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Blaine
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# Posted: 22 Jan 2013 03:14pm
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I was just wondering if anyone has ever "invited" paying guests up to their off-grid getaway and basically spent a few days or weekend showing them everything from construction, solar and wind power options, the basic necessities of life such as water and heat, and showing them how it is all possible.
I have read almost every post here, as I am one of those dreamers with a keen interest on just doing it, it being going off grid and buying a piece of land and just doing it. Everyone has a budget to adhere to, and reading is one thing, but seeing it in action and how others get by so well and so comfortably on no electricity etc is priceless.
Has anyone ever invited or charged on-grid dreamers to their property and held informative classes for them? I would love to do this. I live right downtown Toronto, full of wealth and frustration. The only way of sleeping at night is to go to my happy spot which is an off-grid far from civilization cabin in the woods. I am no expert at all, far from it, never done it. But from reading the posts here, there are so many qualified experts.
I personally would require some extra income to keep this dream alive and thought that bringing these land-lubbers so to speak to my place might be a good way to garner some extra income. Any thoughts?
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groingo
Member
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# Posted: 22 Jan 2013 04:34pm
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This may just the thing to inspire you:
http://video.idahoptv.org/video/2318285868
I have been considering the same thing only as weekend retreats rather than full time rentals.
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Martian
Member
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# Posted: 22 Jan 2013 06:49pm - Edited by: Martian
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Become an expert.
I think there is a market for minimalist type living experiences. If you located within 100 miles of a large, wealthy population area, then you could probably pull 20 guest a weekend. If you provide comfortable, off-grid cabins, hold show and tell type lectures, and let people enjoy a weekend off-grid in nature, it could be very profitable. I'd stay away from trying to teach too many skills. Let them split their own firewood or some other simple task so they feel part of the experience, but sell them your knowledge about the systems they are using in their cabins to make life off the grid comfortable.
My advise is to start reading about those systems; become an expert. Your market is going to be college educated, probably, middle managers. They want to know what to buy, and why. You have done all the reading and can answer those questions. They would rather you do the research; they're too busy!
I know this works. I did the same thing with sailboat systems and repairs; I became an expert. It paid for 25 years of living on, and around, boats. There's no reason you can't become an expert on something that interest you.
Have fun.
Tom
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OwenChristensen
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2013 07:00am - Edited by: OwenChristensen
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A dude ranch? You might have a point. I however have always kept my hobbies separate from my work, and never made work out of my hobby. I have always had an off grid place. I also have had Lake Superior fishing boats. I won several derbies. My friends would ask my why I didn't go into charter fishing? I knew most of the guys in that. All had the same start from sport fishing. They for the most part, ended up hating it all. They made their fun into work and ruined it.
Owen
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TheWildMan
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2013 08:08am
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no, and most of my money making scemes failed so far, selling firewood was the biggest, tried to sell it cheaper than anyone else in the area (undercutting prices) cut split and stacked it, ready to go 90 face cords, no one bought any, the only person who showed any interest wanted to buy 1 cord and wanted it delivered 150 miles away.
at least i now have enough wood to last 30 years
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rayyy
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2013 08:20am
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Owen's right.If you turn what you love doing into your job then it becomes drudgery and you loose all the pleasure that you once experienced.Iv'e built many things for people,paintings too.Because I wanted to do it for that person.Not for money, for pleasure.
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TheCabinCalls
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2013 09:02am
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If you can balance this it might be okay. Let me try to put it into words. If you can manage to keep your lifestyle and passion the same and it isn't to make a buck, but rather to further the lifestyle then I think it can be a win win. If you like fishing, but know little about running a business (getting people, paying bills, ins, etc) then you run the risk of taking what you love and soon hating it.
It is like a musician that loves to make music then all of the sudden is traveling, working like a dog to make money. They get burnt out, they hate it. But some musicians fly slightly under the radar. They do it for the love. They don't sell out to big business and they are able to keep their lifestyle. They make the music they want and enough money to get by...
...it is more than balance...it is knowing the moment you take it too far.
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Martian
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2013 09:26am
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I guess it depends upon one's mindset; I always found teaching and sharing experiences fun. As an instructor in advanced living aboard/ocean passage making for the American Sailing Association, I found it fun to take a small group out for a week of sailing down to the Keys, anchoring out for a day or two in different locations, and then sailing back home. Every trip was a little different, and some of them provided real learning experiences for all of us.
I must admit, however, that I don't like to have strangers invade "my space" here in the middle of nowhere. It is my home, and as such, my sanctuary. Only friends are allowed to share it.
Tom
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yankeesouth
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:05pm
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Okay...I'll bite....I had passing fantasies about renting the place out for 2-3 weekends. I never thought about conducting, for lack of a better word formal workshops, about cabin or back county living. My vision however was to have a niche market of family bonding type thnigy-ma-bobber event. Father-son, mother-daughter, dads-daughters, etc.... I was going to piggyback that with offering some guided fly-fishing, trail hiking, etc. containing some type of low key educational/fyi format. Figured it could pay the property taxes.
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Martian
Member
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# Posted: 23 Jan 2013 05:45pm - Edited by: Martian
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The biggest drawback in doing a business with your property is insurance coverage. When you start charging people for coming onto your land, you open a whole new can of liability worms. Business insurance can make a part-time operation unprofitable.
But, look into it. It cost nothing to explore possibilities. For instance, in Kansas, dude ranches get a "pass" on liability. The State's position is that ranch work is inherently dangerous, and if you come to experience ranch living, you assume the responsibility.
Tom
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