Welcome to the Homestead Hustle 101 Page! This page is designed to help you find exactly what you’re looking for to further your homesteading efforts. It’s organized by category so you can easily find articles, hints and tips that pertain to your specific endeavor. New posts are being added everyday so be sure to check back often for inspiration and knowledge from people who are living the Homestead Dream.
Getting Started
These articles will inspire and guide you to follow your dream of turning your homestead or farm into a business.
12 Unique Ways to Make Money on a Small Homestead
You Want a Writing or Blogging Career? You’re Going to Have to Put in the Time
Great Work-at-Home Jobs for Stay-at-Home Parents
A Guide to Heating Options for Your Homestead
Five Ways to Save Money to Invest in Business
How to Have a Farm Business and a Life
Skills to Work on Before You Begin Homesteading
As Homesteader, Do We Have an Obligation to Share Our Failures?
10 Ways to Make Money on Your Small Homestead
Developing My Agri-Income: Philosophies From the Start
Healthy, Cheap Ideas for Your Home
Three Tips to Go from Hobby to Hustle
Getting Started in a Soap Business
Fighting the Social Stigma of Working From Home
Greetings from Antiquity Oaks Farm
How to Turn Your Passion and Skills into a Homestead Business you Love
How To Not Just Survive…Taking Steps to Thrive
5 Tips to Make Money From Home
How to Transition From Hobby Farming to Business Farming
5 Reasons to Build a Homestead Business
Bringing Your Business Idea to Life
Building Your Solid Foundation with a clear Vision and Mission Statement
Two Rules to Follow on Your Homestead (Video)
Crops
In this collection of posts you will find advice on what crops to grow, how to better your harvest and how to market the products you produce.
12 Tips for Growing Wedding Flowers on Your Homestead
Best Tomatoes to Grow For Farmers Market
Grow Aronia Berry for Health and Profit
Extend the Profit Season with a Fall Garden
Don’t Count Your Flowers Before they Bloom
5 Easy to Grow Plants to Sell on Your Homestead
Succession Gardening: Planting by Frost Date
Expanding Your Farm? Consider and Orchard
How to Improve Your Crop Yields Next Year
Sunflowers: A Useful Homestead Crop
Start Your Backyard Flower Farm
Multiply Your Initial Investment: How to Save Money by Saving Seed
A Guide to Buying and Selling Hay Part 1
A Guide to Buying and Selling Hay Part 2
A Guide to Buying and Selling Hay Part 3
Baling Tips That Maximize Hay Quality
5 Great Reasons to Plant Perennials
Introduction – Tracey Burks of Botanical Harmony Farm
Introduction – Sacred Roots Maple: Our Story
How 6 Tomato Plants Accidentally Grew into a Blooming Business
Getting Started as a Flower Farmer
What Flowers to Grow for Profit
Setting Wholesale Prices for Your Vegetables
Ideas to Create a Work-From-Home Business
A Guide to Selling Christmas Trees
Farmer’s Markets and CSA
The following posts will help you find everything you need to know about participating in a farmer’s market, opening a farm stand or starting a CSA group.
Grow a Profit with Farmers Markets
Pro’s and Cons of Offering U-Pick
Selling in a Farmer’s Market: How to Plan for the Upcoming Growing Season
Selling Produce at Local Farmers’ Markets
Becoming a Farmer’s Market Vendor: What to Consider
What You Need to Start a CSA Group
How to Get Accepted into Farmers Markets
Pick Your Markets Just as You Pick Your Friends
7 Tips for Preparing Your Farm for Fall Festivals
Cash or Credit? Expanding Our Farm Market Payment Options
Deeper Roots of a Farmer’s Market
Farm Stand Opening Day – Stresses and Strategies
Couple Abandon City Life for Farming
Introduction – Stephanie Pankau of Farm2Fork
Herbs
Herbs are not only a culinary item, but can be used in health and beauty products. Learn how to make money on your homestead with herbs!
The Business of Culinary Herbs
Lavender Farm Becomes Agritourism Stop
Small Scale Medicinal Herb Farming Success
Cottage Food Industry
The Cottage Food Laws are a set of more lenient regulations that allow small home-kitchen based businesses to make a profit without having to fulfill the more strict standards of large scale businesses. Learn how these laws effect your homesteading goals.
It’s Sugarin’ Season: Tree Sap to Maple Syrup
Questions to Answer Before Diving in to the Cottage Food Buisiness
Structure Your Cottage Food Business
Understanding the Cottage Food Laws
Find Cottage Food Laws for Your State
Home goods
Do you make a product at your homestead? Learn tips from people who are selling their home goods and making an income.
9 Things for the Homesteader to do During Winter
Community Kitchen Spaces – The Business of Helping Businesses
I’m a Tattler, Are You? Reusable Canning Lid Secret Revealed
Introduction – Welcome to Pleasant Valley Farm
Sell Firewood for a Side Income
Sell Homemade Jams and Jellies at Your Local Market
Land
Buying land may be the most challenging aspect to new homesteaders. Learn how to make the most of your property.
How to Turn a Homestead into a Wedding Venue
What to Consider Before Buying a Fixer-Up Property
Preventative Maintenance for Winter Freezes
Enjoy Your Homestead! Using Outbuildings and Designing Outdoor Spaces
How Can You Finance Your New Lot of Land
What You Should Know about Handling Snow
Guarding Your Homestead Against Harmful Pests
How to Write and Effective Property Listing
7 Tips for Weatherproofing Your Property
How Depreciation Will Affect Your Homestead
Sustainable Certifications Add Value to Your Triple Bottom Line
How to Navigate a Ground Lease
What to Know Before Clearing Land
Create a Beautiful Homestead by Using the 3 R’s (Video)
How to Churn a Profit on Trees
How to Buy Farmland Even if You Think You Can’t
Farm Insurance Now Available for Smaller and More Diverse Operations
Pangs of Rural Entrepreneurialship
Avoid Farm Debt – Part 1 – Live Below Your Means
Avoid Farm Debt – Part 2 – Control Your Business Growth
Avoid Farm Debt – Part 3 – Learn from Your Mistakes
Large Animals
The view from the driver’s seat.
Interested in raising large animals like cows and horses? Then this section is for you. Learn the role that large animals play in the success of a homestead.
One Young Couple Starts Raw Milk Dairy Production in Connecticut
Find Your Niche in the Cattle Market
Breeding Heritage Livestock for Our Farm and the Future
Heritage Breeds – What They Are, Why They Matter
Are You Amish? Why We Farm With Draft Animal Power
Small Animals
Small animals like Rabbits, Ducks, Chickens and Bees can serve as a profitable income to homesteaders who own a little or a lot of land. Read how others are making these animals work for them.
How Geese Can Save You Money on Your Homestead
Newcastle Disease Hits Hard in Utah and California
Best Practices to Keep Your Chickens Healthy
8 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Added Livestock to Our Homestead
Help Your Chickens Thrive This Winter
Surprising Advantages of Owning Bantams
The True Cost of Starting a Goat Herd
Healthy Chickens and Housing for Maximum Profits
How to Make Money with Hatching Eggs
Setting Up for Successful Hatching
Making Money with Angora Goats, Part 1
Making Money with Angora Goats, Part 2
Making Money with Angora Goats, Part 3
Making Money with Angora Goats, Part 4
For the Love of Barred Rocks (Video)
Feed the Birds: Our Introduction to Agritourism
Hatching Income Part 2: Equipment
The Duck Decision: Reducing Our Farm Costs
How to get Started Frog Farming
A Pet Care Business Brings Big Profits – Part 1 – In the Beginning
A Pet Care Business Brings Big Profits – Part 2 – Services to Offer
Raising Rabbits for Profit – Part 1 – Your Best Breed
Raising Rabbits for Profit – Part 2 – Marketing and Production
Introduction – Soozeezbeez – Bingham Bee Farm
Hatching Income with Heritage Breeds
Skills
Mastering a skill like woodworking, blacksmithing or sheep shearing can earn you money. Many of these skills are being lost in our more technology based society. Find your niche with the help of our collection of posts below.
Can Farming Help with Addiction Recovery and Mental Health
How to Use Skill-Teaching as an Income on the Homestead
Run a Small-Scale Sawmill – Part 1 – Equipment
Run a Small-Scale Sawmill – Part 2 – Pricing for Profit
Run a Small-Scale Sawmill – Part 3 – Cons of Becoming a Lumbering Pro
A Nice Little Concrete Business
Tools and Equipment
Fencing, tractors and tools-of-the-trade can be an expensive investment. Learn how to make smart choices when it comes to equipment for your homestead.
Preventative Maintenance Tips for Expensive Equipment
5 Natural Remedies for Household Pests
How to Cut Back Costs of Your Farm Equipment
How to Troubleshoot Engine Problems in Your Tractor
An Introduction to Farm Equipment That Can Increase Your Production
Tips to Choosing the Perfect Greenhouse: Extending The Growing Season
Should You Invest in New Equipment Before Winter?
How To Protect Heavy Equipment From Damage
Shipping Secrets: Using the Mail to Make Shipping Easy
Forming a Community Tool Co-Op
Getting the Best Financing Options for Farm Equipment
Rising Fuel Prices: The Struggle to Stay in Business
Is a Tractor Worth the Investment?
Marketing
You may be the best, have the best, or know the most, but if people can’t find you, you won’t be successful in making a profit. Learn how to market your harvest, skill or product with tips from our writers.
Offer a Free Service for a Big Reward
Developing Your Homestead Brand
The Key to a Successful Business
Bringing Agritourism to Your Homestead this Fall
How and Why to Network Your Farm Business
Ideas for Marketing Your Crafts and Handmade Items
Creating Ways to Collaborate not Compete
5 Steps to Handle a Negative Review
Using Email Newsletters to Engage Customers
Hosting Private Product Parties
How to Define your Ideal Customer: Part 1
How to Define your Ideal Customer: Part 2
Is Etsy Right for Your Hustle? Part 1, The Basics
Is Etsy Right for Your Hustle Part 2, Connecting with Buyers
Instagram Marketing 101: How To Get Started
Photograph for Homestead Products
How to Establish Your Companies Branding
Farming 101: Know Your Market Before Digging In
Connecting with Audiences of All Ages on Social Media.
How to Choose a Business Name and Matching Domain Name
Alternative Marketing Strategy: Change the Way You Think, Change the Way You Sell
Launching a Social Enterprise that Sells Products and Saves Species
Facebook Basics: Creating a Page the Works for Your Brand
Strategic Social Media Basics for Homestead Hustlers
Franny’s Good Advice on Getting Started in Agritourism
Why Your Homestead Needs a Blog
Making the Sale – Looks Matter
How to Make Extra Money From Your Farm
Planning
Keeping your homestead organized with clear, concise goals will help you look professional and keep your customers happy. Learn how with tips from our homestead hustle writers!
6 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Homestead this Spring
How to Set Better Goals + Free Planning Worksheet
Companies that can Make Your Online Store and Website Easier to Manage
Homestead Preparation in Hurricane Season
Staying Organized for Fall: Surviving a Hectic Season
Learning to Say NO in Business
Evaluating What Works… and What Doesn’t
Four Reasons to Start Your Own Seeds
Should My Homestead be Solar-Reliant?
Reflecting on the 2017 Homestead Year, Part 1 Celebrating Success
Reflecting on the 2017 Homestead Year, Part 2 Letting Things Go
Dos and Don’ts of Presenting to Investors
How to Use a Product Pricing Worksheet
Mindful Matters: Love to Manage Your Time, Money and Homestead More Efficiently
Saving
How to Save a Little Money on Homestead Expenses
Legalities, Insurance and Forms
Dealing with the forms, paperwork and technicalities of opening a business can be confusing. Here are some helpful tips to sort through the legal jargon.
A Few Ideas on What Farmers Can Expect this Tax Season
Take Advantage of Tax Credits for Sustainability
Handmade Artisan Insurance Group
How to Legally go from a Backyard Business to a Legal Entity
Save Money by Testing Your Flock for Pullorum
Becoming a Certified Salmonella Pollorum Tester
Getting Your Flock NPIP Certified
What is the NPIP and Pullorum Typhoid Disease?
Who Needs to be Concerned with Pullorum and the NPIP?
Be an Informed Producer: Follow Local Rules and Regulations
Protecting Your Personal Assets by Incorporating Your Farm
Insurance for Agritourism (Video)
Updated 4-30-2019
