There has been an increased interest in farm-based camping, accelerated during the pandemic, from both farmers and campers.  For farmers and ranchers, offering camping can be a low-barrier, low-impact way to diversify income and start or expand an agritourism enterprise.  Campers can avoid overcrowded parks and connect with an area's agricultural heritage.  

Many farmers and ranchers partner with a booking platform, such as Hipcamp or Harvest Hosts to connect with customers.  I reached out to Hipcamp's Government and Community Relations Manager, Cassandra Prenn-Vasilakis, to get her perspective on trends and opportunities for farm-based camping and to learn more about partnering with a hosting platform like Hipcamp.  Read my Q & A with Cassandra below, then check-out THIS webinar from the 2023 CA Small Farm Conference  that provides an overview of how to get started with agritourism and features a presentation from Cassandra along with a panel discussion with California agritourism operators, including those that are currently offering camping. 

Q & A with Hipcamp's Cassandra Prenn-Vasilakis

Q: Tell us a little about Hipcamp and how Hipcamp works with farmers and ranchers.

A: Hipcamp is the world's leading provider of outdoor stays. We partner with tens of thousands of private landowners across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom to create new places to get outside, opening opportunities for outdoor recreation and overnight stays on properties ranging from two-acre blueberry farms to 80,000-acre cattle ranches. 

Landowners sign up with Hipcamp as “Hosts” and create an online listing that shows the area available to campers. Hipcamp Hosts can list anything from an A-frame cabin or tiny house to a tent, RV site, yurt, or glamping tent! Our community of campers will then search by location and book the stay via Hipcamp's website and mobile app. Hosts set their own pricing, availability, and rules, keep 90% of what they earn (the remaining 10% goes towards liability insurance, property protection, marketing, and 24/7 support) and are paid weekly.

More than half of the landowners who partner with Hipcamp welcome guests to working lands: farms, ranches, vineyards. Hosting campers with Hipcamp is a low-barrier and sustainable way for farmers and ranchers to diversify revenue, and the act of welcoming campers to agricultural lands provides an opportunity for education and connection with local food systems and agricultural heritage. 

Q: Why farm-based camping? What are the benefits to the farmers and to the campers?

A: Camping-based agritourism is already a critical source of revenue for landowners across the country (and the world!) and became particularly important for farmers and ranchers in 2020; with wineries unable to host visitors and farms hurt by the closure of restaurants, people with working land turned to Hipcamp to make money. 

We heard from many that hosting campers became their most reliable source of income during the pandemic, and many of the landowners we partner with still rely on this income to maintain or improve their properties and to offset the rising costs associated with land ownership and agricultural inputs. Fully 40% of Hipcamp Hosts use the income they earn from hosting to pay their mortgage or property taxes! Diversifying income through Hosting enables farmers and ranchers to avoid selloff and keep the majority of their property in agricultural production.

As a camper myself, I had never considered camping on a working farm or ranch before I discovered Hipcamp. And now it's my favorite kind of campsite! I've camped on vineyards along California's Central Coast and at ranches near Yosemite National Park and have found that when you visit working lands, you have an opportunity to gain an education, to get engaged with what a working landscape is, to connect with local food systems and our country's agricultural heritage. At Hipcamp, we really believe that people will be inspired to protect the places that they've experienced and feel a connection to. 

We're excited to be exposing people to agricultural lands and lifestyles with the goal of inspiring the next generation of land stewards. 

Q: What trends are you seeing in farm-based camping around the country and in California?

A: We are seeing more and more landowners express interest in getting started with a platform like Hipcamp and we've seen demand for camping on private land grow by 600 percent since 2019. People are looking for new and unique places to stay, camp, and get outside, and farmers and ranchers are increasingly turning to diversification opportunities like camping to keep their operations economically viable. 

We've also heard from Hipcampers that being able to buy products grown and made on the property (meat, veggies, yarn, eggs) can be the difference between a good experience and an unforgettable one.

Hipcamp has a tool that we call “extras'' that enables landowners to list items and experiences for campers to add to their bookings. Campers may choose to purchase goods while they are physically on the property, but booking and paying ahead of time can make it easier for folks. Our most popular “extras” are farm fresh eggs, and one of the best selling experiences offered in recent years was a class called “Beekeeping 101.” I think people really appreciate being able to learn about and connect with the place they're staying.

Q: What do you think accounts for this trend?

A: This trend isn't entirely surprising! Camping-based agritourism enables farmers and ranchers to diversify revenue while taking pressure off of our public lands and creating new places for people to stay, camp, and get outside. It also has a lower barrier to entry than some other agritourism activities or visitor accommodations; you don't need much infrastructure to get started, and you can always invest in and grow your offerings depending on the needs of your business at different times. 

On the camper side, we've seen demand for the outdoors really take off over the past few years and trend reports show that overcrowding is really impacting peoples' ability to experience and enjoy outdoor recreation. Camping on a farm offers a new way to get outside and enjoy an area, away from the crowds. It also offers campers an opportunity to support a farmer or rancher, buy locally grown produce, and spend their money in a way that aligns with their values. 

Q: What are the opportunities and challenges that you see for farmers and ranchers that are offering farm-based camping or interested in doing so?

A: I think camping-based agritourism is an exciting opportunity for farmers and ranchers who are looking for a low-impact way to diversify while keeping the majority of their land in agricultural production. Agritourism also helps get the word out about a farm, increasing on-site sales by bringing in more visitors who purchase goods directly from the farm and giving farmers and ranchers the opportunity to educate the public about what's happening on their land and the importance of getting to know and support your local farmer.  

While camping-based agritourism is an exciting option for farmers and ranchers, it's important to consider how hospitality fits into the responsibilities you already have on your farm and what your capacity is to take more on. It's also important to do your research and ensure you understand what regulations and permitting requirements may apply to your hosting and agritourism activities before you get started.

Q: What benefits does partnering with a platform like Hipcamp provide to farmers?  To the campers?

Hipcamp offers calendar management tools, liability insurance, and property protection. We help Hosts collect the appropriate taxes, offer 24/7 support, and share the properties listed on our platform with a global community of outdoor enthusiasts who are looking for new and unique places to stay, camp, and get outside. We also offer safety tools like weather alerts powered by the National Weather Service and have a fire ban tool that Hosts can use to share safety information with their campers.  

For campers, Hipcamp connects them with properties that they might not otherwise have known about or been able to stay at. We make it easy to find the experience you're looking for all in one place, whether you're looking to book a glampsite, pitch your tent on a working farm, find an RV site at a commercial campground, or learn more about your local state park. There's something for everyone on Hipcamp! We also make information and data available to our campers for free that can make it easier for them to decide where to go: whether you want to know if you'll have cell service, are looking to camp in a dark sky community, or want to stay just outside of your favorite National Park, that information is all available on Hipcamp. 

Q: What is your advice for farmers and ranchers hosting campers?

A:

1. Start small! You don't have to have a fancy set up to be a successful Hipcamp Host and you can always invest in and grow your offerings as you go.
2. Do your research to ensure your hosting activities are compliant with local and state laws. We recommend thinking about where your property is located and how it's zoned, as well as what you're interested in doing on your property (tent and RV sites might be regulated differently than a cabin, for example).
3. Be a good neighbor. Consider who might be impacted by your hosting people on your property before you welcome your first guest. This might be someone you share a private road with or someone who can see your property from their kitchen window.
4. Set expectations. More information is always better and campers will appreciate knowing what to expect before they arrive. Think about what they'll see and hear from their campsite, for example. Do you have a rooster that crows early in the morning? A livestock guardian dog that keeps the farm safe at night? Use your Hipcamp listing to let them know what camping on a farm is like, what products they might be able to buy on site, whether you'll be available to show them around, etc. 
5. Have fun! 

Thank you to Cassandra Prenn-Vasilakis for participating in the Q&A. This interview is informational, not an endorsement of Hipcamp.  All images courtesy of Hipcamp

 Webinar: How to get started with Agritourism (from the 2023 CA Small Farm Conference)

Hadwick Family (photo courtesy of Heather Hadwick)

In 2016, Heather and Bryon Hadwick attended the Agritourism Intensive training, a signature course of the UC ANR Agritourism Program.   Heather had been wanting to start a pumpkin patch, Bryon wasn't so sure.  When they learned that an Agritourism Intensive was coming to Redding, they saw an opportunity to learn more about what it would take to start an agritourism enterprise and hear from experienced agritourism operators.  Six years later, the Hadwick Family Farm Pumpkin Patch has become an October tradition for families from Modoc County and beyond and a launching pad for community engagement and education.

They knew it wouldn't be easy, and it hasn't been.  To start, Heather and Bryon both work full-time off-farm jobs.  They designed the business to be manageable part-time by the two of them with help from their children, who are now teenagers.  Having enough time is only one of their obstacles; they also have to contend with insurance limitations and unpredictable weather.  As with all agritourism operations, liability is a major concern.  The Hadwick's only found a few insurance companies nationwide that would cover a pumpkin patch.  In many ways, the activities that they offer at The Patch, as it is commonly called, are dictated by the insurance costs.  For example, they wanted to offer tractor rides, but they would have to charge far more than they were comfortable with to offset the increase in insurance costs. 

And then there's the weather. The pumpkin patch is open 3 to 4 weekends a year in October.  Modoc's unpredictable weather makes it nearly impossible to project the season's earnings in advance.  October has brought snow, rain, and 80-degree weather.  Last year, in 2021, they were rained out every single weekend.  While enough visitors showed up in their rain gear to keep the business from losing money, the experience made them question whether or not they wanted to keep it going.  They moved forward with opening again in 2022, welcoming more visitors on opening day than the entire 2021 season.

Navigating business decisions amongst the limitations and uncertainties of time, insurance, and weather is no doubt challenging, but clear goals and metrics to monitor progress towards reaching those goals have helped guide the Hadwicks. Community is The Patch's founding principal.  As Heather puts it, “We see the pumpkin patch as more of a community service.  As long as we are in the black, we're good and will keep it going.” 

The pumpkin patch itself is geared towards local families, with a keen eye on keeping prices accessible.  For the first time this year, pumpkin prices were raised to offset the business's rising operating costs (for one thing, the cost of their insurance doubled this year). Entry remained $5 and includes all activities. Part of these proceeds are donated back to their local FFA chapters. “Our goal is to keep it at $5. We want it to be affordable, most families spend 2 or 3 hours at the Patch.” Heather adds, “There isn't a lot you can do these days for that long for $5 a person.”  So when it comes to adding activities like tractor rides that would raise the cost too much for local families, the Hadwick's opt to keep things affordable.

In addition to keeping prices as low as possible, The Patch frequently lends their space to community groups and partners with local businesses.  Floral arrangement classes, facepainting at the farm to promote a new cosmetologist business, cancer awareness walks, and frequent collaborations with the local FFA are a few examples of how the Hadwick's use their space to support community efforts and provide agricultural education.  Hadwick Family Farm also hosts field trips for schools from Modoc, bordering counties and Oregon schools.

While community collaborations are in line with their business's mission, it also helps with getting the word out, saving them money on marketing.  “We are mostly word of mouth. We've tried different advertising venues and word of mouth and social media seem to work the best for us,” according to Heather. 

In 2021 and 2022, the UC ANR Agritourism Program partnered with UC Cooperative Extension Modoc County and local nonprofit Modoc Harvest to hold a series of workshops, funded by a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant, for area farmers and community members to explore agritourism opportunities and generate interest in expanding Modoc's agritourism offerings.  To supplement a workshop about hosting on-farm events, Hadwick Family Farm Pumpkin Patch hosted their first farm-to-table dinner as a fundraiser for Modoc Harvest.  With little agritourism, such as on-farm events, taking place in Modoc County at present, the county does not have a framework for regulating activities, other than the statewide guidelines for farm stands and farm stays. As interest in starting agritourism enterprises increases in Modoc County, UCCE Modoc County and the UC ANR Agritourism Program will work with county regulators and other stakeholders to develop guidelines that clear a path for farmers and ranchers that are interested in expanding their offerings. 

In agritourism it is often beneficial to have multiple agritourism enterprises within close proximity that can collaboratively market their businesses and attract a greater number of visitors.  Hadwick Family Farm Pumpkin Patch provides a look at an operation that has achieved success by marketing to their local residents and creating community partnerships in the absence of an agritourism network.

In regions like Modoc County that do not have a developed agritourism industry, businesses like Hadwick Family Farm Pumpkin Patch, can serve as proof of concept for the potential viability of agritourism. The Hadwick's success, challenges, and insights can help inform other potential agritourism operators in the area as well as regulators.  By taking a chance on opening the only pumpkin patch, and one of the only agritourism operations, in 100 or so miles, the Hadwick's are engaging and educating their community, and possibly leading the way for agritourism in Modoc County.

Are you considering agritourism or nature tourism on your farm or ranch?
Would you like to expand your current agritourism or nature tourism business?
                          
Agritourism Intensive 2021 classes are now open for registration by farmers, ranchers, agritourism operators and others involved in agritourism in the Central Coast (SLO) and North Coast (Mendocino) regions.

Learn more & Sign up today to save your space!

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year's classes will be mostly virtual, conducted via Zoom, with one in-person field day in each class series if allowed by health authorities. However, each class will be regionally-focused, participatory, and limited to participants from within the region.

• Local agritourism operators will share their own experiences and will be part of a supportive network of advisors as class participants plan and start new enterprises.
• Participants will learn from experts in business planning, regulatory compliance, risk management, hospitality and cost-effective marketing, including social media.
• The hands-on, interactive activities will guide participants as they assess their own farms or ranches for agritourism potential and start their own business, risk management and marketing plans.
• Each participant will receive by US mail a free copy of the extensive handbook, “Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California,” used as a text for the class.

San Luis Obispo class curriculum

SLO Registration:http://ucanr.edu/agtourslo

Mendocino class curriculum

Mendocino Registration:http://ucanr.edu/agtourmendo

Important: The SLO region Agritourism Intensive classes is open only to farmers, ranchers and others involved in agritourism in San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties.

SLO Class Format: 6 participatory 2-hour Zoom meetings, every Tuesday from January 12, 2021 to February 16, 2021, 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (a possible in-person field day Jan. 26). Shared zoom participation will be available at the SLO Farm Bureau office for those with poor internet access.
SLO Registration: http://ucanr.edu/agtourslo

Important: The Mendocino region Agritourism Intensive class is open only to farmers, ranchers and others involved in or planning agritourism in Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma Counties.

Mendocino Class Format: 4 participatory 2-hour Zoom meetings, every Wednesday morning from March 3, 2021 through March 24, 2021, and one in-person field day on the site of a Mendocino County agritourism operation (location TBD) on March 31.
Mendocino Registration: http://ucanr.edu/agtourmendo

Workshop fee: $40 (for all class sessions, including class text mailed to you and lunch at on-farm field day session)

Information & scholarship options: Penny Leff, paleff@ucanr.edu, 530-902-9763 (cell)

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28587.

      

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service recently published the recipients of Farmers' Market Promotion Program 2020 grants. The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) is excited to announce that our project proposal, Strengthening California local food networks with agritourism and direct sales, was selected for funding. UC SAREP will manage this three-year project in collaboration with a team of ANR Cooperative Extension advisors and staff working with established agricultural and agritourism associations to provide education, technical assistance, promotion and networking support for farmers and ranchers throughout California who are engaged in direct marketing and agritourism activities.

With the emergence of “shelter-in-place” directives, California's small-scale direct-marketing farms and agritourism operations faced drastic and immediate disruptions to operations causing major losses in revenue and lay-offs for staff. Particularly hard-hit were agritourism operators who had to cancel visitor- serving activities, often reducing staff or not hiring for seasonal employment. Positively, the disruptions in food supply and mobility brought the existence and importance of local farms and ranches to the attention of much of the public.

Increased awareness by the public of local farms and ranches indicates that potential for local agritourism and direct sales opportunities will increase when shelter-in-place restrictions are relaxed, offering needed options for small-scale farm and ranch diversification. Agritourism can provide farmers and ranchers with diversification options to help reduce risk, but diversifying with agritourism introduces new risks and challenges for producers that can be overcome with training, connections and resources.

The UC ANR team, working under the direction of UC SAREP Director Gail Feenstra and coordinated by UC SAREP Agritourism Coordinator Penny Leff, includes Laura Snell, County Director, UCCE Modoc County, Luis Espino, County Director, UCCE Butte County, Margaret Gullette Lloyd, Small Farms Advisor, UCCE Solano County, Karen Giovannini, UCCE Sonoma County Agruiculture Ombudsman and Laura Crothers, UC SAREP Communication Specialist. We will partner for this project with the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) and established producer based agriculture associations Modoc Harvest, Sonoma County Farm Trails, Sierra Oro Farm Trail (Butte Co.) and Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association (Solano Co.).

Training & technical assistance

In Winter 2020-21, with travel and group gathering restrictions still in place, we will enable rapid response to COVID-19 and changing marketing conditions by California's small-scale producers through a series of webinars for farmers and ranchers adopting and adapting new and modified direct marketing and agritourism activities. The series of one-hour webinars (which will be recorded andshared for future use) will be on the topics below:

#1 Online sales options and methods

#2 Getting started with CSAs and box delivery programs

#3 Operating a safe, healthy & successful farm stand

#4 Best practices for U-Pick operations

#5 Best practices for visitor interaction with animals

#6 Best practices for farm tours, workshops and farm-based education

#7 Creative marketing and staying connected with social media

#8 Community collaboration – farm trail groups, tourism connections and other options

In project year two, with the expectation that travel restrictions will be relaxed by Fall 2021, the project will build in-depth, hands-on learning and increased collaboration by farmers and ranchers through a series of four workshops/field days in each of four California regions severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The workshops will be held in Modoc, Sonoma, Solano and Butte Counties. The half-day workshops/field days, held on the farms or ranches of experienced operators of the activities being discussed, will focus on the following topics:

#1 Expanding direct-to-consumer sales through online sales/on-farm pickup, CSAs, farm direct delivery and commercial or contracted shipping

#2 Developing and marketing successful community-serving farm stands and U-Pick Operations

#3 Planning and marketing farm dinners, tours, workshops and other on-farm educational activities for the local community

#4 Community collaboration, community events and shared marketing - examples and best practices for increased connections, producer support, successful marketing and shared operations

Marketing: Connecting farms and ranches to local communities for resilient local food systems

During the project, the experienced leaders of the four partnering agricultural associations will conduct marketing campaigns promoting direct sales and agritourism activities at local farms to local communities. The campaigns will be different in each region, but will include a mix of social media marketing, print, radio and paid media advertising, signs, postcards, fliers, and creative collaborative direct sales and agritourism events or activities.

Organizing: Regional networks for ongoing support of direct sales and agritourism

The agricultural marketing association leaders will also convene and facilitate quarterly meetings of regional “Direct Sales and Agritourism Networking Groups.” Each networking group will include the partnering organizations as well as regional farmers' market associations, tourism bureaus and local farm advocates, and will regularly discuss issues, provide peer support, and work together to strengthen local food security and connect farmers and ranchers with their communities through direct sales and agritourism.

We are excited to begin this project and look forward to working with California farmers, ranchers and their communities to strengthen skills and collaboration and increase revenue to small-scale producers.

Funding for this project was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant #AM200100XXXXG177. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.