by: Rohit Mehtani
In this uncertain economy, there is one type of business that’s growing: the home business that feeds the trends of locally produced, locally grown, hand-crafted, and sustainable eco-produced, earth-regenerating, and fun to operate. As the archaic industrial era farms continue to struggle, the new micro eco-farms of the 21st century are blossoming from the ashes.
This winter of 2009, begin your plans to start a small farm or make money from your garden, help someone else begin the dream of starting a small farm or earning money from their garden, or enhance a current garden home business or mini farm.
Start by discovering the possibilities of what you could produce. As America renews itself towards local food independence and an artisan renaissance, you may want to consider gourmet herbs and vegetables from your urban backyard, rare wool miniature sheep and lavender from small rural acreage, or any design-your-own “micro eco-farm” you create. For more details www.greateducationonline.com Others who start a small farm or want to earn money from a garden specialize in health food items like wheat grass or grow gourmet mushrooms from a shed in the back yard.
In today’s world of eco-consciousness, home business and small enterprise, these new mini eco-farms sometimes synergize with their owner’s other passions, so a home cottage industry matches perfectly with the farm, allowing two plus two to equal ten.
This is because of something many aren’t yet aware of – agritourism — or hosting community and tourists in the garden or on the farm as a way to make new profit, is the fastest segment of tourism in the country. Cash in on this!
As examples, an organic lavender farm may match up with a home massage business using its own lavender oil. People coming for massage discover the farm and its many other products, people coming to the farm discover the massage business. Word of mouth spreads, and business grows without traditional advertising. An heirloom tomato and herb farm may develop an on-farm Italian cooking school, a flower farm may offer classes on flower arranging or a u-pick patch or Mother’s Day and weddings. Some who start a small farm grow crops specifically for agritourism opportunities, like pumpkin patches or u-dig potato patches. For more details www.greatindustrialguide.com These farmers are paid, for example, $5 per head for tour groups or classes of school children to come visit and experience the farm.
There are legitimate reports of income in the $100,000’s for those who only open for agritourism during the October harvest. Some who make money from the garden just want a small, starter stream of income to see how they like the process, and they might grow cut flowers and set out a flower stand in the neighborhood, much like they sold lemonade as a kid.
The crops, animals, and products you can create on your farm are nearly endless. You can produce world cuisine crops or unusual fruits, herbs and vegetables like chocolate mint, exotic perfume melons or American pawpaw, make bodycare products from rare vintage roses, or specialize in blueberries or rare chili peppers to make and sell food products from secret family recipes. Urbanites operate family-friendly home businesses from rooftops, balconies and vacant lots, and today, people can again live the country life as authentic farmers again, earning their living from the land and enjoying rural traditions as a way of life.
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