[Caroline1]

I am thinking through various ideas to generate some money (so I can cut my office hours and spend more time with the animals) and wondered about having open days for the public to come and see a smallholding and get to interact with the animals.

We only have 3.5 acres, but have been trying to find out about whether we should get insurance like Public Liability if we go ahead. Does anyone else do this and do you have insurance or am I being over-cautious? 

[Womble]

Yes, you absolutely should.

It shouldn't be too expensive though - best to approach a broker for a quote?

[devonlady]

And get in touch with local authorities! you will probably need to supply lavs, I dare say portaloos would do, hand washing arrangements etc.
Good luck, I hope it works well

[harmony]

Definite yes and yes, as Devonlady says need hand wipes/ or wash. If you are with the NFU they might add it on. You can't be over cautious with the public.

[Caroline1]

Thanks for echoing my thoughts. Handwashing and toilets were also on my list. My house is attached to the smallholding but I don't really want people I don't know using it so was thinking portaloos. You can hire them with a hot hand wash facility no idea how much and with some of these things the return on investment makes it pointless doing..... but I am fed up spending 3 hours a day commuting to the office so worth considering. 

[devonlady]

What you save on commuting may well pay for the portaloo!

[Womble]

Just thinking aloud, rather than opening properly 'to the public', perhaps you could offer a venue for school visits etc?  I've also heard of farms that are run so that disabled children can have contact with farm animals.....

[Caroline1]

Thanks, I have wondered about that as well! Not a huge fan of children but do believe strongly in the need to educate people about where food comes from and in small batches think I should be able to cope 

[BrimwoodFarm]

but I am fed up spending 3 hours a day commuting to the office so worth considering. 

Three hours?! I feel for you so much....1.3 - 2hrs just about kills me. No words of wisdom to add, but good luck and I'll watch with interest. 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Yes you will need that. We are thinking of doing the same in the long run, hopefully

[Anke]

but I am fed up spending 3 hours a day commuting to the office so worth considering. 

Three hours?! I feel for you so much....1.3 - 2hrs just about kills me. No words of wisdom to add, but good luck and I'll watch with interest. 

I used to commute for 4 hours each day.... and then had to sort out two children under three.... absolutely no regrets to giving up the career thingy, but haven't found a way to make the smallholding pay me a decent salary...

[Caroline1]

I don't think I can give up work completely but if I can reduce my hours and spend more time with the animals then I will be happy. 

[devonlady]

And, as I've  said to others, don't confuse standard of living with quality of life!!

[HappyHippy]

What about composting toilets?
You could build small 'out houses' round them (even using recycled pallets for an authentic eco friendly feel) and it shouldn't be too difficult to take a branch off your hot and cold water from the house to give a hand washing 'bar' (long narrow galvanized trough with some slabs under foot and it could drain away into a bucket for emptying).
That's what I'd do 

[bazzais]

It totally depends on if you are going to charge.

If your thinking of just having ya beasts next to a path and show them off and relax to passers by - then you wont need public liability.  But if you want to 'show' and make a 'business' you will need all the things that come with owning a business. ie public liability (prob only 100 a year for 2 million of cover)

You will also have to consider 'doing up' stuff.  If you have made a path then you have to consider a claim can be made if its wrong, if you leave it as the natural terrain then its user responsibility.

For the price - i would get 2 million public liability - cost less than insuring an iphone.