Feature Rural Entrepreneurship

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By Mara Watts

Fall brings more than crisp air and colorful leaves – it’ s also a season for small acreage owners to take advantage of income opportunities. With a little creativity, planning and hard work, even a small farm can become a thriving business.

Let’ s discover how homesteaders and small acreage owners are turning their land into profitable ventures through two inspiring examples, along with practical tips and tricks to help make the most of your property this fall.

Income Ideas for Small Acreages

Fall is the perfect season to turn hard work into extra income.

Here are a few ways small acreage owners can profit from the fall harvest:

• Grow pumpkins and host a pumpkin patch

• Harvest and sell local honey if you’ re a beekeeper

• Sell extra garden produce

• Offer farm-fresh chicken or duck eggs

• Bake and sell homemade breads and treats

• Host fall-themed farm events

Successful Sellers

No matter the size, every acreage has the potential to generate income. Here, two owners share what’ s possible, and how other homesteaders and small acreage farmers can too.

Photo by M. Gutierrez Photography

At Moose Valley Ranch and Black Barn Alpacas, creativity, hard work and a love for animals and community have grown into successful opportunities.

Moose Valley Ranch

Looking to the future, Jessica Garza and her husband recognized that their family’ s eastern Washington ranch wouldn’ t thrive without a plan.

“ We needed a way for the ranch to pay for itself,” Garza explained.“ We didn’ t want to be the generation that loses the ranch.”

With both still working full-time, the couple began exploring opportunities that could support the land. The first opportunity came along when a friend asked to hold her wedding on their property – the event that launched bigger ideas ahead.

Over time, Moose Valley Ranch expanded into weddings, hosted hunts, built a geodome Airbnb and photo sessions that showcased the acreage’ s expanse and beauty. But the biggest breakthrough came with the launch of Market in the Mountains, a luxury Western marketplace that has grown from a four-hour gathering into a two-day event featuring more than 150 vendors.

“ The first year that the market receipts passed the hay receipts was an eye-opener,” Garza said.“ There is truly a never-ending revenue capacity for the market, whereas we can only cut so many bales of hay.”

The market now draws vendors and visitors from across the region, bringing an estimated $ 1.5 million landpride. com

AcreageLife. com October 2025 AcreageLife 19