM

I'd like to have a agritourism business. Our new property has old historic barns and shed, an old hydro electric line from the waterfall at the creek. My dream is to restore it all, and then do school tours so kids can actually see where eggs come from, perhaps pick some vegetables etc. We have a cottage which I'd like to use as a vacation rental for people who'd like to come stay at the farm for a few days at a time, perhaps with their horse or perhaps they can take lessons. We border national forest and would like to do some geocaching...so many grand plans and so little time. Baby steps each year.

My dream would be for at least one of us to be able to make our living via this outlet.

Oddly enough I'm not really a "people" person but I do enjoy the idea of showing people the farming ways. Perhaps I'm an educator at heart?

hengal · #34 03/27/12, 08:10 AM

DebM & Equinecpa -

The teaching and sharing aspect of it all is really what my strongest desire is right now. I still work full time so generating income is not the priority. That said, maybe things will develop down the road as I have more time. It is a dream - and I completely understand when you (Equinecpa) said "so many grand plans and so little time"! I have actively started planning for this dream and taking baby steps in this direction. I've got a very large notebook with a vision statement, goals, proposed visiting groups, and areas of our property that I want to develop to suit my plans for education, entertainment, make-it-take-it crafts, etc. In my "farm" folder I have so many pictures and ideas that I have found and printed off over the last several years that quite frankly I had forgotten I had. Apparently I've had this dream in me for longer than I realized. The fun part is just beginning.

agmantoo · #35 03/27/12, 10:42 AM

There is a large Agritourism place nearby with lots of animals. They are working with the state and have met all the requirements and get the agriculture tax benefits. PETA is at their doorsteps and is insistent that the place be closed. It has been and remains a true hassle for the owners.

CesumPec · #36 03/27/12, 12:26 PM

I met my wife in college when she was running an eco-education program that brought kids from local schools to the wilder areas of the college campus. We took the kids on hikes teaching them about trees, prairies, the value of butterflies, predator/prey relationships, etc. Depending on if the kids were kindergartners or 8th graders, we adapted the program with games and activities. The wife became a science teacher, swim coach, horse camp wrangler.

She wants to continue all those activities but adapt them to our farm life and bring in school, girl/boy scout, and other groups to learn about how food is grown, horseback riding, Florida forests and wildlife, etc. So yes, in a year when we are living on the farm full time, i expect lots of visitors and everything we plan and build has to take security and safety in to account.

I too like my privacy and prepping so there will be areas visitors will never see.

kkweinb · #37 03/27/12, 02:50 PM

My husband and I are creating a "farm" on two acres with several purposes in mind. One is we would like to devote more time to growing and preservingnour own healthy food. Another is to educate those who are interested in connecting with their food. I'm thrilled when people want to bring their kids out to gather eggs and look at chickens. So many kids don't know where milk and eggs come from. We will be getting a family milk cow next month and we intend to allow people to come see that process also. We are also growing extra veggies that we will sell on-site. In fact for those who are interested they can even help harvest. We are excited about our lifestyle and are happy to share our experiences with those who are interested. I contacted our insurance agent and told him what we have been doing and what are plans are for the next few months. He said the additional liability insurance would be around $200 a year. I think that is pretty reasoanble. I've also talked with the vairies forms of government involved and it can be frustrating but so far nothing that can't be done.

DebM · #38 03/27/12, 03:14 PM

hengal - you are on the right track, I too had a "dream" folder. We were unusual for our area so our local bureau of tourism was very excited and helpful too.

RedTartan · #39 03/27/12, 05:03 PM

My husband has a someday dream. We are working on becoming a certified sheep dairy and creamery. The someday dream is to branch out and make ice cream with our sheep's milk and have a seasonal ice cream stand with picnic tables where people can eat the ice cream while they watch the sheep.

hengal · #40 03/28/12, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedTartan

My husband has a someday dream. We are working on becoming a certified sheep dairy and creamery. The someday dream is to branch out and make ice cream with our sheep's milk and have a seasonal ice cream stand with picnic tables where people can eat the ice cream while they watch the sheep.

How fun is that! That sounds like a great idea!! Just imagine what all you could do with that - I'd definitely visit a place like that!