About Agritourism – it’s more than just a buzzword—it’s a bridge between rural life and curious visitors, a way to diversify farm income, and an opportunity to share your knowledge and land with others. For homesteaders and small-scale farmers, it can be a fulfilling and profitable next step.
What Is Agritourism?
At its core, agritourism is any activity that brings visitors to your farm or ranch for educational or recreational purposes. It can be as simple as a weekend farm tour or as elaborate as hosting weddings, farm stays, or seasonal festivals.
Popular examples include:
- U-pick fruit and vegetable operations
- Farm stays (cabins, glamping, or B&Bs)
- Hands-on workshops and craft classes
- Petting zoos and guided tours
- Seasonal events like pumpkin patches or holiday markets
Why Agritourism?
If you’ve ever looked at your farm and thought, “People would love to see this,” you’re probably right.
Here are just a few benefits of adding agritourism to your operation:
- Supplemental income during slow seasons
- Stronger community connections
- Brand building and direct marketing
- Educational opportunities for the public
- Diversification—a powerful tool for weathering market unpredictability
About Agritourism – What Should You Consider First?
Before opening your gates to guests, it’s crucial to assess your readiness. Consider the following:
1. Your Farm’s Personality
What makes your place unique? A rustic barn? Heirloom crops? Friendly goats? Identify your standout features—this will shape the kind of experiences you offer.
2. Zoning and Regulations
Check with your local zoning board and extension office. Agritourism is welcomed in many areas, but you may need permits, insurance, or special accommodations to stay legal and safe.
3. Infrastructure Needs
Bathrooms, parking areas, signage, and accessible paths can be dealbreakers. A great experience hinges on thoughtful logistics.
4. Your Time and Energy
Can you realistically add this to your workload? Agritourism requires planning, people skills, and flexibility. It’s not passive income—it’s a hands-on experience.
Start Small and Grow
Many successful agritourism ventures started with just a few visitors at a time. Whether you begin with a Saturday morning tour or a pop-up farmstand, the key is to listen to feedback and build organically.
A Look Ahead
In the rest of this series, we’ll dive deeper into specific agritourism options—from U-pick crops to farm dinners to hosting guests overnight. You’ll get practical tips, real-life considerations, and plenty of inspiration for making your farm a destination worth visiting.
MORE WAYS TO CONNECT
We also, as a homesteading family, have a variety of blogs that might interest you. A Life on the Farm focuses on the more personal side of the homesteading life. We discuss subjects like family, parenting, relationships, homeschooling, cooking, canning and so much more.
Two Oaks Farm Talk concerns the more technical side of homesteading. We discuss subjects like gardening, food prep, and farm building and construction with lots of tutorials!
Farm Raised Family is basically a hub for everything under the Two Oaks Farmstead umbrella. You can learn a great deal about all parts of the farmstead there. The Farm Raised Family blog focuses on financial matters such as budgeting, saving, and more and on current events affecting families.
You can also have a more in depth look at all that we do by visiting our Two Oaks Farmstead YouTube Channel and be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss a thing!
Farm Life and Freedom is the new podcast we are in the process of launching! It is going to be so much fun! You could also check in with our Farm Life and Freedom Youtube Channel.
Two Oaks Farmstead is the farm store… the one that holds the umbrella! Check us all out and join us, not only on our blogs and Farm Life and Freedom podcast but come join the fun on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter… wherever you get social!
