Roadside farm stands are popping up everywhere, and for good reason! In this conversation, I’m joined by Rayla to explore why this simple way of selling homemade food has gained so much traction and how it’s becoming a valuable income stream and community touchpoint for so many families. We talk through what it really looks like to start a farm stand from scratch, the time and profitability behind it, and why simplicity matters more than scale. From zoning and logistics to packaging, marketing, and creating an experience people want to return to, this episode offers a realistic look at whether a farm stand could be a good fit for your season and goals! In this episode, we cover: - Why roadside farm stands are popping up everywhere and what’s driving the renewed interest - What to consider before starting a farm stand, including zoning, cottage food laws, and location - Simple ways to start small with minimal infrastructure and upgrade over time - How distance from the road, visibility, and signage affect foot traffic - Choosing a focused product menu that’s manageable and profitable - The realistic time investment behind baking and restocking a self-serve stand - How to run a shared farm stand with multiple contributors and clear inventory tracking - Why creating an experience matters just as much as the product itself - Packaging choices that work best for self-serve farm stands - Local marketing strategies that actually drive traffic and repeat customers - Whether farm stand oversaturation is a real concern - Income potential and what determines long-term profitability - Where to find resources, recipes, and community support for getting started View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Rayla’s online course: Farmstand Made Simple: Start, Bake & Sell from Home in 30 Days (ALL INCLUSIVE WORKSHOP) Join her LIVE Zoom training every Saturday–teaching people how to start a farmstand or cottage baking business Tune into previous episodes with Flour Barn Bakery: Episode 244: Turn Your Homemaking Skills into a Business: How to Start a Microbakery with Lily and Ellen Episode 302: Building a Profitable Business from Home as a Mom: Lessons from a Micro Bakery with Lily Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Rayla Collins of Farmstand Club | Website | Instagram | TikTok Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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