Does anyone make any money off their property

[Duffster]

The old fellow who used to grow oats on my place told me that he couldn't make any money off his 300 acre wheat farm even though his father gave him the land and he never had to make payments on it. He makes his money from a 1 acre truck farm that he grows vegetables on and takes to the farmers market in Austin. The dozens of pieces of equipment (including a nice JD combine), assortment of tractors and the 300 acre wheat farm are more like an elaborate hobby.

Don't let him kid ya.

 

[turbo0001]

Anybody thought about keeping bees? I've been considering starting a hive or two, primarily for personal use but could sell off excess honey and wax. It seems to be a relatively low maintenance project. If anybody is interested, check out "The Backyard Beekeeper" by Kim Flottum. Good introduction to beekeeping. Having bees would also help fertilize any crops/gardens you may have.

 

[LRTX1]

Anybody thought about keeping bees? I've been considering starting a hive or two, primarily for personal use but could sell off excess honey and wax. It seems to be a relatively low maintenance project. If anybody is interested, check out "The Backyard Beekeeper" by Kim Flottum. Good introduction to beekeeping. Having bees would also help fertilize any crops/gardens you may have.

You can also rent out your hives to local farmers. Normally goes for 35-50 dollars a hive for about a month.

 

[Runner]

There are several farm/ranch-type places around here that rent out space for weddings. Nothing whatsoever to do with farming or ranching, just that they are beautiful old places that people love to be. Kind of depressing, thinking that a proud old farm or ranch winds up that way, with the long, tree-lined driveway, beautiful old homes and barns, etc., but if it keeps it from becoming a shopping mall, then it can't be all bad

Pumpkin farms are also a big thing. They charge people to go in and pick their own pumpkins out of the field. Have petting zoos and so forth for the kiddies. Again, better than the alternative of losing the place to development.

 

[Dano5509]

Same type of pumpkin operation here in NE Washington state. Its a place just north of us called "Greenbluff". We take our kids up there every fall with thousands of other families. They have pumpkin fields, tractor rides with trailers full of bench seats that take you out to pick apples, plenty of goodies for sale in the stores on site-pie by the slice, apple cider, whole pies, etc along with the hamburgers/hot dogs for everyone.

Some places have local bands that play with the huge corn mazes for the kids to run. We had a real estate listing come up with a turn-key operation in Greenbluff that included all the tractors/equipment and training from the sellers. It looked romantic but the reality of doing this is probably much different than the dream!

I will just keep loading 15% per year into my 401k and managing it carefully......:laughing:

 

[saltman]

When I bought my property in early 2005 I noticed the billboards shortly after closing I contacted the Co. and tried to negotiate a lease. After 9 months and a major legal battle I got an 8 year lease. I get a check at the end of every month that makes my land payment.

This year I had a Solar Company offer me 300.00 an acre a year, and wanted a 20 year lease for 50 acres. It was tempting but that particular land is zoned commercial and is right next to the freeway. I hate to be tied up with a 20 year lease. Plus I don't want my land covered in solar panels, I would rather farm or run some cattle on it.

The neighbor uses some of his land for Seed Onion Storage. They bring the onions up from down at sea level and store them up near me at 3,300 feet to keep them cool. Not sure of all the specifics but that sounds almost as easy as the billboard business. The onions are stored outside with just a shade cover over them. I guess rabbits and coyotes don't like onions?