How to Make Money With Your Garden

Gardening is fun, but it can also be a lot of work! If you have a huge garden with lots of left over produce, why not make some money from it? Expand your garden to include a wider variety of vegetables, herbs, and plants, and you can increase your income tenfold!

Be sure to do your research on which plants are selling the best (join gardening forums on MeetUp, Facebook, Yahoo, etc), so you don’t waste your time planting things that won’t make you a profit. Be competitive with your pricing, too – check local farmer’s markets for price points.

Lease your garden space.

Do you have lots of garden space? If so, leasing portions of it out could prove to be a great money maker for you! You can divide a one-acre garden into several mini gardens, and rent each one out. Deciding on a fair price will depend on the space, tools available (will you provide them or will they bring their own?), quality of soil, etc.

Set up a vegetable stand.

You will have to check with city/county ordinances in your area, but setting up a market on the side of the road is a very real possibility for some! I know there are several areas that don’t even require permits to operate a roadside vegetable stand! Other areas, though, might require a permit or even rent – so check with your local agencies before setting up.

If you don’t have a lot of space, or a lot of money for building an actual market stand, use your pick-up truck! Place a few crates on the tailgate, make some tables out of pallets, and have your kids help you make some wooden signs to draw attention (and to let customers know how much each item is).

Use a large umbrella to keep your veggies (and yourself) cool from the harsh sun. Also, don’t forget to bring cash so you can make change (and sign up for square so you can take credit cards!).

Tip: You’ll also need a scale, unless you’re selling your produce by the piece.

Go crunchy.

Selling medicinal herbs and plants is a great way to make some extra cash from your garden. Honestly, you’d be surprised at what you’re already growing that could be medicinal. Many medicinal plants do well in shade, and require little attention when comparing to many other crops. You can even grow some indoors!

Knowledge of the herbs you’re selling is essential in growing your client base. People can buy medicinal plants anywhere – your knowledge is what they’ll be interested in paying for. Word of mouth travels fast, so treat your customers well.

Slideshow: 14 Medicinal Herbs You Can Grow

Tip: Perennials are a better bet, because they don’t require replanting every year.