“...a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep or story-telling or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.' Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear, and sadness.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
hos·pi·tal·i·ty
noun
· 1.the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.
I enjoy hosting guests in our home. I love preparing my guest room with care, adding thoughtful touches such as robes, flowers, candles, and chocolates. I try to imagine myself as the visitor and anticipate every need whether it be extra blankets and pillows or access to our Wi-Fi password. I suppose some might say that I have a gift. To this I would reply that hospitality is an art form that can be learned like any other.
In fact hospitality has always been a way of life in the farming community. And let's face it, making money out of farming means that you have to utilize every single asset. Providing farm stay accommodations can be a very lucrative sideline. Especially in the current climate where people are desperate to escape the city and experience a country lifestyle.
Here we can learn a lot from our British ancestors who coined the original farm stay B&B. I’ve always thought that no one does Bed and Breakfast accommodations quite like the British. To receive a warm welcome into the comfort of a family farmhouse, and delight in the experience of a full English breakfast featuring home grown bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, eggs and toast, is a little like heaven on earth.
B&B’s are a budget friendly option that allow guests to experience an area as a local. With the revolution of technology, people are now able to research and book B&B’s online anywhere in the world with the click of a button. Apps and booking platforms such as Airbnb make starting your own B&B easier than ever. We converted both the well house on our property and our old barn into Airbnb accommodations. Both of which generated over $12,000 in their first year.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/48103294guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=4d46aa75-fea4-4187-9cad-f7081b10117e
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/49001004guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=450daaf0-a2c1-4a61-a92d-fa602495b0df