What started as just side gigs here and there around town has grown . The SHOP serves to provide customers a solution for their projects that may be too small to require large contracting or landscaping companies, but are too large for the average handyman or DIYer.
With each finished project on our farm, the portfolio of offered services grows. Living this lifestyle offers plenty of advantages and the greatest may be mastering the skills required to do so efficiently.
For example: when we added chickens to our farm we researched relentlessly about appropriate care and living conditions. At first it was a whirlwind of information from websites, facebook groups and fellow backyard chicken owners. However once we jumped in feet first and built ourselves a nice little homemade enclosure for our chicks, we came to realize that we were just as equipped as any other homesteader and an unforeseen opportunity had presented itself. A friend stated ¨Wow that box you made is awesome. You should sell those in the chicken groups on facebook!¨ At that moment it clicked. All the chores over the years, all the DIY projects, all the side jobs and more could actually pay off! What if at our farm, we not only invite patrons to experience our lifestyle, but what if I can put my skills to use in helping others join in on the fun? Over the next few months, customers wanted brooders and eventually began requesting other items as well. Tortoise enclosures, small coops, rabbit hutches and more. A year later and The SHOP @ Northup Acres has established a nice local niche in providing homesteaders quality handmade solutions for their unique property needs!
Coming this fall, I plan to devote time to expanding my portfolio of farm-inspired rustic decor. What is farm-inspired rustic decor? Think all of the kitchen signs, cutting/charcuterie boards and welcome mats you see all over social media! If it fits in the country living category, then I plan to make it. With the addition of a CNC router and laser diode, every single product I make can be customized to meet each customer´s specific request. Ornaments, picture frames, address signs, refrigerator magnets and so much more. As the winter approaches, the chores dwindle and the orders slow which will offer me the time to expand my portfolio further to sell custom handmade woodworking projects upon request. Have a suggestion? Use the contact page to email or message me through social media.
In the next year I hope to expand once more and start offering machine operator services to help offset the costs of preparing land for productivity. As my own farm evolves, with it comes the addition of new tools and equipment to complete the tasks as efficiently as possible. Why not offer that expertise to those who share in the ambition to turn their homes into homesteads. Garden tilling, land clearing, driveway grading, brush chipping, drainage trenching and more. The possibilities are endless. If you have the vision, the SHOP can help make it a reality.
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