MJBiz - October 2023 - 38

Hustle
The owners of Sol Spirit Farm
rent out tents adjacent
to their outdoor grow.
Photo by Ryan Johnson Bitar
or two dozen of HiBnb's 300 listings are
licensed cannabis businesses-mostly in
California and Ontario, Canada-while
she is pursuing new listings in
New York.
In terms of commissions, Bud and
Breakfast collects 7% from the host and
10% from guests, per booking. HiBnb
takes an 8% commission from the hosts.
A 'GLAMPSITE' IS BORN
One cultivation business expanding into
hospitality is Sol Spirit Farm in Trinity
County, located in California's Emerald
Triangle. It's a regenerative farm run by
owner-operators Judi Nelson, a holistic
physical therapist, and Walter Wood, a
permaculture expert.
Nelson and Wood had dreamed
for years about offering retreats and
workshops at their farm. But before
California legalized recreational
marijuana, it felt too risky to invite
strangers onto the property.
That all changed when California's
recreational marijuana market
launched in 2018; by the summer of
2019, the pair was hosting their fi rst
" glamping " guests.
38 October 2023 | MJBizMagazine
To get the glamping site ready, they
found an unused plot of land on their
26-acre farm and let pigs loose to clear
the invasive weeds. After clearing
and leveling the land, they bought six
large bell tents that sleep two each and
" have everything that you'd fi nd in a
hotel, " Nelson said. The tents have beds
with linens and lamps-plus private
bathrooms with hot running water are
a few feet away.
They decided on tents over a stickbuilt
physical structure because they
had a " lower barrier to entry. " The
tents cost less and, because they are
considered temporary, there were far
fewer regulatory hurdles, Nelson said.
The tents are about 50 yards from
Nelson and Wood's home, so guests are
far enough away for privacy but close
enough to the hosts, in case they are
needed. The quarter-acre cannabis
garden is a few yards from the other
side of the tents.
" They get to sleep the night away
smelling the lovely terps, " Nelson said.
The nightly stay for a couple costs
$420, while a solo glamper pays $310.
Sol Spirit generally takes reservations
from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Business has been " solid, " Nelson said,
with at least half the tents booked for
the season.
MEANINGFUL MONEY
The earnings from glamping represent
important income for a small farm
such as Sol Spirit.
Last year, the owners produced
eight marijuana strains for their
Sol Spirit brand and also had a
couple of test plots. The farm could
produce 600-800 pounds annually
at maximum capacity, but for now,
the owners produce 300-400 pounds,
Nelson said.
Nelson and Wood do everything on
the farm themselves, but they call in
workers to help with seasonal activities
such as planting and harvesting.
Licensing and insurance cost around
$20,000 annually, Nelson said. She
added that the amount of regulatory
work demanded by local and state
offi cials requires a full-time employee.
But since Sol Spirit can't afford an
employee to tackle administrative
work, Nelson does it herself.
Side
MJBiz - October 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MJBiz - October 2023
