Thanks, Liz! There are a number of us on Substack working through similar issues and comforting to know I am not alone. I feel like it's important to share these struggles to educate the public about the realities of how their food comes to them, even if it's a hard topic to share.
I don't know what the answer is--baking is not going to make me rich, but allows me to continue pursuing my calling and that's a richness that can't be bought.
Good job coming up with alternative revenue streams! That's the way to do it. Sounds like a great location to be selling to the ski crowd...the soup and bread idea is genius. Hot cocoa and muffins for them too I bet...
It was worth the wait to read your reworked plan. The mention of Sugarloaf jogged my memory of other snow activities that could be a source of income. If you have space in your barn or other outbuildings, temp garage, consider putting an ad in Craigslist down south for winter storage for snow machines. I used to curse those winter lawnmowers revving outside my window on my weekend days off, working a contract job in Northern Vermont. They were a mainstay of the small town economy, with all the revenue coming Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I might be worth it to a Mass or coastal commuter to pay for local storage ( your barn). It saves on time, hassle in urban traffic with the hauler and gas. If the idea works, and you get more requests than space, discount in yard, open air option, with a little extra to the guy who plows your driveway. You could set up a snowmobile rental parking site simple website, allowing customers to book and pay dates in advance, like renting campsites. Got an extension cord two? Charge extra for power to some sites to keep the battery fresh with a battery tender. Got a couple of 5 gallon red jugs for gas? Keep one or two filled with Stabil as an emergency tank for you and customers that didn't refill the snow machine tank last trip. Sizes of parking sites could vary in price according to size. Double hauler space vs single machine space.
Unfortunately, my barn is rather small and I've designated the space for wood-working projects. Also, as a conservation farm, I try to limit the use of ATVs and snowmobiles on the property in order to protect habitat and wildlife. That's just not a direction I'm keen to go in, but I appreciate the thought.
Oh Sam!!! 🙏
I feel every word of this and of the two weeks you’ve worked through different scenarios and played things out in your mind.
It takes such courage to stay true to a calling. Especially when it seems the rest of the world would rather jump on a cruise.
I’m sooooo with you! And wrestling through some of the same questions you’ve been.
Praying for you, internet friend. 🙏
Thanks, Liz! There are a number of us on Substack working through similar issues and comforting to know I am not alone. I feel like it's important to share these struggles to educate the public about the realities of how their food comes to them, even if it's a hard topic to share.
I don't know what the answer is--baking is not going to make me rich, but allows me to continue pursuing my calling and that's a richness that can't be bought.
Thanks for being on this journey with me.
This is a wonderful plan. Will be cheering you on every step of the way.
I appreciate this!!
Good job coming up with alternative revenue streams! That's the way to do it. Sounds like a great location to be selling to the ski crowd...the soup and bread idea is genius. Hot cocoa and muffins for them too I bet...
Thanks, Suzan! I'm looking forward to playing around with some new flavors and seeing what kinds of real foods I can coax people into eating. :)
It was worth the wait to read your reworked plan. The mention of Sugarloaf jogged my memory of other snow activities that could be a source of income. If you have space in your barn or other outbuildings, temp garage, consider putting an ad in Craigslist down south for winter storage for snow machines. I used to curse those winter lawnmowers revving outside my window on my weekend days off, working a contract job in Northern Vermont. They were a mainstay of the small town economy, with all the revenue coming Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I might be worth it to a Mass or coastal commuter to pay for local storage ( your barn). It saves on time, hassle in urban traffic with the hauler and gas. If the idea works, and you get more requests than space, discount in yard, open air option, with a little extra to the guy who plows your driveway. You could set up a snowmobile rental parking site simple website, allowing customers to book and pay dates in advance, like renting campsites. Got an extension cord two? Charge extra for power to some sites to keep the battery fresh with a battery tender. Got a couple of 5 gallon red jugs for gas? Keep one or two filled with Stabil as an emergency tank for you and customers that didn't refill the snow machine tank last trip. Sizes of parking sites could vary in price according to size. Double hauler space vs single machine space.
Thanks for thinking of me!
Unfortunately, my barn is rather small and I've designated the space for wood-working projects. Also, as a conservation farm, I try to limit the use of ATVs and snowmobiles on the property in order to protect habitat and wildlife. That's just not a direction I'm keen to go in, but I appreciate the thought.
Loved this post! Hang in there <3
Thank you! I sure will!