There are so many ways to make money homesteading but today I am going to talk about the top ten that require little to no skill. The main way to make money homesteading is to make or grown goods to sell so the first thing you are going to want to think about is where you can advertise or sell your goods. Facebook is a great place to start, whether you share your product to your personal page, create a page specifically for your business, or simply post to marketplace, your products will likely be seen by hundreds of people who are local to your area. By using Facebook, you can also ask your friends and family to share your post to their personal page to reach an even bigger audience. The next thing I would recommend is to reach out to local “mom and pop” shops, many would likely be willing to carry your products for a small commission of your sells or a small fee. Most small business owners love to support other small businesses and will likely let you place business cards in their establishments if you simply ask. I highly recommend that you focus on branding of your products, this will score you more points with buyers just by simply offering a product that appears professional. Develop a color scheme and use that across the board for your business. If you are able, offer eco friendly packaging. This will also help draw in business.
10 Ways to Make Money on a Homestead
- Sell Individual Flowers or Flower Bouquets
- Sell Produce or Fruit
- Sell Eggs (You could also offer Milk, Butter, and Cheese if you have a dairy cow)
- Make Baked Goods (Sourdough Bread is especially popular)
- Raise and Sell Animals (Rabbits and Chickens are an easy place to start)
- Teach Classes or Write a Book
- Make Tea and Spice Blends
- Make Lotions, Soaps, Candles, or Balms
- Rent your land for photoshoots
- Offer Pet Sitting Services
Flower Garden
If you love growing flowers, designate a portion of your garden to growing flowers. Once in bloom, you can either sell premade flower bouquets or set up a little market and allow customers to build their own bouquets. You could sell flowers piece by piece or offer a set price for different size bouquets. You could also offer different colored paper to wrap the bouquets in for even further customization. This idea would do especially well if you have a local farmer’s market or craft show you could set up at. Just take into account any booth fee’s you may have to pay when determining your pricing. Talk to your local florist as well, they may be willing to purchase flowers for their arrangements.
Produce
If you grow a garden or have fruit trees then this is such an easy money maker. Grow a few extra crops this year and take your harvest to the farmer’s market or set up a small produce stand next to the road. You could even can or dehydrate some of your harvest to sell alongside your fresh produce. Apple Butter and anything pickled are always great sellers!
Eggs
Selling fresh eggs is probably one of the easiest money makers out there if you have a homestead, in my opinion. If you are a homesteader or plan to start a homestead, chances are you have or will have chickens. When selling eggs, I find that presentation is everything. While you could just reuse old egg cartons from the store, selling your eggs in eco friendly packaging with a cute little label will give you one up on your competition and score you a few more sells. I prefer unwashed eggs personally as they last longer that way so whether you offer washed or unwashed is up to you (or you could offer both). Selling eggs can make enough profit to cover the expense of your chicken feed therefore leaving you with a “free” source of eggs.
Homemade Baked Goods
This one can be a little more time consuming but can be a wonderful side hustle. If you love to bake, homemade bread typically sells well. Sourdough does especially well but can be a bit tricky to get into at first and takes a bit more research. If you want to try making your own sourdough starter, using a whole wheat or rye unbleached flour works the best. If you have a friend or family member who has a starter ask them for some of their discard or you can purchase a dehydrated starter from Etsy that can be rehydrated. Some other things you can offer alongside bread include english muffins, bagels, and of course sweets.
Livestock
Raising and Selling small livestock is also a great way to make a little extra money. Joining your local buy, sell, and trade or homesteading groups on Facebook can be a great way to spread the word about livestock you have for sell. Just make sure to read group rules as some Facebook groups prohibit the sell of animals.
Knowledge
If you have a lot of experience or knowledge about a particular skill, write a book or offer classes. For example, you could teach a canning or sourdough starter class. This could be locally or virtual (through a video chat or prerecorded video). If in person teaching is not for you, writing a book may be a better path and it is not as daunting as it may seem. If you plan on doing any of this, I highly recommend using Canva. I have been using Canva now for several years and it is by far my favorite designing tool I have ever used. I have the pro account but you could absolutely get by with using the free version.
Herbs
Planting an herb garden can open a lot of windows. Many herbalists are not able to accommodate a big enough space to grow as many herbs as they need so they look to Etsy and local stores to purchase. So, one option would be to sell dried herbs on Etsy or at your local farmer’s market. If you plan to go this route, always make sure to label each plant with their scientific name as well as their common name. You could also prepare homemade spice/seasoning blends or tea blends with homegrown herbs. If you plan to grow you own, I do recommend that you grow way more plants than you would expect to need because once they are dried they will reduce in size drastically. Another thing I would like to add is that if you plan to do any of these things, you should research herbs that grow locally to your area. There are so many medicinal and edible herbs that can be foraged for free and sold.
Bath, Body, and Home
There are so many things that can be made instead of purchased from the store, with simpler non-toxic ingredients. Here are just a few ideas:
- All Purpose Cleaner
- Degreaser
- Deodorant
- Adhesive Remover
- Lotion
- Soap
- Laundry Detergent
- Salves
- Lip Balm
- Sugar or Salt Scrubs
- Body Oils
- Candles
- Room Spray
- Bug Spray
Rent Land
Photography is a popular business that more and more people pursue each year. Photographers are always seeking new places to photograph their clients at. If you have a field, barn, or a pretty piece of land, reach out to local photographers and offer to rent your land to them for them to use during photoshoots.
Pet Sitting
If you love working with dogs and animals, offer pet sitting services. Creating a Facebook page for this sort of thing and sharing with friends would be a great way to get the word out. You could also reach out to your local vet, groomer, and pet supply stores and ask if you they would allow you to put business cards in their business.