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How to Make Money in Farming ($100-$1,000+/month)

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With hard work and some good planning, it’s possible to earn money off your land, no matter how many acres you own.  Whether it’s one acre, five acres or even 40+, this guide is open to all.

In today’s post, I wanted to talk about a few ways you can earn money in farming, whether it’s a few dollars a month or something you can turn into a lucrative, full-time job.

As in all of my guides, I love to be as detailed as possible, so this is going to be a long one!  I will do my best to break it down the best I can.

How to Make Money in Farming

Grow and Sell Crops

Of course, your farmland can be a rich source for crops.  Depending on where you live, plant crops and then sell your harvest either roadside, if you have the traffic, or even online.   And, if you don’t know what to sell, maybe take a poll on a local Facebook group to see what people are interested in.  Don’t forget that people like to buy seeds as well.  I feel this is the most lucrative option, of course, but you will need to make sure that you treat this option as a business because you don’t want to be stuck with an acre of crops that won’t sell.

TIP:  From my research, some of the most profitable crops tend to be microgreens, salad greens, garlic, and mushrooms.



Can Your Crops

Take any crops that can be canned, such as cucumbers or fruit, and sell it at a local farmers market.  This is another one that you will have to treat like a business.

Herb Garden

This is a smaller option, but it’s one that you can maintain year round.  Herbs are easy to market and are a staple in every kitchen around town.

Create a Community Garden to Rent Out

Allow the community to use part of your land to grow a garden.   Section off portions of your land and then rent it out for the month, year or whatever you’re comfortable with.  Depending on how many lots you can create, this could yield at least $10 to $20 per plot, per month.  Just do the math:  10 lots at $10 a month is a passive $100 a month, sometimes more.  You could take it one step further and even teach people new to gardening how to successfully raise the crops they are interested in growing.

Turn Your Land into a Campground

Websites such as HipCamp allow you to list your property as a campground, allowing campers to reserve your land if you have the space.

Whether you want to allow tents only or bring in RVs, it’s up to you.  Some owners go the extra mile and add full hookups to bring in even more cash.  This is optional, however, as you can strictly offer your land as a camping spot for the night only.  You don’t have to go overboard and provide amenities, toilets, showers, etc.  Doing so can easily yield $20 per night, per camper.  Depending on the space, this could bring in $100+ per day.  How much you make will depend on where you live and how much land you can offer.

Livestock

If you think of a farm, there’s a good chance you think of the livestock, from cows to chickens.  If you have the room to let these animals roam, then picture it as a profitable enterprise, as long as you manage your money properly.

Goats:

  • Raise for the meat, either processing yourself or finding a third-party option.
  • If your area allows it, fresh, raw goat milk can be a hit.
  • Take it one step further and learn how to process goat cheese.
  • Get fancy and learn how to make lotions.  This is a great option that can sell well on Etsy or locally.

Poultry:

  • Raise as meat chickens and sell them if you know how to butcher.
  • Sell just the eggs.  Don’t just think about chickens, either, as duck and quail eggs sell for a decent amount in most cities.
  • Open a hatchery and sell chicks the day they are born.
  • Feathers are often a hot commodity among crafters.  Sell what you can on an Etsy storefront.

Cows:

  • Raise for the meat, either, again, processing locally or finding a third-party to help.
  • Sell cow’s milk or use it to create handmade cheese, yogurt, etc.  Be creative as milk can be used in a variety of ways.

Sell Manure

If you have livestock, then be sure to bag up the manure as it’s great for gardens.  This is a hot commodity that sells quite well on local marketplaces.



Raise Worms

Believe it or not but raising worms are a great way to bring in some extra cash.  And, the great thing is that you don’t need a lot of space or experience.

Worms can be raised in bins or tubs and can take only 90 days to harvest.  Sell your worms to local bait shops or online.

Host a Swap Meet

If your local ordinances allow it, consider hosting a swap meet for your local town.  Charge $10+ per tent space and allow vendors to set up shop.

This option will only work if you have permission to do so and you have adequate land.  I would only recommend this option only if you have parking for at least 50+ cars and you can host 20+ vendor tents.  There’s a lot of organization and liability involved, but it’s an option to consider.

Rent Space for a Wedding or Event

Many people often want to hold a wedding or event, such as a birthday, outside.  If you have the space and the scenery to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience, then consider offering your land for rent.

The internet makes it easy to connect with those who need space such as yours.  Websites such as Peerspace can help you list your property and wait for potential people to contact you.

Grow Flowers

I’m going to stick flowers in their own category since I view them differently than crops.  Growing flowers can be a great way to sell directly to the public or even to a local florist.  Like crops, see which flowers are in demand and see if you have the appropriate climate/soil to grow it.

Rent Out Your Land to Companies

Aside from the campground and wedding/event options, you may want to think about renting out your land to private companies.  This can include cell phone antennas, wind turbines or even solar panels.  Of course, you will need the right type of property to do so, but it could bring in some passive income for years to come.

Rent Out Your Land to Beekeepers

Bees are in demand and will continue to be in the distant future.  Websites like LeaseHoney.com can connect you with beekeepers who are looking for land to place their hives.  Depending on the space you have, this can turn into a very lucrative, passive income opportunity.

Offer Storage for RVs, etc

RV and boat storage can cost a pretty penny.  In fact, in some suburban areas, it can cost upwards of $125+ per month.  Offering the ability to have someone park on your property can easily yield you $30+ per car parked.  Add in at least 20 and you can imagine the numbers adding up.  If going this route, be sure to look into local ordinances and insurance for liability purposes.

Create a Blog/Video Series

People love to read about farm life, especially when it comes from a true farmer.  Whether you want to videotape your life or write a blog in regards to your land, adding a personal touch is sure to bring in eyeballs.  These visitors can then turn into cash when they buy products you recommend or through the ads you put on the site.  There are a lot of ways to make money with YouTube and/or a website, however, it will take some time before you see your first check.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a ton of land to make money off your farm.  Whether it’s $1,000 a year or six figures, it’s entirely possible.

I hope some of these ideas can at least give you a jump start on a money-making venture.

As always, if there’s an option I forgot about or you want to comment on something that gave you success, feel free to leave a comment below.

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Tom Nathaniel

Hi! My name is Tom Nathaniel, and I created LushDollar to help share my honest thoughts on everything money. You won't find gimmicks here. It's the Internet's most honest money site after all. I graduated from Arizona State University, and I have worked in the finance industry since 2006, consulting with multiple Fortune 5000 companies.

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