JAN 21, 2014: Offering bed and breakfast or other accommodation for visitors can be a good source of income on your smallholding, says James Strawbridge
Offering bed and breakfast or other accommodation for visitors can be a good source of income on your smallholding, says James Strawbridge Trends come and go. In fact, smallholders are often some of the first people to re-ignite traditional hobbies that then become super-popular and fashionable for a time in cities: micro-brewing, charcuterie or foraging, to name a few. It’s currently trendy to stay in an unusual B&B or go glamping somewhere that offers a bespoke holiday experience. This isn’t new as travellers have always loved visiting the countryside for some peace of mind and recuperation. But what works right now is that all the little features and quirks that you see every day on your smallholding have become fashionable! It’s cool to be offered a pair of muddy wellies to borrow, and visitors often tweet about getting fresh eggs and homemade bread for breakfast. All of the rustic things that so many of us take for granted are now displayed on guests’ facebook walls, shown to friends on their mobile phone cameras or talked about later at work in the city. My advice is blatant – get involved and offer people a decent place to rest their head, get a good night’s sleep and take their money to preserve the smallholding way of life… If you want some extra income this year, what better way than to open your home and share your smallholding lifestyle with paying guests. Not only does it help pay the mortgage but it offers curious visitors an insight into ‘the good life’. This month I’m going to use a couple of case studies that are close to home as examples of how to best approach such a new project. READ JAMES FULL FEATURE IN OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE, ON SALE NOW! www.subscriptionsave.co.ukPHOTO: James made an nice little income from his gypsy caravan
