One of the ways to stretch a dollar while RVing is to boondock. Boondocking means not being connected to services or hookups. It means no electric connection so you rely on batteries and no water connection so you rely on your on-board water or water you carry separate and no sewer connection so you collect black and gray water in hold tanks in your RV. Basically, it means relying 100% on the RV for everything you need. You might also hear it called dry camping or wild camping but most everyone simply calls it boondocking.

Like so many other things in this lifestyle, boondocking options span a wide spectrum, from the very un-glamorous Walmart parking lot to gorgeous BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and, from driveway surfing (jokingly called mooch-docking) to National Forests. And everything in between.

A Unique Camping Option

I had heard of Harvest Hosts long before I got on the road. It is a popular RV membership that offers a unique boondocking experience. The company partners with more than 600 wineries, breweries, farms, museums and other attractions in North America.

How it works is the RVer purchases a membership and that membership entitles the RVer to a map with the names and locations of the participating Hosts. There are a few rules for the member:

• Call in advance and arrive during business hours.
• RV must be self-contained (in other words it must have a bathroom and a gray water tank).
• Be considerate.
• Support the Host. Purchase a bottle of wine at a winery or eggs at a farm or touring a museum).
• Know that stays are limited to one night.

To date, I’ve stayed at four wineries. I’d planned two brewery stops on my way to Alabama but with temperatures in the 80s, I needed hookups because the pets require air conditioning in that heat. You might remember me sharing that the AC uses too much battery juice to run off the solar setup so if I need AC, the trailer must be plugged into shore power. I’ll just have to come back to the area and stay at those breweries another time.

Train tracks ran by one winery where I parked overnight. I listened to several chugging by during the night. Some people might not have appreciated it, but I loved it. Then in the morning, Solstice and I walked through the vineyard and discovered just how close we were to those trains.

I got especially lucky one Saturday when I arrived at a New Mexico winery to discover they had live music on Saturdays. It was during my long trip from Northern California to Texas. You remember, the trip where I finally (I hope) learned my lesson that long travel days are not ideal for me. It was such a treat in the middle of those un-fun days to overnight next to a vineyard.

Once I was settled, I went to the tasting room. I purchased a bottle of wine then went outside to in the sun and enjoy the music. People were so friendly, I even got an invitation to join another table. And if I hadn’t been so tired and wound up from all that driving, I might have been more social and joined them. As it was, I simply wanted to bask in the warmth at the day’s end, listen to the music and enjoy the mellow feeling from the wine.

The next morning, Solstice and I, accompanied by the winery dog, strolled through the rows of trees in the vineyard. Then I returned where I sat the night before with the sun rising and my morning coffee—the sole person there—to use their wi-fi, the winery dog sitting at my feet.

In my travels, I met a woman who stayed 60 nights at various Harvest Hosts locations in one year. She got excellent value for her membership fee.

Harvest Hosts Membership and a Discount

Membership to Harvest Hosts is $49 per year but Supersize LIFE blog readers get 10% off by clicking on the link below.

With the membership, in addition to access to the Hosts’ locations (via your computer or mobile app), you receive a bi-monthly e-newsletter. I enjoy reading it, especially the section where Hosts share upcoming special events. One of these days, it’s going to lineup perfectly so I overnight at a place on a evening when they have a special event. Wouldn’t that be a kick? As an aside, I didn’t consider the live music a special event because that vineyard has live music every Saturday.

Big Announcement

Speaking of the Harvest Hosts newsletter, back in January I was reading the latest issue when I came across an announcement. They were looking for someone to recruit more Hosts.

And last week, I shared a few jobs I want to try as I eek out a plan for maintaining my life and lifestyle on the road. I didn’t share the Harvest Hosts recruiter job because it was already mine. Yep, in January I applied. In February I was hired as a contractor. In March I began to reach out to wineries, farms, breweries, museums and other attractions about becoming Hosts.

But recruiting isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I love the program, as do the Hosts we already have, but, I think, when cold calling a potential business they assume I’m trying to sell them something. It’s hard to get past their pre-conceived notion of the program.

It is hard to convince them it really is a win-win. It’s free to them and they get new customers and the RVer gets a unique place to park overnight.

I will keep plugging away at it though in hopes I can do some good, in hopes of adding to the choices that RVers have when it comes to a free overnight spot to stay.

How You Can Help

I share this program for two reasons. First, I wanted travelers who hadn’t heard of the program to know about it. Do the math. I always do the math! An overnight stay in a campground is at least $20. If you only use Harvest Hosts three times in a year, it has paid for itself. And you get a unique experience (and possibly some great wine) out of it.

Second, I want to ask for your help. If you have any cool unique places that might make a good Host, would you let me know so I can reach out to them? You can email me at Debbie@supersizelife.com if you don’t want to leave info in the comments. And better yet, if you have a contact or a friend at one such place, would you make an introduction? Parking is the biggest issue with many businesses. Remember an RV has to get in and out of a location. And because the member is expected to support the Host, the Host must have something to sell (wine, beer, eggs, produce, gift shop items, etc.).

If any of RV readers have had an Harvest Hosts overnight stay, would love to know how you found the experience.

Links to Referenced SSL Blog Posts Above:

• Things I Learned Driving My First 11,000 Miles
• Work I Want to Try on the Road

 

Affiliate Link Disclosure: As a Harvest Hosts Affiliate I earn  from qualifying purchases. 

Please note I would not recommend products or services I haven’t tried and loved myself.