I wasn't on yesterday so here are my two cents! I think it is a great idea to do a weekend workshop type experience. They did an article in mother earth news recently about a goat farm that does this and they are in Maine and are very successful at it.
I think you have to do a menu plan and figure out your food costs for the weekend and factor that into the price or you will quickly go in the hole.
You also need to think about lodging. Where are you going to put everybody? Do they need to bring camping equipment, etc?
I think you also should think of doing a day camp for children's groups. It would be great for daycare groups or homeschool groups to do a field trip. You could taylor it to their needs. Show them incubation or animal husbandry or how to plant a garden/harvest/preserve your own food.
There are a lot of good possibilities with it. Chad and I are thinking of doing something similar here. We have one farm here that does mobile petting zoos during the spring and fall when the weather is milder and it is less stressful for the animals. They get a lot of business too.
I think the idea is great. This sure feels like the right time for something like this, doesn't? I hear and see more and more interest in the SS lifestyle. If anyone can do it you can!
Yup, $100 is wayyyyyy too cheap. I attended a 3 day workshop on learning to harness and drive draft horses. To the tune of $750, which included lunch. It was worth it to me.
Carrie
Just my thoughts. I'm a college student, so no family or property calling for me right now. I actually think you could find a decent subset of one-weekers, esepecially among college students (at agg schools!) like myself, who are setting up plans. You could also cater to students. (Do your children not appreciate what you give them? Show them what it could be like! LOL).
I also agree on $100 being too cheap. For a week, $600-1000 wouldn't be unreasonable, depending on what you're covering and if "campers" keep anything, like homemade cheeses, etc. Once you get through the legal stuff and on to advertising, I'd recommend craigslist in college towns. I know there are a LOT of people like me. Waiting and prepping
I wish you the best of luck! And if there are two skills I want to learn in SS right now; butchering and making a good farmhouse cheddar!
Oh! Also: just wanted to say that a makeshift bunk bed in a stall with a sleeping bag is better quarters than some camps I've seen. Add a space heater or something and you're looking at LUXURY!