Hi all. We are interested in getting guidance and feedback from individuals that have implemented arrangements for "help" (terminology intentionally vague), and also looking for interested folks to convince me why we would allow someone to live on our property, either short term or longer. I have a full time job that takes care of bills and insurance, and my wife works occasionally which brings additional income. We have had our place about 2 years now and are outlining some of our potential income opportunities on the farm. While I truly enjoy farm chores and taking care of the homestead until dark or later most evenings, we may need an additional set of hands or two if we are to get ahead and generate income, either passively or actively. We have plenty of
land,
water, sunshine, barns, fenced pasture, easy accessibility to a major
city (Asheville), and just about anything else a homesteader could dream of.
What I'm looking for I guess is reassurance that if we were to enlist help from one or more humans, that we are focusing on what will start generating income for us. And if you are searching for an arrangement in Western NC, let us know what skills you possess that can help us generate income and achieve some of our goals. We are friendly folks, but we're not looking for someone to live in our house, and not really looking for more mouths to
feed, or juveniles that need babysitting.
Some possible opportunities include:
- Renovating Airstream trailer that is on the property. This could be used to generate passive income for rentals, and also be used as guest quarters. If someone wanted to live in it while renovating, or in a tent,camper,etc. near it, we would consider an arrangement that was beneficial to both parties.
- Renovating (or demolishing completely) a singlewide trailer on the property. Also looking for rental income and/or guest quarters. Same sort of arrangement as the Airstream.
- Food crops. We have plenty of water, sunshine, and animal manure to continue building on the gardens that I have started and are already producing food. Market
gardening or specialty food crops are possible options for income here.
- Christmas
trees. Again, plenty of sunshine and water but would need extra sets of hands to get it up and running.
- Hemp. Depending on how some of the current legislative issues pan out federally and also within North Carolina, we have what
should be good land for up to a few acres of hemp.
- Animals. We have some ducks, goats,
chickens, donkeys, etc. and have plenty of fenced area and living quarters to expand any of these flocks but would need help if we were to try to do anything of scale for meat, egg, fiber purposes. This farm used to have several dozen sheep and a dozen or two pigs each season under the previous owner.
Comments and inquiries are welcome!
Frank
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