You’d like to finance your new lot of land, but as you’re well aware, you can’t grow money. There aren’t seeds for that kind of crop. You need a practical way to secure funding, and it isn’t always straightforward if you’re unfamiliar with the process. In this article, we’ll detail everything you need to know, […]

Early last winter we had the good fortune to have our mentors and friends Matthias and Andrea Reisen of Healing Spirits Herb Farm and Education Center come to our home and farm for a visit. Matthias and Andrea were pioneers of medicinal herb farming back in the 1980s when very few people in the United […]

I’m very fortunate to live on a beautiful property that has been farmed continuously since just after the Revolutionary War. We tend 50 acres and have a barn that dates to 1894 as well as numerous outbuildings. For those trying to homestead on just a few acres (or less!), this may seem like plenty of […]

The first rule of marketing is that the customer is always right. It’s a wise rule because customers who have good experiences are much more likely to return to your business. And in the age of the internet, people who have a bad experience are likely to share it. Sometimes it’s a Facebook rant, other […]

One of the great things about making a living on your homestead is earning an income doing things you love. But there are some things to keep in mind to successfully transition from hobby to work. If you want your hobby to be a successful business venture, you need to treat it as a business! […]

Many farm-related businesses are seasonal. Our farm stand is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through the end of November each year. It can be quite tricky to have enough inventory to have a nice selection of items for customers without being stuck with more than we need over the winter months. In […]

A big part of Etsy is the ability to connect buyers with makers. (If you’re not familiar with Etsy, be sure to check out Part 1 of this article!) One of my favorite parts about running the farm stand is meeting my customers face-to-face. While this isn’t possible when you are selling online, Etsy does […]

In my last post we discussed how-to launch a social enterprise. Now that you have a clear idea of the eco-friendly product(s) you want to sell, it’s important to lead off your social enterprise by clarifying your vision and mission statement. First, please note: Vision Statements and Mission Statements are not the same thing. Vision […]

Having a tree farm can be a profitable business. Owning a farm or homestead means having the land and the freedom to grow what you want, when you want. Whether you grow your products for your own table or to sell at farmers’ markets, there’s something amazing in knowing your hard work and dedication created […]

A Nice Little Concrete Business Shared From MOTHER EARTH NEWS  Written By: Henry C. Horstig There are many alternative ways of earning some bread without getting into the 9-to-5 ratrace. A concrete business contracting small-scale concrete repairs is one that any able-bodied man can start with less than a $5.00 investment and — with a little […]