Making A Living On A Homestead ??????

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We have homesteaded for over 20 years now. Enjoyed it and would never stop doing it but...I realize that the cost of this life style is getting expensive. My question is this...Does anyone make actual "money" from selling their animals and veggies and such. I know all of pros and cons but today I'm feeling rather "down in the dumps" thinking that I will have to take on more of the outside job at the hospital and still try to run my small business other than homesteading and my heart aches for staying home and making money at what I love to do here. I recently put up my first greenhouse and even though it is probably too late to grow seeds and make money from it would I really make any money or would I be throwing it away. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated !! Thanks !!

-- Helena Di Maio (windyacs@ptdprolog.net), April 24, 2001

Answers

Yes, it is possible to make money on your homestead. Stay tuned for lots of ideas and advice in the July/August issue…

-- Anne-marie (ambelanger@mail.com), April 24, 2001.

You can do this, Helena!!! Really you can! If you are homesteading already, you are obviously a creative person... that's the whole battle right there!!!

If you don't mind me asking you some questions, maybe I can help a little.... Had several of my own businesses, a couple of which could be construed as homestead related.

How close are you to the nearest town? Is your land adjacent to a nice road going to that town? Do they have a farmer's market? If not, are they interested in one? Do you have a business license? Have you any information on selling plants +/or seeds in your state (it requires a license)?

If you can get a license to sell plants in your state, you are half-way home. It shouldn't be all that hard. The fees usually aren't to awful, either. And, you can use your greenhouse to produce an income - even starting right now. Depending on your sources for seeds, your set-up and your desire etc... you could produce an income from that greenhouse year round.

I've sold herb and flower plants at farmer's markets as late as August. Depends on what you grow. Most potted herbs could be sold year round if you wanted. Grocery stores (small ones, usually) might be interested in selling them for you, too. Our local Mom & Pop store will be selling my potted herbs starting in May. I've also sold cut flowers from my garden. Crafts, as well, will sell at most farmer's markets - even though they aren't 'grown' like plants and veggies. You can also sell fresh cut, or dried herbs, mixes, all sorts of things that take relatively little time, but can be priced to make a modest profit. You can also pass out brochures to your customers listing things that you couldn't sell at a market.

If you are located on the road into town you have the option of a road-side stand. The advantage to this is that you can sell much more than plants and crafts... but check the local laws regarding meats, eggs, etc before thinking about that. You can also advertise other services you might wish to provide (if you sell rabbits, sell them live and offer butchering as a service). One other advantage to a stand is that you could sell other things that aren't even related to plants, animals and crafts... Put up a sign for that old jalopie sitting in the yard... move it up next to the stand... etc.

I mention rabbits a lot, because that is what I do at the moment. I started out with five 'mutts' from my niece. I wanted to produce meat for my family. Haven't gotten a blasted one in the freezer. I needed a little extra cash at Easter, and called a local (50 miles...) pet store. They took all I had - at $7 each. They want all I can produce, and when I told them the approximate number, they asked if I'd be willing to expand and produce more.

I spend about $15 per month on food, and about an hour each day checking, feeding, cleaning and doing all the chores. It is not profitable, but there are a lot of things I can change...(regular feeders, auto waterers, better housing system with built-in nesting boxes, handling etc etc) It wasn't started as a business... If I figured nothing for my time (DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!) it would already be a profitable venture. It shouldn't take a lot of time or money to change things around. Then, I can expect not only a $10 per hour wage, but also a tiny profit.

Read everything you can... Countryside ALWAYS tops my list, but also BHM, Ken S's e-book, MEN, etc. Check your extension office - they have tons of information on ag related businesses especially suited to your area. Check the nearest library. Look into what your State's department of agriculture has available (have to call them for the license anyway -). Also - look into the SBA in your State... They have free classes, pamphlets, even some funding programs... SCORE is another organization. Does your State have a viable Rural Development program? All of these are places that can help you greatly. Some with ideas, others with solid and up-to-date information.

Didn't mean to ramble, but I hope this helps!!!

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 24, 2001.


Yes,take a look in the archives and you will see quite a bit of info.That and a little homestead creativity and you can add income to your budget. Ask Ken S. if he still offers his e-book, its chock full of great information for homestead businesses.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 24, 2001.

I have those days sometimes too. The problem I think is that a lot of the homestead activities don't earn money but save money so it is hard to value them somedays. "A penny saved is a penny earned", and I think that when homesteading a penny saved is pobably worth two earned outside of the farm. For example - I "earn" my food -the grocery store just happens to be in the pantry and freezer and dollars didn't change hands, I also didn't spend money earning this food on daycare, gas, etc. I would also like to see the extra dollars come into the homestead, but patience and diligence to the goals will get me there and you too I'm sure.

-- Terri in NS (terri@tallships.ca), April 24, 2001.

Helena, I just finished my greenhouse and am starting a business. I've worked for the past two years for a woman who grows herbs, earns a living, takes island vacations and employs several people. She wholesales and does 4 farmers markets from March through December. She is a "business person" first and a "plant person" second. If you want to make money you have to find your market, produce and sell. If your not good at one or more of these find somebody who can teach you or hire somebody who is. I also ran a rabbit business for a year and a half (divorced out) that turned a profit after 10 months, but come to feel so sorry for the momma's and daddy's being continuously caged that I was miserable. After bring two in the house to litter train and finding out how loving and intelligent and fun they were, I wanted to let all the rest loose. I know we both can be successful at our home businesses if we throw our hearts into it and work hard. If you would like more detail about what I've experienced, I'll be glad to tell you. I'll check back - if you have any questions. Kelly

-- Kelly Miller (kellys_plants@hotmail.com), April 25, 2001.


Just trying to turn off the italics . ..

-- Joy F (So.Central Wisconsin) (CatFlunky@excite.com), April 25, 2001.

Since you mentioned a greenhouse Helena, we made a good bit of cash raising salad greens. If you live in an area where restaurants or health food stores are willing to support a value added product this might be an option. We were getting $8 a pound for a varied mix which we managed to produce throughout the summer utilizing our greenhouse , raised beds, shadecloth, an evaporative cooling system. Good luck.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), April 30, 2001.

If you live close to town on a good road how about plot gardening. In my mom's town somone dose this. I think there plots are 10 foot square for 10 dollars a month. This lady roto till's this plots with paths in between and she rents every one. It is not so much for food, as it is for flowers and a couple of tomatoe bushes. The older people who have had to move to town and give up there big yards or farms love this. They say it gives them somthing to do. The olny thing is she has a well and dose not have to pay for water, or do any work and has nice people come on out and visit her every day. She said its a easy way to make some extra money.

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), July 22, 2001.

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