Here in Vermont, trees are starting to come out of their winter hibernation as their sap starts to flow from the roots on warmer spring days. The trees stored the sap during the shortened days of autumn. In the early spring, the sap occasionally travels from the roots to the leaf buds awaiting to unfurl. […]

The first rule of marketing is that the customer is always right. It’s a wise rule because customers who have good experiences are much more likely to return to your business. And in the age of the internet, people who have a bad experience are likely to share it. Sometimes it’s a Facebook rant, other […]

Many farm-related businesses are seasonal. Our farm stand is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through the end of November each year. It can be quite tricky to have enough inventory to have a nice selection of items for customers without being stuck with more than we need over the winter months. In […]

Just when you think you have your marketing strategy figured out, think again.  The same methods will not work for everyone and doing so can leave your sales stagnant.  When it comes to making money, you need to stand out and give people what they want….even if they don’t know it yet. Let’s face it, […]

Agritoursim is a big word that sounds intimidating. It’s simply the idea of making your farm a destination, somewhere with something interesting to do or see beyond buying your products. Still, farm open houses, hayrides and the like can be overwhelming. Customers have suggested opening up a spare bedroom in our farmhouse as a bed […]

Have you ever considered selling your goods at a local Farmer’s Market? If so, there are many things to think about before you plant a garden with every vegetable known to man. THE FIRST STEPS You need to become acquainted with all the laws, rules and regulations surrounding Farmer’s Markets in your state. They can […]

This past weekend saw a big change in how we do business. For many years, our farm stand has been a cash-only business. We would also accept personal checks, but did not take credit or debit cards. However, sales were lost because of this. Local folks know to bring cash, as many small businesses in […]

We all like to think that we are too smart to be influenced by marketing. So it’s easy to think that when you set up your first farmer’s market table or open your homestead farm stand all you have to do is offer quality products and courteous service, and sales will happen. However, there is […]

We have a roadside farm stand here on our 50-acre family farm, and each year our season runs from Memorial Day weekend through the last Saturday of November. We choose to have hours just two days per week- Saturdays from 10-4 and Tuesdays from 12-6. This allows me to run the stand without hired help […]

Hello! My name is Emily Stevenson, and I’m excited to be a contributor here on Homestead Hustle! I hope to be a source of both information and inspiration to you, whether you’re a novice with a homestead dream or someone already living off the land. I thought the best way to introduce myself might be […]