Why More Stay-at-Home Moms Are Starting Farm Stands (Is It Worth It?) | Rayla of Farmstand Club (Episode 324)
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
About Rayla
Rayla Collins is the founder of the Farmstand Club, a community created to help families return to slower, more intentional ways of living through homesteading & starting a farmstand or cottage baking business of their own.
Her passion for business & marketing have helped develop her strategy for teaching the everyday baker to take their skills to the next level. Her love of people has led her to help others find their own rhythm & joy by building meaningful lives rooted in the home, land, & connections in their own communities.
Through the Farmstand Club, she shares resources, important guidelines for startup, tips, tricks & recipes, and community support through casual conversation-style teachings.
She is most passionate about spreading this movement like wildfire. If you build it, they’ll come.
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 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.
