5 Ways to Utilize Unused Farmland
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If you own a farm or live on a homestead, you can increase your functionality and even generate revenue by making use of spare farmland. You don’t need a whole field or acres of empty space to start maximizing its potential either. Often, small pockets of land can be put to great use. For inspiration, take a look at these five ways to make use of spare farmland.
1. Use it for Camping
If you’re located close to a tourist hotspot or you’re nestled in the wilderness, your land could be a popular destination for visitors. If so, any spare land you have can be transformed into a campsite. While you can add water pipes and electricity lines to create an established campsite, you don’t have to undertake any work, unless you want to. Plenty of people enjoy ‘wild camping’, which means they don’t require any amenities. Simply take out the right insurance and you’re good to go!
2. Install Wind Turbines
Renewable energy is in high demand, so now could be the perfect time to add wind turbines to your land. The energy industry is big business, and you might be surprised at how much revenue you could generate by producing power on any spare land you have. Of course, if you’re not looking to start a commercial venture, you could use wind turbines to create enough power to operate your farm and reduce your running costs.
3. Rent Beehives
Bees are the world’s biggest pollinator of food crops, so it’s vital we all play a role in preserving the species. You can do this by renting beehives or buying your own and placing them on any spare land you have. As well as doing your bit to support the environment, you could even increase your profits by selling the honey they produce. Whether you sell your own farm-branded honey or work with an established food producer, beehives could be a lucrative revenue stream for your farm.
Photo by Tom Swinnen from Pexels
4. Grow an Orchard
Planting an orchard allows you to harvest a wide variety of fruits, although apples are the most common. These can be sold to consumers or companies for food and drink consumption. Alternatively, you can invest in equipment and create your own luxury fruit juice brand. Many farms of all sizes have found this to be a lucrative opportunity and a great way to maximize the use of spare land.
5. Lease the Land
Renting out spare land can be a great way to increase your revenue. Many landscape companies require extra land to store materials, such as stone or woodchips, for example. Alternatively, adding an outhouse or barn to your land increases its versatility and makes it a more viable prospect for potential commercial tenants.
Put Your Land to Good Use
Owning land can be a great investment, providing you use it in the right way. By assessing the type of land you have and the potential uses for it, you can find the easiest and most lucrative ways to put it to good use.
