We have decided to try boondocking (camping in locations for free with no or limited amenities) a bit more. Staying in RV campgrounds can be pricey and there’s a fun element to finding beautiful and practical locations that are free.
As we go west it should be easier to find boondocking sites (also called “dry camping” or “independent parking”). I’ve read about land that is free to use, available through the Bureau of Land Management (known as BLM land), and can’t wait to try it out. However, on the east coast, these opportunities are rare, so I’ve been exploring other options. Walmart and Cracker Barrel are great (we’re camped at a Cracker Barrel as I type), but I liked the idea of exploring options.
Researching the internet, I found Harvest Hosts, a service that provides members with a list of farms and organizations willing to host you for one night. I joined the group and immediately looked through the guides for places to spend the night along I84.
There were a few rules to follow. You are only allowed to spend one night and must buy something from them if possible. That sounded very reasonable. We always need fresh produce.
They also mentioned that there might be opportunities to volunteer from time to time. That would be a great chance to homeschool in a practical environment, so that the children could learn different skills.
Our first experience was amazing! We stayed at the Rose Berry Farm in Glastonbury Conn. It was a large farm, set up for Christmas trees this time of year. When we met Sandi Rose she immediately let us know that we could stay more than one night! Wow, what a surprise. We took her up on that and stayed an extra night, enjoying the walks and playground they had.
She was so hospitable and even allowed us to fill up our water tank when we left, which was a huge help!
I can’t wait to try another farm from the Harvest Host list! There are so many different places, even a few museums. I predict many fun life experiences in our future!
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