Hobby farming, also known as agritourism, is an activity that some would consider unsociable. For some it is quiet simply something they do at the side-porch or their back-yard while others have been professionally developed into a business that provides a living and income for them. For those who have no professional interest in growing, selling or Trading livestock or plants, a hobby farm can be just the thing for you.
Many people associate hobby farming with animals, but really, it can be done with just about any living creature you can find. Some are purely for personal use, such as a horse-drawn carriage. Others are commercially traded, including goats, llamas, chickens, pigs, and of course, chickens. Some are simply for pleasure, such as a small wood-lot for browsing, or a garden bench.
Most hobby farmers have an intensive planting program. It is important that they take time to care for their crops and trees carefully and planting things in the proper order. For example, a young farmer may start out by simply building a chicken coop to start out with. As he gains experience, he will eventually want to move on to bigger things like a coop and a small fence. As always, he will start with what is easiest and pay the least amount of money for these basic starting projects.
How to save money is another consideration for many new hobby farmers. One way they do this is by using coupons in their local grocery stores. If you have access to a grocery store, this is an easy way to stock up on supplies at a low price. Sometimes you can find a great deal on even the most expensive items by looking through the newspaper. This also takes some of the work out of how to save money on your hobby farm because the prices are posted right there.
The final topic is marketing. How to market your hobby farms can be a bit tricky. You have to do everything from advertising to talking to the community to putting up signs. Many people will approach you about marketing your farm because they see you as a helpful member. If you do not intend to harvest anything for a while it is best to take this route. There will still be plenty of money to be made if you are willing to do all of these things.
A final topic that may come up when thinking about how to save money on your hobby farming is where to find materials. One way you can save money is to search for used parts. The best place to find these used parts is eBay. It is easy to spot deals that are selling for less than retail cost, because many people do not want to make a profit on something they will never use. If you do end up finding something that you love, it may be worth visiting your local home improvement store in the area for a set of plans or to simply look through an online photo gallery for some inspiration.
When discussing how to save money on your hobby farming you must also consider your expenses at this point. If you are building a shed or other large structure, it will require professional plumbing and electric work. If you are using wood as the primary building material, your wood will need to be harvested in the spring, processed and ready for burning until the fall. If you are using your homesteading equipment and tools, you may need to borrow money from a friend or family member to pay for them.
Planning how to start and operate your new small-scale farm should be the first topic you address when thinking about how to save money. Building a shed or other livestock storage building is a great way to save money, but only if you do not plan on turning this hobby farming into a business. Businesses can be much bigger and require professional help. On the other hand, if you choose to make your hobby a business, it is important to build a good relationship with a local banker or lender so that the loan process goes smoothly and you get the best interest rate possible. Planning how to save money is the most important part of planning how to start and operate a small-scale farm in the springtime!
