10 Things to Know Before RV Camping on a Farm
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I never expected to find myself hauling ass towards our Airstream Basecamp with an angry emu in fast pursuit, but this will probably go down as one of our funniest memories of our time RV camping.
A close second? Chasing cats out of our camper, chasing turkeys off our solar panels, and trying to keep my idiot dog from chasing an enormous bird that outweighed his fearless, fluffy butt by at least 10 pounds. Australian shepherds are lovingly called "aussholes" for a reason, y'all.
RV camping on farms is one of the things I most look forward to when it comes to our Airstream Adventures, but I think it's important to touch base about what to expect before you go. As always, those precious, glowing Instagram photos only show a slice of reality, so let's set you up for success going into your first farm stay!
There will be poop.
I’d hope this one goes without explaining, but for those who need a little clarification (or have never done goat yoga before), there tend to be a lot of animals on farms. While larger livestock may be contained in pastures, smaller animals may roam free. This obviously varies by farm, but usually, there are some chickens and cats roaming free at the least (and at most, I’ve had emus, llamas, goats, sheep, and pigs, too). Where there are happy, free-wheeling animals, there’s likely to be poop. Leave the heels at home on this one, y’all, and throw those boots and sneakers in your bag.
You may get charged… by an emu or ram.
The first time we got charged by an emu, it was more than a little off-putting. First of all, I don’t know when was the last time you saw an emu run, but those suckers are FAST. Like, velociraptor in Jurassic Park sort of fast. Second of all, they can actually kick the dickens out of you. Thou shalt fear the large, tufty, and angry birds. It’s worth mentioning that a lot of farm birds have spurs, and they can do a solid amount of damage. We’ve also been threatened by a ram, but we backed away slowly, and he lost interest.
Most of the animals I’ve encountered on my multiple farm stays have been adorable and or hilarious; they’re always my favorite part of RV camping. However, it’s best to be aware of your surroundings are remember that there’s the animal’s land. If your host suggests that you steer clear of the giant territorial feathered velociraptor, I’d take them at their word.
There will probably be no hookups.
It’s a privilege to stay on a farm, so remember that it’s not an RV park. If you’re not comfortable boondocking, you’ll need to confirm what amenities are available to you and where the closest dump station is. We’ve lucked into power and water hookups before, but I wouldn’t expect it if you’re RV camping on a farm.
Expect the unexpected.
One of my favorite parts of farm stays is that you never know what’s going to happen. The first time we RV camped at a farm, we woke up to the world’s most social turkeys circling our camper. They landed on our solar panels with an alarmingly solid “thump”, to my husband’s chagrin, and proceeded to enthusiastically inspect the Basecamp and our string of party lights. They perched on our front window while we made coffee. It was adorable. It’s hands down still my favorite experience in the camper.
We are also quite relieved we’d left the truck cover locked and that the solar panels made it through unscathed. But if you’re the type to get hung up on some peck marks in your camper or some turkey poop on your truck, you might want to opt for something less adventurous.
You may need to eat inside.
At our last Hipcamp stay, there were free-range animals galore. It made our visit so fun and exciting, but at dinner we basically got flash mobbed by some determined barnyard cats and pigs (and one lone peacock).
If a pig staring at you while you eat your hotdog or fighting off livestock to eat your dinner seems more vexing than funny to you, I’d leave the outdoor kitchen set up at home this time.
You’ll probably need a screen door.
Farm animals can be notoriously curious, so if you’d like to avoid finding a rogue chicken or cat in your shower (or under your bed, like we did), you’ll want to secure the doors at all times while RV camping.
Check for animals before you leave.
This plays directly into our RV camping experience with the cats, as mentioned above. Unless you’re comfortable with poultry or cats backseat driving all the way to your next stop, check every nook and cranny of your camper and car before you take off. I swear those cats were magicians, and we found finding them hiding under the bed, in storage, in the baseboards of our car… like, everywhere, all the time, no matter what we tried to do. If there was a half-inch wide opening, there would be at least part of a cat in there.
The animals are better than cable TV.
All the animals have their own distinct personalities, making it so much fun to camp on a farm. We loved the goofy goat antics at Sideways Farm & Brewing, and as mentioned, our favorite memory in the camper so far is still our first stay out at Swamp Dog Farms with those amazing turkeys. Our most recent Hipcamp experience housed so many animals, we spent most of our time walking around and watching the animals. There were donkeys, sheep, goats, rams, chickens, ducks, peacocks, pigs, alpacas, and one shockingly pissed off emu. (There is no dignity in being chased by a giant bird.)
Working farms aren’t tourist attractions. Bring a mat; expect clutter.
I think it’s really easy to look at a blog post or Instagram feed and imagine that all farms are pristine pastures and photo ops. If you’ve never done a farm tour, I highly recommend it. Farming is hard, hard, hard work, and there is usually a never-ending list of tasks and projects-in-progress, so don’t be blown away if there’s mud, construction, or heaps of equipment or supplies you don’t understand.
You’re RV camping there to have an immersive experience, so dive in! Like life, farming can be a beautiful mess. Bring your sneakers and/or boots, leave the glam clothing behind, and pack an extra doormat or two and more towels than you think you'll ever need. You’re in for a muddy good time.
It’s a great way to support small farms.
Finally, if you’ve read much on this blog, you know I’m a huge fan of small farms and the passionate, hardworking people who run them. (Read about my visit with Fili-West Farms, a tour of Charleston Oyster Farm, our stay at Sideways Farm & Brewery, my experiences doing goat yoga, and comprehensive descriptions of the Charleston area farmers markets.)
A strong local food economy is so beneficial for your community and the environment. Humanely raised meat is better for you and usually has less harmful effects on the land. Eating locally grown produce reduces your carbon footprint and allows you to eat seasonally, which requires less energy and chemicals, and you’ll probably be surprised how many farmers are actually using organic practices, holistic farming methods, and complementary planting.
RV camping allows you to get to know your farmer and patronage a small farm. If you’re booking through Hipcamp, your booking fee goes directly to the farm. If you’re booking through Harvest Hosts, remember to score some fresh eggs, veggies, or homemade jams before you take off.
Still saving up for your Airstream Basecamp? I’ve got you. You can still support small farms by shopping at your local farmers market, signing up for a CSA, keeping an eye out for the local products section or stickers at national grocery stores, signing up for a farm tour or volunteer day, or last but not least, doing some goat yoga!
See you out on the open road,
Reese
