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70+ Ways To Make Money From Your Homestead Or Farm

Have you found that even though homesteading is a more simple way of living, it’s not always much cheaper? Yea, I’ve noticed it too.

Animals need to be fed, trucks need fixing, and there’s probably a piece of equipment that would make your life a lot easier.

Here you’ll find over 70 suggestions for making money off your homestead or farm.

Animals and Livestock

The existing animals you have now can definitely help bring in an income from your homestead. Whenever I get into a tight spot, this is where I start as I have found it to the easiest way to make money.

If you choose to breed animals, please do so responsibly.

  • Sell eggs for eating (chicken and duck)
  • Sell eggs for hatching
  • Hatch chicks and sell them
  • Incubate eggs for others
  • Sell extra animals
  • Breed animals (poultry, rabbits, goats, dogs, pigs, alpaca, llama, horses, cattle, etc.)
  • Offer stud services
  • Animal poo for fertilizer (common with alpaca poop)
  • Raw fiber or yarn from hair animals (sheep, goat, rabbit, alpaca, llama)
  • Milk (goat, cattle, camel)
  • Meat
  • Smoked meat
  • Host a petting zoo for kids birthday parties
  • Sell feathers ( I used to make a decent amount selling guinea feathers on ebay- true story)
  • Honey
  • Beeswax and wax products
  • Beehives & nucs
  • Rent goats for weed control
  • Raise and sell compost worms
  • Raise and sell mealworms and starter kits

Homemade Products

Homemade items are always a hit and people love them! You may need to adhere to Cottage Food Laws, so be sure to check into them beforehand.

If you are looking for an outlet to sell your items, consider the farmers markets, Facebook groups, craigslist, local small business, a roadside stand, a booth in a flea market, or Etsy. I also like to check out Etsy for inspiration on things to make and sell.

  • Baked bread and other goods
  • Jam, jelly, preserves, and syrups
  • Canned food
  • Hand sewn products (from pillowcases to stuffed animals and everything in between!)
  • Tailor clothing
  • Soap
  • Lotion
  • Balms and salves
  • Tinctures
  • Tamales and burritos
  • Circuit machine things (paper products, decals, etc.)
  • Embroidery
  • 3D printed products
  • Knit or crochet items
  • Sourdough, kombucha or water kefir starters

Exploit Your Garden

Gardens are another great way to use something you probably already have to generate an income. In a recent Backyard Bounty Podcast with Justin Rohner of Agriscaping (airing May 25), we talked about how families can make a full year’s income with a productive quarter or half acre garden.

  • Seeds
  • Started plants
  • Cut flowers and bouquets
  • Maple syrup (ok, you may not have maple trees in the garden, but you know what I’m getting at here)
  • Extra garden produce (roadside stand, farmers market)
  • Grow cannabis or hemp
  • Create a U Pick farm
  • Corn maze
  • Grow mushrooms
  • Start an orchard
  • Dried herbs
  • Make and sell compost
  • Propagate houseplants

Use Your Land And Buildings

If you have extra land or an especially picturesque space, use it to your advantage!

  • Allow campers (hipcamp.com)
  • Allow RV campers (upcloserv.com)
  • Rent a spare room (airbnb.com)
  • Start a Bed & Breakfast
  • Rent as a wedding venue
  • Sublease land
  • Vehicle storage
  • Pet sitting and boarding
  • Hunting access and guiding
  • Sell extra equipment or household items you aren’t using

Skills & Services

In today’s digital world, physical skills are still in high demand. If you have the internet, the income possibilities are endless!

  • Make Furniture
  • Make Garden boxes
  • Cut and sell firewood
  • Build chicken coops
  • Field and lot mowing
  • Welding services
  • Mechanical or automotive repair
  • Photography
  • Teach (local classes or online)
  • Virtual assistant
  • Build websites
  • Start a blog and teach or share your stories
  • Start a podcast
  • Offer digital services on Fiverr
  • Buy and flip items (i.e. buy from the thrift store and sell on eBay. Buy new things on sale, free items from Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. Sell on eBay, Amazon, Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, swap meet, etc)
  • Work from home (do your homework and make sure the company is reputable)

Part Time Jobs (Off The Farm)

If you live in a more populated area or are struggling to make money on your homestead, a part time job off the farm may be a good fit.

  • Handyman/repair
  • Dog walking
  • Junk/appliance removal and recycling
  • Lawn care (mowing, pull weeds)
  • Child care
  • Tutoring
  • General labor
  • Auto detailing
  • Clean houses, rental properties or offices
  • Clean chicken coops and stalls
  • Temp agency
  • Donate plasma
  • Uber/Lyft driver
  • Doordash driver

Unique Skills & Learn Something New

What unique skills or training do you have? Maybe you are an artist and can paint pet portraits. Do you have a CDL? Take advantage of any existing skills, training or certifications that you currently have.

If you don’t have any of these, is now a good time to take a class or learn a new trade? Trade classes will likely be the quickest way to an income, unlike a traditional college degree. There are even courses like the Master Gardener training with your local extension office or online courses you can take.

With a healthy dose of motivation (especially if you have the internet), it’s never been easier to make a few extra bucks, have a full side hustle, or turn your homestead into an income. I wish you the best of luck!

What do you do to earn an income on your homestead? Leave a comment below and let me know!

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