Home gardening has become a popular hobby in the past few years. In fact, 55% of American households engage in gardening activities. It’s a great hobby to have because it is soothing and rewarding in several ways. For instance, you are able to grow your own food, improving your self-sufficiency. You can also get your daily exercise from planting and maintaining your garden, improving your physical health. Moreover, it is also good for the environment as it lowers your carbon footprint. To go further with your passion for gardening, you can turn it into a source of income. If you are considering turning your gardening hobby into a business, here are a few ventures you can get into.
Selling Produce at The Farmers’ Market
If you are growing vegetables, herbs, or fruits in your garden, you may choose to sell them at the farmer’s market. You don’t have to limit yourself to these, though. You can also sell homemade jellies and jams, loaves of bread, and dips. However, there are a few things to consider other than what you are planning to sell, such as the rental fee for a market stall. Almost every farmers’ market charges stall fees or rent, but these fees aren’t excessive. Charges come anywhere from just over $100 to about $600 per season, depending on the market’s popularity and location. You also need to consider your stall set-up and have a portable tent or other form of weather protection during open hours, assuming market management is on board. You may also need tables and chairs if they are not provided by market management, as well as some reusable cloth bags that you can sell to your customers for a low fee to hold their purchases.
Be an E-commerce Seller
An e-commerce business is any business that buys and sells goods or services over the internet. According to a study, the retail e-commerce sales worldwide reached nearly $5.5 trillion in 2021, so it’s never been a better time to start an online business. One of the simplest ways to earn money online is through blogging. Think of it as a way to promote your garden and its produce. You can share what you know about gardening through your blog, you can also use videos, photos, and plant guides. You may also sell your produce through this blog. You just need to feature all your products for sale on your website and let your readers know how to buy them.
This venture can also turn into a small business through sponsorships from gardening-related companies. When your business grows, you would need to hire people to handle the additional work. Make sure to get business insurance to protect your growing company and your workers. According to Cerity.com, when employers buy workers’ insurance, they drastically limit the ramifications of injuries and illnesses that occur within the course of the work.
Planting Gardens for Others
If you don’t want to sell what you grow in your garden, consider offering your expertise instead. There are many people who want to have a garden but don’t know how to start one, and you can teach them how to do so for a certain fee. You may want to help design and build their garden and then teach them how to nurture it. You can also help others to revive their gardens. On average, a professional gardener can charge clients between $50 and $100 an hour, so you will be doing what you love while also earning an income.
You can turn your passion for gardening into a thriving business. Consider any of these suggested business ventures to make money from your gardening hobby.