Supplemental Income Streams While Homesteading
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Choosing to be away from the busy streets and corporate life and in the comforts of your home and backyard used to be a lifestyle choice of very few. The current pandemic situation of the world in addition to the environmental consequences modernization has brought upon our planet has man take a step back and reassess what needs to be done before it is too late. With businesses shutting down and the unemployment rate going up, many have taken a second look and resorted to homesteading. Whether it may be out of fear of food scarcity, to prepare for disasters or emergencies, to be more self-reliant, or to seek the safety and security at the comforts of your own home.
Giving up the 8-5pm job and the regular paycheck in exchange for an inconsistent income and starting from nothing is not easy. Hence the reason why a lot are still on the verge of hesitation. But do you know that being a homesteader gives you multiple options to make extra income? Not a single source of income like a stable job but multiple sources of income streams that you can do at the same time. Having no initial skills to begin with is not a source of worry. Living in this modern times gave us an advantage as compared to the previous generations. Learning is not anymore limited to books, schools, and teachers. Information is readily available at our fingertips. Searching online will enable us to access tons of articles, videos, and tutorials that will teach and empower us to go learn and do it ourselves. We also have online support groups that you can throw away any question or clarification that you can reach out to anytime. Anything you set your mind to will be achievable with time and effort.
Here below are the advice and suggestions of various modern homesteaders that rocked the homesteading lifestyle.
Homestead Garden
Plant & Sell Seeds or Seedlings
Majority of homesteaders have gardens. Whether they have a vast land, small backyard or even pots and containers lined up in their balconies. Growing plants and saving seeds is common among gardeners. Saving up for your own consumption and selling the extras is one of the things that you can do to earn additional income. Take special attention to heirloom and NON-GMO seeds as they sell faster with a higher price tag. Harvest seeds every year, dry them out and put them in bags or pouches. You can sell them in a local Farmer’s market, online or even outside your home.
If you have a greenhouse, you can also sell seedlings. Some people prefer seedlings that can be planted right away instead of waiting for the seeds to germinate. You can also grow microgreens. Microgreens are young vegetable greens, which are essentially seedlings of vegetables and herbs which are harvested just after the cotyledon leaves have developed. They are growing in popularity and are being used for visual enhancement, nutrition supplement and flavor and texture enhancement. They are one of the most space-efficient with low startup cost crops that you can grow. And they sell at a high price as well.
Plant & Sell The Harvest
Aside from seeds and seedlings, you can also sell the extra harvest. This will produce more money than the seeds. This is another great source of income as not all people have the time to grow and tend a garden. Organically home-grown produce is in demand and is highly appreciated by a lot of people. You can sell your harvest at a local Farmer’s market or a roadside stand outside your home.
Plant & Sell Herbs
Planting and selling herbs are another means of earning additional income. Herbs are easy and simple to grow. They don’t need much space and are flexible enough to be grown in pots or indoors. Herbs are one of the must have inside most homes with their nutritional and medicinal properties and benefits. They make great additions to most dishes and can be used for medicinal remedies as well. You can sell both fresh and dry herbs as fresh herbs usually don’t last long. Drying herbs will also allow you to preserve the fresh ones that you haven’t sold. You can even make homemade products such as balms, salves, oil and minor medicinal remedies from those herbs and sell those as well.
Plant & Sell Flowers
You can also grow and sell flowers. Do not underestimate the value of flowers. Not only will they brighten up your homes and kitchen, they also help reduce stress, boost your mood and exude positive energy. Besides, flowers make great gifts on special occasions like birthdays, Valentines, Mother’s Day, anniversaries and more.
Grow & Sell Mushrooms
There is a market for mushrooms. And they sell at a high price as well. The high-demand varieties of mushrooms like shiitake and oyster are easy to grow and require minimal tending. They can even be grown indoors and in large quantities in a small space. And there are multiple ways that you can grow them. Once inoculated, they can produce for years with minimal inputs.
Homestead Animals
Raise Bees & Sell Bee Products
If you have bees or are willing to go into beekeeping, there are various ways you can earn from this. There are a lot of bee products aside from honey. There’s beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, bee bread, or pollen. You can also make other products from these bee products such as candles or body care by-products from beeswax.
You can even sell the bees or bee packages if your hive is growing productively. Or have them rented out to gardeners and growers looking for pollination services. All bees need are hives, lots of flowers, some food or honey for them to survive through the winter and some love.
Raise Chickens & Sell Chicken Eggs, Chicks or Chicken Meat
There is nothing like fresh, organic, free-range chicken eggs. And they sell for more money than the non-organic ones. Raising chickens is also one way to earn extra income while homesteading. Aside from chicken eggs, you can also sell chicks or chicken meat. You might need an incubator though if you want to sell chicks to be able to hatch the eggs. You can also sell chicken manure. A lot of people buy manure as they can be used as fertilizer and excellent soil conditioner in organic and sustainable soil management.
Raise Rabbits, Sell Rabbit Meat & Rabbit Poop, or Breeding Pairs
Rabbits are often considered as pets because of their cute and fluffy appearance. But they are actually one of the most productive livestock animals to raise because they are inexpensive and easy to care for, they grow fast and produce large litters. You can raise rabbits for meat, though in the US, it has not gained popularity as compared to other cultures around the world.
When raising them for meat, choose a specific rabbit breed that is most suitable for meat production. You can also raise them for fur or pelt. These items are used by crafters and commercial operations to produce clothes, dolls, and other soft, silky products. Rabbit poop or manure also has a market on its own. Rabbit manure is one of the best organic fertilizers as it is high in nitrogen and phosphorus. You can also sell rabbits as breeders or pets to those who simply want a furry bunny companion.
Raise Sheep & Sell Sheep Meat or Wool
There is a premium price for lamb meat. Though sheep are not as easy to raise like other animals, you can earn more money from their meat. You can also sell their wool or milk. Sheep wool has long been used in the textile industry for various products such as clothing, carpets, beddings and more. Sheep milk is a specialty product often used to make special kinds of cheeses or other cultured dairy products.
Raise Turkey & Sell it at Thanksgiving
Almost every family eats turkey on Thanksgiving or during holidays. Taking advantage of this, you can also raise turkey and sell them during peak season. Raising turkeys is just like raising big chickens though some considerations must be taken into account since they are more fragile and they are bigger. Raising turkey can give you good profit as the market for turkey meat is already out there and you can command a higher price especially during the holiday season.
Raise Goats & Sell Goat Meat & Milk
Over the past years, the demand for goat meat and milk has risen. This has been brought about by the desire to look for healthier food choices. Goat meat is healthier and leaner as compared to other red meats like beef and pork. Raising goats for profit is very doable. Goats are low maintenance, and do not require much to raise. They will eat just about anything and just need constant access to food, water and shelter.
There are different breeds of goats depending on the type or need that you want. There are dairy goats if you are interested in producing both milk and cheese. Dairy goats can also breed and produce young goats which you can also sell. There are meat goats that you can raise to sell for meat. Cashmere goats if you want to sell cashmere, coveted fabric to luxury apparel makers. There are also pet goats and show goats which you can breed and sell. There are some people who also rent their goats to graze weeds and pastures. And goat manure can also be used as compost for gardens.
Raise Pigs & Sell Pig Meat & Processed Pig Products
There is a good demand for pig meat as it is popular in many cultures. Pig meat suppliers are numerous and market price is difficult to beat, but the demand for high-quality fresh meat can demand a higher price. Consumers nowadays take into account the ethics of how the animals they are consuming were raised. And they are willing to pay a little extra for that hence you can demand a higher price tag. If you want to breed pigs for profit, you must have a big area of land. The bulk of the cost in raising pigs is in their food and where they are kept. They need to be fenced in an enclosed space with shelter to protect them from sun, wind and rain. There are various ways to make profit when raising pigs. You can sell live pigs for one. There is a demand for young pigs especially to those people who are just starting up or wanting to breed. You can sell their unprocessed meat, or sell processed pig products such as bacon, country-style or baby back ribs, or hams. There are also some who rent their pigs out for their ability to forage efficiently and turn the ground over while naturally fertilizing it.
Raise Cattle & Sell Cow Meat & Diary
Raising cattle for meat and dairy can be challenging. But it can be profitable if you are willing to adapt to the ups and downs that come with the changes in this industry. Cows generally need land and space to roam, good pasture, fresh water, and vaccinations.
They are not beginner-friendly farm animals and it takes time to grow them before you can make profit from raising them. But they are profitable and can be sold at higher prices. Dairy cows are raised differently and usually require more attention and care than beef cows.
Raise & Sell Fish
Fish is a common food commodity consumed by people all over the world. If you have the space and means to raise fish then this could be another potential income for you. You can raise fish in a pool, pond or in an aquaponics system. Fish can provide food for your family and can give you some nice profit if you sell the excess.
Raise & Sell Fish Bait or Worms
You can also make some income raising bait or worms. A lot of people love to fish and the best way to catch them is to have the right bait. Worms can easily be raised in your compost or garden and require very little maintenance. You can sell them to local fishers, gardeners, reptile owners and those doing vermicomposting.
Use Your Skills
Do Your Own Compost & Sell Them
Black gold sells. Not all people have the time and patience to make good compost so most of them just buy. If you know how, this is also one way of making profit out of scraps and waste.
If you are raising animals such as chickens, sheep, goats, or rabbits, you can also sell your animal manure as compost.
Sell Homemade Baked Goods
Do you have baking skills? Why not make use of it. You can sell homemade treats like bread, cookies, muffins, biscuits, or cakes. You can sell them online, around your neighborhood, or at a local Farmer’s market. You can even accept orders for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. You can take advantage of special holidays like Halloween, Valentines, Thanksgiving or Christmas and sell holiday-themed cookies and goodies.
Sell Homemade Preserves
If you know how to can or preserve food or are willing to learn how to do it then you can add this to your list. Selling preserves like jams, jellies, or pickled goods is also a great way of earning profit. Not all people have the time and patience to learn canning and preserving food.
A lot would appreciate homemade preserves especially if you make them with unique flavors and originally your own. You can also package them in adorable gift baskets so they can be bought to be given as gifts. It could make you more profit if the ingredients can be found in your own garden.
Sell Homemade Cheese, Butter & Other Dairy Food Products
If you have animals that produce milk, you can make homemade dairy products and sell them. There are various products that you can produce with milk. There’s cheese, yogurt, butter, ice cream, pudding, caramel candies, milk fudge among a few.
Sell Homemade Body & Beauty Products
Some nice smelling herbs or flowers, some honey bees, and goat’s milk? Then you have the key ingredients to make some body and beauty products.
You can make soap, lotion, lip balms, facial wash, and others. A little extra for that homemade, chemical-free product is something that a lot of people are willing to pay for.
Sell Homemade Candles
Just like making soap and lotion, homemade candles are easy to make. You can personalize them and make unique scents based on what you have in your garden. Handmade candles or customized ones can demand a higher price as compared to the mass-produced commercial ones. You can even sell them online to reach a bigger market for bigger income potential since they can be shipped without any problem.
Sell Homemade Goods
Do you know how to spin, quilt, knit, or crochet? You can earn from your craftiness. You can produce so many things from knitted hats, scarves, sweaters, place mats, table cloths, towels, blankets, and so much more. Be creative in your designs and take advantage of gift-giving seasons and themed holidays. As people tend to spend money during these times to give out as gifts. You can also offer various products as giveaways on birthdays and corporate events. If you also know how to paint, or make jewelry. You can make creative designs and pieces that you could profit from as well.
Mend, Sew, Cross-stitch, Make Clothing
If you know how to sew or are willing to learn how to do it, this could also give you earning capability. You can repair clothes, make clothing or various items like table cloth, table napkins, pillow cases or curtains.
You can even cross-stitch and put on beautiful designs. You can take it further and accept personalized and custom-made orders and offer them as giveaways on swedding, birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions.
Repair, Carpentry, Woodworks
Do you have skills in woodworking? Why not offer minor repair services or sell small furniture and wooden toys? If you already have the essential tools and initial skills, this is something that you can readily step into and become one source of income stream for your family.
Write a Book
If you love writing, you can actually earn from it. This is something that you can do anywhere with no initial investment required except for your time. You can also self-publish and do marketing all by yourself. There are various ways where you can self-publish like Kindle, Amazon Createspace, iBooks, and more.
You can write about your life experiences, how-to books if you have specialized skills, poetry, or even create fictional stories. Your imagination is the limit to the topics that you can write about.
Start a Blog
Blogging can make you money. It may take some work on advertising and driving traffic to your site but if you have something unique and interesting to write about, this could give you an edge. Having great content will drive in advertisers and brands looking for affiliate marketers. You can even attract brands willing to pay money for product reviews. Sharing your knowledge to help and educate other people is rewarding. And if it could somehow give you income potential, then it’s a win-win situation.
Resell Some Stuff
You could also resell some stuff if you have some. To start with, look for some old books, some dinnerware that you haven’t used in ages, some of your kids’ toys and things. You can also look around at thrift shops or yard sales for quality items that are priced low and resell them for profit.
Services
Online Freelance
You can also do freelance work. There are a lot of online platforms for freelancers and offer work from home jobs and make a decent living out of it.
From editing, web design, virtual assistance, content writing, researching, transcribing and more.
Teach Workshops, Courses or Classes
Do you have a specialized skill? Have you learned anything on your homesteading journey? Share your knowledge by teaching courses. Are you an expert in growing, a steady beekeeper for years, a great cook or good at crafting? Put those knowledge to good use and teach them to other people for a price. Knowledge acquired by experience is valuable. And a lot of people would pay the price of learning from first hand experience rather than starting on their own and do trials and errors which could end up becoming more costly.
Do Photography
If you have an eye for details, and a good perspective, have a decent camera, you can take quality pictures and earn from it. You can take good pictures of your homestead, your garden, harvest, chickens, and other farm animals.
You can sell prints online or stock photos. You can even go further by offering photography services and cover events like birthdays, baptisms, anniversaries, weddings, and more.
Pet Sitting
If you have some space and room, you can make use of it. You can set up a kennel and offer pet sitting services. Some people will pay a decent price for someone to watch over their pets while they are away on vacation or business trips.
Rent Out Equipment
If you are quite equipped with farm vehicles, machineries, tools or equipment, then you could also rent them out. Such as tractors and implements, harvesters, plows, harrows, sprayers, and other high quality hand tools. In farming, it takes a lot of hard work and sweat. And in order to be efficient in your daily operations, one needs to have good equipment. But not all farmers and growers can afford to buy the things that they need. Renting out your tools and machineries could also gain you profit and potential passive income.
Make Use of Your Land or Property
Rent Out an Extra Room or Cabin
If you have an extra room or cabin, consider having it rented out. You can offer bed and breakfast services to backpackers and vacationers. You can list it on websites offering such services like Airbnb.
There are some people who prefer the slow paced, quiet and relaxing view that farms out in the country offer. Some might even want to get a first hand experience of what it feels like to homestead themselves.
Rent Out Your Property as Venue
If you have space big enough to host parties and celebrations, you can also have it rented out as a venue. A new, beautiful, and unique place to host celebrations, team buildings, special events or other gatherings will be something that people lookout for. If you have a scenic or breathtaking landscape, you can also offer it as a photo shoot location.
Rent Out Your Land as Grazing Spots
If you have a vast land, you can also rent it out as grazing pastures for other farmers who are looking for such for their animals to graze on.
This can become a source of passive income for you while helping out other homesteaders as well.
Cut and Sell Firewood
Firewood is a necessity especially during the cold months. People need firewood to warm their homes during the winter season. Some campers would also be needing firewood during summer. If you have trees that you can cut down and be made into firewood then you can profit from this as well.
Offer Storage Solutions
If you have the space, you can also have it rented out to people who don't have a place to keep some of their vehicles or boats during winter.
The list above are a few of the most common things one can do to earn income while being on homestead. There are a lot more opportunities and possibilities out there limited by your imagination and creativity. With all the possible business ideas that you can think of, it is always important to check in with your local state laws and regulations first before starting out. Specifically to those involved with growing food, producing dairy, raising animals, and property rentals. This way, you are ensuring that all your efforts will not be wasted being hindered by those rules and ordinances.
As most homesteaders would tell you there will always be a way to make a living and support your family. Adapt a new mindset of living within your means and spending only on the basic necessities. Be flexible and willing to accept the new normal of exploring multiple income streams until you find something steady. The right and comfortable fit for you and your family. This will take time, a lot of effort, a great deal of planning, overcoming obstacles and persevering through the challenges. At the end of the day, how things will turn out is up to you. The success and failure of each venture is dependent on your decisions and amount of work you put into it.
Don’t forget to check out our all in one guide for homesteading, farming and ranching in Texas.
