The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Solexious on February 09, 2025, 10:25:22 pm
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I love our new home and small holding, one of the few and small drawbacks is that its entrance is right on the A5 with cars whizzing past.
This has been ok for access to us, and can even get some big lorries in, but unlike a smallholding on a country lane, or at the end of a village, we don't have somewhere cars could pull in to buy stuff from an honesty stand. (or even see it when driving past at 70mph) There is a footpath that runs outside our gate, but looking at our security cams, I think a max of 4/6 people walk past a day at best. There is a turning off from the main road near us, but then its still 150m from us.
So does anyone have suggestions of how we could sell stuff we produce, ideally in a passive/low effort way? (that isn't an honesty shop at the end of our drive) Thinking eggs from our impending chickens, seasonal veg, jarred goods and my wife's baking. The local farm shop has said they might buy some veg off us, but they have a good supply of eggs and they make their own jar'd stuff, so that's not a great option.
Cheers
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Something to bear in mind, and you might already be aware, is that planning permission is very likely going to be required to a layby, or major alterations to your entrance
It's a tough one, getting folk to stop on a major road
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Yea, thats why I don't think the honesty box stall isn't viable for us and trying to think of alternatives. Even if we got permission, with the cost of works like that, we would have to sell a lot to make back the cost! (we do have a drive with a turning circle we could have them come into, but I'm not really comfortable with using that)
There is actually a layby on the B road near to us, about 400m away. Though pretty sure the council wouldn't let us pop an honesty shop there...
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Not sure if you need a food certificate for bottled stuff and baking?
Is there a farmers market anywhere nearby? Maybe join in with a neighbour who has stuff to sell?
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See if you can get a table at a local shop or cafe?
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Pick a day of the week (or an evening as they get lighter), advertise your 'pop up stall' in local shop or newsagents and put your stall next to the footpath?