If you’re particularly green-thumbed and you find yourself able to grow just about anything, and you have a real passion for it, then it might make sense to make your passion pay. However, you might not be able to see precisely how you can do that. There are plenty of business opportunities for those who know their way around a garden, a greenhouse, or a hydroponic setup; however, here are a few worth considering.
There’s A Strong Market For Home-Grown Vegetables And Herbs
A lot of communities love buying fresh and local produce, not only because it feels more bespoke and fulfilling to support local markets, but also because factory farming techniques are not only a lot less environmentally friendly, but they can also affect the quality of the ingredients they use to cook with. Whether you specialize in growing herbs like cilantro, heirloom tomatoes, specialty peppers, or otherwise, you can find your market by growing things that aren’t quite as easy to find fresh in the local supermarkets. You can sell through farmers’ markets, directly to restaurants, or try finding a distributor to pick up your goods.
Supporting Local Florists And Events
Cut flowers are always in demand, and the vast majority of florists do not grow their own stock. Instead, they tend to work with others, be it wholesale suppliers or local growers. If you have a talent for cultivating flowers, be it dahlias, sunflowers, peonies, or even wildflower mixes, then you could approach florists to ask them to carry your stock, or you could just as easily approach wedding planners or set up at weekend markets. You can also offer seasonal bouquets or create your own brand of locally grown floral arrangements.
Supporting The Growing Cannabis Market
As more and more states move towards legalizing cannabis, there’s plenty of room to start a business in that industry, as well. By setting up the right hydroponic growing system, finding a good seed supplier, and growing your own cannabis, you could sell to dispensaries in your area. It’s important to note that even in areas where cannabis is legal, however, it typically has to be grown specially for commercial purposes, and in keeping with state regulations and licensing requirements, so make sure that you do your research.
Teaching Others To Grow
If you don’t so much like the idea of selling the things that you grow, but would rather teach others how to do it as well as you, then you could share your knowledge rather than your produce. You can, for instance, create online courses, start up an online workshop, or even look at starting local classes, whether it’s for vegetable gardening, flower care, or growing specialty plants. Teaching is an especially flexible model because it doesn’t require large plots or constant harvesting, just passion for the topic.
Whether it’s a side hustle or your main thing, there are plenty of ways that you can make your love of gardening pay. It’s all about deciding whether or not you want to commoditize your interest.
