So I'm thinking of opening a camp. Maybe.

[Quail_Antwerp]

This is what's been running in my head for the last couple hours, ever since I made a passing remark jokingly in a pm to someone.....

A camp to learn to be Self Sufficient.

Come to camp, learn skills that are important to a self sufficient lifestyle (gardening, hunting, cooking, etc.)

Camp would be 1 week long. Camp fee would be $100 per person per week, and that would include your room/board and 3 meals a day. Seasonal camps, too, so year round (camp closed the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas).

But, it would be an experience, wouldn't it? I mean, do you think it's marketable? I have to come up with something innovative, and creative, to support my family. I don't see how we can continue to survive the way we're going and make ends meet.

I can see in my head what I'd like to do, but not sure how to put it in words.

I guess basically a person (or family) would pay to spend a week here, on our hobby farm, and learn basic skills, while at the same time their working on my farm???? Does that make sense?? The things that people like Ernie and I need to know to survive, but that Ernie can no longer help with. Instead of us hiring out someone to do the work, we open our home/farm up as a Sufficient Living Camp and people pay us to come do the things that need done, so that they leave with the skills and knowledge, and yet we have income and the work needed for our farm to thrive accomplished?

Bad idea? or? (please be kind, I just can't handle anymore negativity right now!)

 

[framing fowl]

Quail, I am a firm believer that if you believe you can, then you can. I think it sounds like an idea worth exploring. Here is a link to a place in central Texas.

www.homesteadheritage-homesteading.com/index.html

You might find some ideas there. Just look at what is happening with chickens across the US. I definately think there are people who are willing to pay for such a thing.

Keep up the brainstorming and write everything down ~ideas that come to you at midnight, questions, etc.

 

[pioneergirl]

Its like a B&B but better!!! I personally think its a good idea....you get the labor, people get to learn, you meet new folks, and keep your farm....how cool is that?

 

[DrakeMaiden]

It is a cool idea.

The biggest downside I see is that you would want to have liability insurance and that might be a big cost. If you budget for it, I suspect it is do-able.

Also, if you want someone to cut your firewood for you . . . you are going to have to turn it into a challenge . . . who can cut the most wood in one day.

Can we have a special week of camp for all us SS forum folks?

 

[noobiechickenlady]

QA, you know that idea has been tossed around more than once on this forum. If it can be done, it will take perseverance & hard work, both of which you are quite familiar with.

I say go for it!

When SIL wanted to start a riding camp, she was told there was no market for it, there are already riding lessons offered, blah blah blah. She's cut down from 15 to 5 lessons or so a week (at $100 a pop!!) since she got preggers, but she made her passion her job.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

framing fowl, I followed that link and just w o w....Too much for me to take in right this second, but YEA! It's kind of what I'm thinking of, except we're not doing the whole black smithing or basket weaving thing...

I was thinking more of an experience for people who want to see what it takes on this side of things for survival. Let them experience first hand the work/effort/amount of energy put into mucking a barn, chopping wood, baking a loaf of bread, heating with wood (that you chopped yourself!), collecting your own eggs (if the birds are laying!)

Or even for kids, who want to see a chicken hatching or a newborn baby rabbit.

I'm thinking we could have a butchering class...for rabbits and chickens...and if I have pigs by the time I got it off and running, Hog butchering and lard rendering, teaching how to cut and de-bark fence posts and then planting them, how to use hand tools (doing things the hard way, no big machinery! in other words, muscle power!)...etc etc.

Drake, my husband already said we'd need to have insurance. He also thinks maybe our 7 acres wouldn't be big enough for my idea. lol

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Well, once the camp gets going . . . you could maybe buy more land!

Also, I have heard that the business should lease your land from YOU, the owners, because then supposedly someone cannot sue your business and be able to tap the $ in your land. But if you are serious, you would do better to find a good lawyer and see what they advise. Any time your land gets tied into your business, I think you need to pay close attention to the details.

Otherwise, this is a good business idea, because your costs would be pretty minimal, from what I can see.

I for one would come to your camp just for the butchering lessons . . . that is, unless I find someone closer to home first.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Can we have a special week of camp for all us SS forum folks?

Absolutely! Maybe I could practice a week out on ya'll, see how it goes....after I make ya'll sign waivers stating we're not liable for anyone who gets hurt or medical bills!

 

[hwillm1977]

I was looking for something similar... seeing as I'm a beginner and know next to nothing, I would love to have something like that near me...

I've looked at Willing Workers on Organic Farms... but a lot of the farms you can go to are really specialized, and I'd like something more broad/self-sufficiency based.

I think it's a fabulous idea

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I'd sign a waiver. I don't have a problem with that.