Photo courtesy of Homegrown Evolution at Flickr.com.

The economy is pretty rough these days, and people are looking for ways to earn money on the side. The number of people working second or third jobs is on the rise due to the declining value of the US dollar and rising costs (health care, gas, and organic food prices have all gone up sharply).

Well, one way to find new ways to make money is to look at your hobbies and see if you can cash in on any of them. If you have a green thumb, have you considered starting an urban farm?

Before trading Bermuda grass for rows of Swiss Chard, there are a few things you might want to consider. First, find out what your neighbors and any local authorities have to say about the idea. Zoning rules and Home Owner Associations can be serious roadblocks.

Second, find out what grows well in your area. Check with local gardening clubs and test your soil to determine what you could produce with the least effort.

Then, go to your local market to research sale prices. LocalHarvest.org is a good place to find out what other farmers are growing, and you may be able to join the supplier network.

Finally, talk with your neighbors and other potential customers to find out which fruits and veggies are in demand. When you compare that list to the list of things that grow well and estimate your profit margins, you have the start of a business plan. If you can make money doing what you love, then do it!

Photo courtesy of donnee at Flickr.com.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 2:14 pm and is filed under Gardening Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.