How to Make Money Homesteading

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Many people dream about having their own homestead. However, they feel like one of the biggest obstacles standing in their way is how to make money homesteading.

Some homesteaders decide to keep their regular 9-5 to help pay the bills, while others find ways to make money on the farm. Fortunately, if ultimate self-sufficiency is your goal, you can check out this guide on how to make money on a homestead and see which ideas you can start implementing today.

From the Garden

Woman holding wicker basket full of garden vegetables

The garden is one of the easiest ways to make money on the homestead because you have several options for selling. Check with restaurants in your area to see if they’re willing to buy some of your produce. More and more restaurants are interested in working with local farms to get fresh, seasonal produce.

If you have a nearby farmers market, you can see about renting a stall to sell your produce. You can also create a simple roadside stand on your farm to sell what you grow.

Just remember that every state (and even different communities in each state!) will have different laws when it comes to what you can sell. Be sure to research these regulations thoroughly so you know if you need a special license or permit.

Grow extra fruits and vegetables to sell
Save seeds from your produce and sell them
Start extra seeds and sell the seedlings
Start trees and sell the saplings
Preserve fruit into jellies and jams
Make your own compost
Sell compost worms
Sell chicken/rabbit poop as fertilizer
Sell fresh herbs
Sell dried herbs
Sell dried fruits and vegetables
Sell pickled vegetables
Sell mushrooms
Sell fresh-cut flowers
Sell potted flowers
Sell plant markers
Sell tomato cages

From the Animals

Lamb standing in green meadow with blue sky

Animals on the homestead are also an excellent source of money. While you’ll face more laws and regulations when trying to sell animal products, you can also earn more money. So you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons if you decide to go this route to make money homesteading.

Sell fresh eggs
Sell mealworms for chickens
Incubate eggs and sell baby chicks
Sell animals for meat
Raise and sell fish
Raise bees and sell the honey, wax, and extra bees
Sell milk
Sell butter
Sell stud services
Sell wool
Raise and sell fishing worms

From Your Creativity

If you’re feeling crafty or have a special skill, you can use that creativity to make money homesteading. Again, like everything else on this list, you’ll need to check your local laws and regulations to see if there are any special licenses you need to sell these items.

Plus, don’t forget, if you’re currently working toward owning your farm, you can start practicing these skills now so you’re an expert at them when you finally have your homestead.

Make knives
Make wood furniture and signs
Make metal furniture and signs
Make homemade soap
Make homemade lotions, creams, and balms
Make botanical perfumes
Make homemade candles
Knit or sew homemade scarves, hats, gloves, or blankets
Make quilts
Sell firewood
Make handmade pottery
Make handmade jewelry
Make flies for fly fishing
Build owl or bat boxes
Build butterfly or birdhouses
Build bird feeders
Sell beeswax food wrap
Make fresh bread
Make homemade baked goods
Sell homemade chocolates
Sell homemade jerky or sausage

From Your Knowledge

You’ve learned a lot over the years. So take that knowledge and put it to good use by helping other people learn and making some money in the process!

Write a book
Start a blog
Teach music lessons (singing, piano, guitar, etc.)
Teach classes on skills you have (soap making, beekeeping, candle making, meat processing, etc.)

From Your Farm

If you have the space, look into different services you can offer on your farm. As always, check to see what type of licenses or insurance you need for these activities.

Rent your land or barn for weddings, parties, or photo shoots
Create a U-Pick farm
Forage for wild plants to sell
Open a pumpkin patch or corn maze
Set up a kennel for pet-sitting services
Open a bed and breakfast or retreat
Rent your land for livestock grazing

How to Make Money Homesteading

Don’t let your fears on how to make money homesteading stop you from pursuing your dreams of having your own farm. As you can see, there are a variety of ways you can make money on a homestead! You simply need to find the ones that suit your goals.

More Eco-Friendly Living Tips

Now that you know more about how to make money on a farm, are you interested in checking out more helpful ideas about eco-friendly living? Then please be sure to take a look at some of these other popular posts: