Many choose to homestead because it not only provides a sense of purpose but allows you to live off the land and provide for your family with the resources you already have.
Some homesteaders have chosen to go a step further, selling their excess to create a new method of making money.
1. Set up a Produce Stand
One of the first things people think of when it comes to making money off a homestead is produce. Keeping a garden or small orchard is easy, and you can still get a high yield from small acreage.
Start by setting up a sign and cart at the end of your driveway. Make sure people passing by know what you have to offer.
2. Keep Your Seeds
Heirloom seeds come from healthy plants already harvested, able to grow and pass on traits from previous generations.
Heirloom seeds have been said to have better taste and flavor, making them a hot commodity for farmers and produce-lovers alike. If you’re interested in selling your seeds, all you have to do is harvest them at the end of each growing season and allow them to dry.
3. Start a Canning Schedule
Canning can be a great way to preserve a variety of food, allowing you to enjoy them at a later date.
Favorite foods to can include:
- Jellies
- Soups
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Sauces
While these items are great to keep on hand in your pantry, they can also be sold at home or at a farmer’s market to earn some extra cash.
4. Grow and Dry Herbs
People love to buy fresh herbs, especially when planning a special meal. Some homesteaders have taken to growing and drying their herbs to sell.
Herbs like basil, parsley, thyme and more are all very easy plants to grow and tend to reappear year-after-year if planted outside.
5. Sell Your Own Eggs
If you have chickens for your own use, why not sell your extra eggs for another revenue stream? Set up a spot in your yard or head down to the local market with a hand-made sign.
Egg laws vary from state to state. Be sure you check the laws and regulations regarding selling eggs in your area.
6. Raise Dairy Animals
Fresh milk — meaning unpasteurized — has become a sought-after commodity in both urban and rural areas. Luckily, a homestead is the perfect place to breed, raise and train milk cows and dairy goats.
Not only are they a great source of milk for your family, but you can also sell the excess to local neighbors and customers.
7. Collect Animal Fibers
If you want to earn extra money, animals like llamas and sheep produce wool that can be shaved and sold.
Once shaved off, this wool is called fleece. While both are similar, alpaca fleece is hypoallergenic and warmer than sheep fleece.
8. Grow Fresh Flowers
When it comes to making money from your homestead, fresh cut flowers are a natural rival to produce. Many people will pay to buy fresh, homegrown flowers.
To go that extra step, create stylish bouquets and potted plant designs to sell.
9. Cultivate Your Compost
Many homesteaders have started to make and sell their compost. It’s simple to do and also provides another option for reducing waste.
Once you have enough to sell, you can place a sign at the end of your driveway with a phone number to call.
10. Keep Bees
Everyone has been talking about bees lately. And it’s not hard to see why. Fresh, organic honey and beeswax are a commodity consumers are willing to pay big for.
If you decide to keep bees, be sure you have plenty of flowers in your yard for them to visit.
11. Start a Pumpkin Patch
While a pumpkin patch is a seasonal investment, it’s one that requires little effort or care. Once you’ve designated a location and plant your seeds, all you have to do is stand aside and watch your pumpkins grow.
Be sure to have signs up in September and October to advertise what you have available. This is the prime time to sell what you have.
12. Raise Fresh Bait
Everybody loves to fish. As a homesteader, you might even fish as a means to put more food on the table.
One of the best ways to catch a fish is to have the right bait — worms. You can easily raise worms in your garden and compost, using some for your own bait supply and selling the rest to local fishers.
Monetizing Your Homestead
Making money off of your homestead takes time and effort. If you hit a setback, don’t give up. Just step back for a moment, assess the situation, and decide how you can do things differently.
The reward for all the sweat and hard work? The satisfaction of creating a revenue stream from your very own homestead.
The reward for all the sweat and hard work? The satisfaction of creating a revenue stream from your very own homestead.
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Guides for Brides, Hotel Online and more!
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