"Different" ideas

[7610 super q]

When did they start?

About 1987/ 88, I think.

 

[Chasingmytail]

The trouble with diversification is it comes at a high cost (mind you good grants through the local RDP).

I have done a lot here and what makes money is 'cooking' the produce. Turn your home raised produce into hot food at shows etc. There isnt an answer as a lot of it makes no to little money and its frigging hardwork.

 

[Chasingmytail]

Not far from the botanic Gardens at all. We are halfway between Carmarthen and Llandeilo. A folly farm type of place on a much smaller scale has crossed my mind.

Thought of opening a caravan park, possibly with a shepherds hut or two and doing “lambing holidays” too.

forget the folly farm thing that is a big business that carries enormous costs its no longer animals its everything that comes with it. If your not experienced in marketing and sales and excellent people skills. There are a few animal parks around here and to be honest they are just petting zoos and just horrible.

Storage is good. Shepherd huts etc good if you can offer amazing views, smart location ie USPs.

We make our money from construction. It brings in excellent funds. Also have solar farm. If we didnt have the plant I would be struggling to make any money here as cant think of anything that brings in the margins which make it worth while. Whatever you think about - work out when you will get the return, overheads and margins. Like I said cooking is the only thing I see makes money. I have a friend who takes 30k at festivals it takes a lot of work in people skills and organisation.

 

[Chasingmytail]

Well I'll be there when you do something!

There isn't much do in that area, I'd be tempted to start with soft play and go from there. The locals don't like spending much so it has to be good value

Yikes, seen so many soft plays pack up in the city, because there is little trade in the week also your overheads are not going to be covered by the measly income. Successful softplay take a lot of staff, then hot food, parties, vomit, endless cleaning and hygiene, H&S, marketing, Insurance (going to be huge) and a love of kids 7 days a week.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

In that part of the world it's very limited with little disposable income locally and not much commerce.

In my part of the world by comparison, a wind and water tight shed with a solid floor and door is worth £4 Psf!

Diversification is largely geographical I am afraid, same for renewables

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Supper club.
Food from different decades, regional food, seasonal food & fresh food. You do have to be able to cook mind! The price ranges from £15 to £55 per head. Helps to have an interesting venue but if you have an old shed that can be brought back to life with some imagination you're on to a winner. Plus being a farmer you can supply some of the raw materials & others from your neighbours.
SS

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Supper club.
Food from different decades, regional food, seasonal food & fresh food. You do have to be able to cook mind! The price ranges from £15 to £55 per head. Helps to have an interesting venue but if you have an old shed that can be brought back to life with some imagination you're on to a winner. Plus being a farmer you can supply some of the raw materials & others from your neighbours.
SS

Without wishing to offend the locals of Carmarthen I don't this they would go for this. They were one of the first to get a 3D cinema which I think they can relate to better.

It's really hard to diversify in areas where this is little disposable income.

I'd sway more towards go kart adventure days which covers all ages better

 

[KBGolfPro]

Once visited a farm that had developed a small golf driving range. Simple really, longish field next to road all be it in the middle of nowhere. Dozen AstroTurf squares under a shelter to smash balls from and a few distance markers down the length. Little ball dispenser machine at x£ per x balls. Big sign saying open from dawn till dusk 365 days a year. Made a small fortune and grazed field by night with his sheep. Picked up balls every now and then with a caged mini tractor and a special attachment.

People seemed to come from miles away just for the peace and quiet. Simple idea with minimal hassle and no mega investment needed! - Your welcome!!

Hi gents,

I'm new to this forum (and not a farmer), however I stumbled across this thread through google.
I'm a golf professional, and I know of a few driving ranges that have been developed on farmers land.
A location near a busy road is always good, and around a 12 mile radius of a few golf clubs is extremely worth while.
I'm from the Lancashire area, and myself and business partner are always looking for opportunities to get involved with driving ranges, the farmer would usually lease to an operator or keep the business as his own and gets a professional in.
That's essential as they'll really help drive the business forward so they can earn a living.
I certainly wouldn't shy away from a driving range if I was a farmer as there is money in it, also there really isn't as many around as you think.

Just a perspective from the other side.
Good luck guys

If anyone around the Lancashire/Cumbria or Manchester is looking at setting something like that up, give me a shout.
Can always pick my brains.

Dean

 

[beef 1]

Good Dog kennels, luxury if possible ,with run out facilities ,and also dog grooming is the new earner , ive watched 3 different ones pop up recently and cant believe the trade they have .Half an acre with extra run area or walking country , an office for washing and grooming and a pocket for the cash.
Day rates while owners at work included

 

[multi power]

Caravan park and holiday cottages

 

[Blod]

Good Dog kennels, luxury if possible ,with run out facilities ,and also dog grooming is the new earner , ive watched 3 different ones pop up recently and cant believe the trade they have .Half an acre with extra run area or walking country , an office for washing and grooming and a pocket for the cash.
Day rates while owners at work included

How about pets in general? Snakes, tortoises, rabbits. It would be a bit quieter!

Or stud rams and bucks (goat?) for all those hobby farmers out there? A bit seasonal though you might take them in for holidays too.

 

[Danllan]

How about pets in general? Snakes, tortoises, rabbits. It would be a bit quieter!

Or stud rams and bucks (goat?) for all those hobby farmers out there? A bit seasonal though you might take them in for holidays too.

No dogs! There is a fellow up the valley from us that farms puppies, he is pleasant enough, but when the wind is in the wrong direction - fortunately rarely - the barking is bl*ody annoying.

 

[asparagusbrain]

A nursing / care / retirement home?

 

[Danllan]

A nursing / care / retirement home?

You have a really evil side, don't you?

 

[SilliamWhale]

Everyone starts somewhere, it's a great set up I feel, done very well and reasonably priced. We go every year.

Their hot chocolate machines are bloody awful though!

What i like about folly farm is the place is immaculate, the animals look well cared for (the straw always looks nice) and the food is not a rip off

 

[Danllan]

What i like about folly farm is the place is immaculate, the animals look well cared for (the straw always looks nice) and the food is not a rip off

One of my boys was on the annual Cylch Meithrin trip when, during lunch, a seagull swooped down and took his hotdog sausage, he ran around yelling blue murder at the gull, didn't get the sausage back though... .

 

[asparagusbrain]

1. You have a really evil side, don't you?

Two, actually. One a bit less evil, one a bit more evil.
Note I didn't say - a retirement home for elderly cranky farmers, with the author also receiving a free unlimited benefit of crowd-sourced advice, wisdom and expertise. I actually wrote it on the train home after meeting one of the forum members, properly impressed by his description over lunch of how difficult and painful succession issues can become on family farms.

 

[multi power]

What i like about folly farm is the place is immaculate, the animals look well cared for (the straw always looks nice) and the food is not a rip off

The food is the bit that lets it down I always thought

 

[Danllan]

Two, actually. One a bit less evil, one a bit more evil.
Note I didn't say - a retirement home for elderly cranky farmers, with the author also receiving a free unlimited benefit of crowd-sourced advice, wisdom and expertise. I actually wrote it on the train home after meeting one of the forum members, properly impressed by his description over lunch of how difficult and painful succession issues can become on family farms.

You've met one of us, and you've still come back online, that's reassuring. Let me know if you ever intend to visit sunny West Wales, you'll like us over here, well some of us, well one of us, maybe... .

 

[Greenbeast]

How about pets in general? Snakes, tortoises, rabbits. It would be a bit quieter!

Or stud rams and bucks (goat?) for all those hobby farmers out there? A bit seasonal though you might take them in for holidays too.

rabbits do well apparently, know a couple in the village that did well out of it, always think of it here when they mention it