A 72-year-old legally blind entrepreneur is approaching the final days of her campaign to establish Southern Illinois' first solar-powered agritourism destination. Lois Inman's women-led operation, Bone + Bear Farms, has raised $17,771 toward its $50,000 minimum goal through a community investment campaign on Honeycomb Credit, with the campaign closing December 1st at 11:59 p.m. EST. If the minimum funding threshold is not met, all contributed funds will be returned to potential investors.
The project will transform 30 acres in Grantsburg, Illinois, into a solar-powered destination built around three core components. The operation features The Gilded Goat heritage goat-milk skincare line based on recipes passed down from Inman's grandmother, eco-luxury glamping accommodations including stargazer tents and tiny cabins, and comprehensive on-farm experiences such as mobile laser tag, farm-to-table dining, and seasonal events catering to families, schools, and corporate retreats. The funding will support completion of critical infrastructure including a solar-powered production facility for The Gilded Goat skincare line, glamping infrastructure, a guest bathhouse, expanded water and electrical systems, and educational spaces where visitors can learn about farming, skincare production, and renewable energy applications.
"I'm taking everything my grandmother handed me—our land, her recipes, and a belief in rural women—and turning it into a place where people can actually visit, meet the goats, and see where their skincare comes from," Inman explained. The farm aims to serve as a rural workforce and artisan development hub, providing training for local women in skincare production, hospitality management, and agritourism operations while showcasing products from nearby artisans and attracting visitors from surrounding metropolitan areas into Southern Illinois's rural economy.
Honeycomb Credit, the SEC-regulated investment platform hosting the campaign, is waiving its usual investor transaction fees from Small Business Saturday through Cyber Monday, allowing more of each investment dollar to go directly toward project development. Investments begin at $100, providing community members with an opportunity to support rural economic development initiatives while earning potential financial returns. The campaign represents a significant community investment opportunity in women-led agricultural innovation and sustainable tourism development for the Southern Illinois region.
