One of the best ways to save money on a farm is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Facebook has given us all an outlet to teach others how they can help their local farmers. People are amazing and when you inform them that there is a way for them to help, they often step up in a big way. Many times, offering a free service helps other locals while also helping yourself.
Drop Off Services:
Pumpkins and Gourds
We offer a free pumpkin drop off each year for anyone who needs a place to dispose of unpainted pumpkins. Locals drop off the pumpkins and we use a lot of them for our goats and chickens to munch on. The ones that cannot be used as food are placed in a compost pile to become garden material.
Christmas Trees
We have a lot of tree farms around in our area. Therefore, many fresh untreated trees need to be discarded after the holidays. While we happily accept drop-offs we do ask that none of the trees come from common retailers due to them using preservatives. Our goats love to eat pine, so it is a huge treat for them.
Egg Cartons
Allowing others to know that you accept egg cartons is also a great idea. It saves us money which allows us to pass those savings onto our customers. What do we if we get too many? That is easy! We place an ad rehoming them to others who may be in need.
Straw
Often after fall decorating season is over people need a place to take the bales of straw they purchased. Once again, we offer a free drop off – if the bales are wet they are added to the compost, if they are dry we use them for bedding.
Firewood
The storm season can leave many people in town with no place to discard of trees that have fallen. For us we heat with wood, therefore it is an essential part of our farm. Let it known that you accept wood drop-offs and/or that you will pick up unwanted logs.
Do not forget to be grateful for others who are helping you. While it is not always feasible to pay others for their generosity, there is always a way to show gratitude. Have extra eggs? Offer them a dozen! Extra garden goodies in the summer? Share a few tomatoes and cucumbers. Have wonderful homemade can goods? People love them! If nothing else let them visit with the animals. Many people would love to simply pet the goats or hold a chicken. Just because they do not have a farm does not mean that they would not adore the opportunity to hang out at yours. Beyond all the things acquired through these free services, new friendships are my favorite!
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