Why do I want to set up my home as a farmstay?,well additional income,but mainly because in November 2003 I lost my soulmate of 42 years to a road accident and I was left with a 21 acre farmlet in the North Waikato countryside of New Zealand.I had to make a decision to either sell and move nearer to town or stay and set up a business that would keep me busy and help me through my grief.

I decided to stay and try my hand at being a farmstay host.I did the normal things,checked with my accountant about tax regs etc,looked at the average pricing and accommodation requirements and then evaluated the improvements needed on my home to make it suitable.

My first appraisal was,well this will take me about a year of carrying out the upgrading myself.Of course I had not reckoned with delays brought on by my not being able to work at best speed and effectiency due to my grieving,which at times brought with it lack of motivation.There was more work needed than my first appraisal identified and this added to the time needed.I had to pull out doors and replace with larger ones ,re-paint the total inside and exterior,re-place sink units,re-place internal wall boards,fit new shower the list just goes on and on.

Well here it is 2 years later and I am now at that scary place where I have to advertise for customers and hopefully receive my first bookings