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Thanks ahead for any ideas
Own 15 acres within a National Forest at 2800 feet elevation. A forest setting so the typical avenues homesteaders use to support themselves are likely not available due to terrain
Resources include:
1. Swarms of bees at a certain time of year.
2. Two Campgrounds within 30 min drive
4. Smalll Reservoir & Famous River within 30 min. Crappy fishing but ok camping & swimming
5. Some Maple trees but syrup isn't feasible
6. Mountainous, population of 50-100 residents, visitors on weekends from May-Sept
Small town of under 100 with 50% permanent residents
1 hr drive to get to either significant town of 14K-16K population.
Current net income
Ebay- Profit averages $150 wk
P/T Job- 20 hrs- $200 wk
Husband- 1k month. Due to injuries, can do some physical labor but not a lot. Some construction and he buys and repairs one car each yr. Refuses disability so please don't take time to explain why he is wrong.
We are currently involved in building a very small cabin as a rental
Benefits for my DH & I are provided by my employer. No minor children. T
Most homesteaders don't support themselves off their land in my experience. They might supplement some other income, and/or do what we do....grow their food (at about break even costs, but far better quality), get their water/heat(wood)/electric(solar setup)/sewage disposal(septic) at less cost than urban folk.
If I needed the income (we're retired and don't), I'd personally look at the rental idea....in fact, had my wife not veto'ed it, I would have built a cabin here on our place. Try that and see how it works out for short term rentals.
Thanks ahead for any ideas
Own 15 acres within a National Forest at 2800 feet elevation. A forest setting so the typical avenues homesteaders use to support themselves are likely not available due to terrain
Resources include:
1. Swarms of bees at a certain time of year.
2. Two Campgrounds within 30 min drive
4. Smalll Reservoir & Famous River within 30 min. Crappy fishing but ok camping & swimming
5. Some Maple trees but syrup isn't feasible
6. Mountainous, population of 50-100 residents, visitors on weekends from May-Sept
Small town of under 100 with 50% permanent residents
1 hr drive to get to either significant town of 14K-16K population.
Current net income
Ebay- Profit averages $150 wk
P/T Job- 20 hrs- $200 wk
Husband- 1k month. Due to injuries, can do some physical labor but not a lot. Some construction and he buys and repairs one car each yr. Refuses disability so please don't take time to explain why he is wrong.
We are currently involved in building a very small cabin as a rental
Benefits for my DH & I are provided by my employer. No minor children. T
You don't say what other local workers find to do...what your competition is.
Find out what services the agency wants to offer through concession contracts? Campground maintenance? Outfitter, guide, transport shuttle, vehicle shuttling, and other support services for river visitors?
Seasonal work with the agency? Not year round, but better than nothing.
Does anyone locally have beehives? Maybe some sort of partnership with them by cultivating desirable pollen-bearing flowering plants on your property?
Does anyone raise fiber animals? Could you offer to process fiber and sell the yarn back to them?
In Northern Ontario, we once rented a cabin. It was in a 20 acre property and the owners had built that cabin to rent out. AirBnB. The lady offered to cook breakfast/lunch/dinner for a small cost.
On the days she doesnt have anyone staying, she also cooks for people in the village who are willing to pay her. All she did was setup a little gazebo, add mosquito nets, make it look pretty and add a table with 4 chairs. It was a big property. So the gazebo looked like it was in the middle of a forest; though her home/ kitchen was a short 3 min walk (just well hidden from the view). I still remember the experience and it was exceptionally good.
It was a town of 500 people. She only books one family a night; so its not rough on her. Its also a preset menu consisting of simple home meals with delicious pies (whatever is in season).
Since its a small town, everyone knew this setup. She says most days she is booked. Something to think about maybe?
Last edited by Maila; 05-09-2019 at 09:44 AM..
Reason: spelling
The "very small cabin" as a rental, is that an Air BnB type thing?
No we don't get enough visitors, I believe, to justify an AIRB&B. That's my opinion but you just never know, maybe I should try renting out our main home and living on the property somewhere else for a bit? Like a tent near the river, that would be fun anyhow. Hmmm....Very intriguing. Thanks Petunia!
In Northern Ontario, we once rented a cabin. It was in a 20 acre property and the owners had built that cabin to rent out. AirBnB. The lady offered to cook breakfast/lunch/dinner for a small cost.
On the days she doesnt have anyone staying, she also cooks for people in the village who are willing to pay her. All she did was setup a little gazebo, add mosquito nets, make it look pretty and add a table with 4 chairs. It was a big property. So the gazebo looked like it was in the middle of a forest; though her home/ kitchen was a short 3 min walk (just well hidden from the view). I still remember the experience and it was exceptionally good.
It was a town of 500 people. She only books one family a night; so its not rough on her. Its also a preset menu consisting of simple home meals with delicious pies (whatever is in season).
Since its a small town, everyone knew this setup. She says most days she is booked. Something to think about maybe?
Wow that is neat!
There is a lady just starting up doing this about 1/2 mile from the reservoir. The reviews are amazing and it is certainly her calling to do this. They haven't had visitors yet but entertain the campers nearby with a delicious dinner and entertainment from a group of hillbillies singing old songs. She dresses up like a lady from little house on the prairie and the ambulance is akin to that.
they just created 5 camp spots and 2 bedrooms in their home. I've never been so confident something is going to work out and she can use a lot of help but always wants to pay. No doubt she'd love it if she got so many she could refer them to us. We could even leave our own small cabin and rent that out. Most everything is underground and can be locked up (pantry, etc).
Thanks, this is a great idea to keep in mind if her business thrives. Not sure we want to go the AIRB&B route unless it's for less than 14 days a year due to that tax perk. Meaning you don't need to report it to IRS or pay taxes, something of that nature if it's 2wks or less.
Don't care about IRS knowing but it's less paperwork that is for sure and we prefer to stay private when possible
Last edited by AthiestAnnie; 05-09-2019 at 10:56 AM..
No we don't get enough visitors, I believe, to justify an AIRB&B. That's my opinion but you just never know, maybe I should try renting out our main home and living on the property somewhere else for a bit? Like a tent near the river, that would be fun anyhow. Hmmm....Very intriguing. Thanks Petunia!
I've been thinking about giving the short-term rental thing a try myself. It's a bit more work, but you can (theoretically) make a lot more money. Like you, I need to find a way to squeeze some income out of the property I am calling home.
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