Rural marinas are 'profitable diversification'

'Rural property consultants' Fisher German have a brief but interesting article about how farmers and other landowners can developing new rural land into canal mooring basins, creating thriving businesses in the process.

The article, 'Inland marinas are a profitable diversification' discusses how to counter objections and start getting a steady income from idle canalside fields by turning them over to boats.

It draws on the experience of Fisher German's Stephen Rice, who helped a local farming family develop the forthcoming Yelvertoft Marina, one of the dozen or more due to open on the canals in the next year or two.

Much the same ground is covered as in BW's Marina Development Guide, but in a single page and more rosily, without a single accounting figure to spoil the view.

This is all part of the Granny Buttons theory of crop rotation:  A new canal basin can add fertility and value to a field, so long as the hedgerow is retained. 

At the bottom of the page Fisher German help you explore a few other related modern rural business opportunities, such as converting farm waste into sustainable energy, and 'log cabin classrooms for a greener education', whatever that is.