One of the most common homesteading goals I hear from readers and friends is making extra money from home.
On the one hand, the DIY and make-do mentality of homesteaders can help save money. But the constant expansion (more animals, fruit trees, infrastructure, etc) can also add expenses.
So it makes sense to find ways to make extra money on the homestead to cover these extra expenses.
For some folks, making extra money from home can help reduce or eliminate the need for a regular nine to five job.
But, where do you start?
There are so many ways to make extra money at home with a little determination and creativity!
It doesn’t matter if you own several acres or live in a tiny house with nothing but a dream of homesteading.
I created this list of 57 ways to make money from home to help get your creativity flowing. There is something for everyone if you have the drive to succeed and an endless desire to learn!
General Tips for Making Money on Your Homestead
Here are some tips to help you get started making extra money from home. Practicing these skills may take some effort if they don’t come naturally. But they are invaluable once you’ve mastered them.
Cultivate an Entrepreneurial Spirit
Always be on the lookout for opportunities to fill a need. If that also coincides with your passion or interest, that’s even better!
Start with Low Costs
Starting slow and steady is much more practical than jumping in with a large investment. Choose ways to make extra money that utilize the resources already available to you.
Test your idea on family and friends. Don’t just ask them if they think it’s a good idea (they probably won’t be as honest as you want).
Offer your products to family and friends who already like them and grow your customer base from there. Word of mouth is the best form of marketing!
Get Organized
At first, it may feel like you are dabbling here and there. That’s okay. The best thing to do here is get organized so you can see what works and what doesn’t.
Keep thorough records of what you make, sell, and what seems to get the greatest amount of attention.
Ways to Make Extra Money Online
These ideas for making extra money online can be hobbies or full-time careers. These are great options if you have very little land or space to work with.
Some require a lot of time upfront to get going, so it may be a good idea to mix those “long game” ideas with some that bring in money right away (like freelancing).
Review Websites on UserTesting
UserTesting asks ‘testers’ to review websites and share their opinions.
2. Transcribe Audio Files on Rev
Make extra money at home by listening to audio files and then typing what you hear.
3. Start a Blog or Vlog
A blog or vlog will take time to become profitable. But once it’s set up, this is a great way to make extra money from home. You can blog about anything, but having a strong focus will help your blog be profitable.
Some of my favorite blogging resources:
Elite Blog Academy by Ruth Sokoup
Create: One Year Blog Planner and Editorial Calendar by Meera Kothand
4. Write a Book or E-Book
Have an inspiring story in you? Publish a book or eBook. These make great incentives that help increase your blog subscribers, too! The Creative Penn has some excellent resources on self-publishing.
5.Freelance for Other Blogs, Websites, or Print Publications
Many companies need freelance writers to create content for their readers. That includes blogs! Freelance writing is how I’ve brought money in for my family since my first child was born. It’s something I love to do and am good at.
Plus, I’ve mostly written in the natural living space so I’ve also gotten paid to learn about things I’m interested in (how cool is that?). Carol at Make a Living Writing has some good resources to get you started.
6. Create an Online Course or Video Course
Teach others to live off-grid, raise animals, make herbal tinctures, or spin wool into yarn. Online courses are popular today and reach more people than teaching at local venues. Teachable is an online platform where you can also find tips and checklists for making awesome online courses.
7. Provide Website Design Services
If you have the skills, create a business helping others set up blogs or websites. Blogs and online coaching services that focus on helping people start their own website is a popular niche – as many people today are looking to take their businesses online.
8. Create and Sell Graphics
Use Photoshop, Canva, and Over to create printable or digital graphics. Sell these to websites, bloggers, or as printable copies on Etsy.
9. Become a Virtual Assistant or Enter Data for Online Companies
Virtual assistants are like secretaries, but get to work from home. You can also find work from home jobs that ask you to enter data for company reports. Read more about how to become a virtual assistant at The Work at Home Woman.
10. Become an Online Tutor
If you have a background in education or language, you could use those skills to teach others from home. VIPKid, Brainfuse, and Chegg Tutors are a few online tutoring platforms you could look into.
11. Sell Your Unwanted Clothes, Books, or Home Décor Items
Look around the room. See anything you’d be happy to let go of? Sell your unwanted items on eBay, Thredup, or take them to a local resale shop.
Ways to Make Extra Money with Building Projects
If you are a builder, this section is for you! Either build individual pieces to sell or work for a customer and build their vision on-site.
12. Building to Make Extra Money
Here are some ideas for things you can build and sell:
- Chicken Coops
- Bee Boxes
- Raised Garden Beds
- Rabbit Hutches
- Milking Stands
- Produce Storage Bins
- Small Garden Sheds or Outdoor Tool Storage Boxes
- Greenhouses
- Dog Houses
- Fences for Animals or Gardens
- Rustic, Nature-Inspired Wedding Décor (arbors, cake stands, tabletop decorations, etc.)
- Compost or Worm Bins
- Picnic Tables or Wooden Swings for Porches
- ‘Farmhouse’ Style Coffee Tables
- Upcycle Furniture and Decor from Resale Shops
- Wooden Signs from Pallets for Crafters
- Repair Pallets (Companies are looking to repair and reuse pallets to save money and support green initiatives. Read more about the benefits of repairing pallets here.)
If you have a product that people love and demand become high, you could even subcontract out the building (but make sure you trust them and their work!).
13. Selling Building Plans
Another way to profit from your building skills is to sell the plans for your structures online. Create PDF instructions and upload them to Etsy as a DIY option for other people all over the world to use.
Ways to Make Extra Money with Crafts and Bath Products
More and more farmer’s markets are featuring homemade bath products and crafters. These are great if you are looking to make money on a small acreage. If you make these for yourself and your family, why not make extra and sell them?
14. Soaps, Candles, Lotions, Shampoo Bars, Body Scrubs, and More
Many of us are striving to reduce our toxic load by using all-natural products in our homes and on our bodies. You can find countless DIY recipes online.
Browse this collection of 20+ Homemade Beauty Product Recipes I shared a while back.
15. Homespun Yarn from Fiber Animals
People that love to knit and do yarn crafts will often pay more to support a local yarn spinner. You would need a lot of fiber animals (angora rabbits, goats, sheep) to produce enough to profit. But, if you enjoy it and have the resources this is a unique way to make extra money at home.
You could even start a Fiber Co-Op like this one, to introduce others to the benefits of shopping local for yarn and fiber goods.
16. Homemade Accessories
Hand sewn or knitted, handmade jewelry, leather, and canvas crafts are a few of the things you might find at a farmer’s market today. Successful Market Vending by Sarah Shasko covers everything you’d need to know to get started selling your crafts at markets, fairs, and more.
If you are new to putting your crafts out there for all to see, this would be a great resource to build your self-confidence.
17. Herbal Tea Blends
Do you enjoy crafting your own herbal tea blends from your medicinal herb garden? You need a sensitive palate to notice the subtle differences in herbal teas.
But once you learn about herbal combinations and how they compliment each other, you could bring in repeat customers with delicious, nourishing blends. My friend Heidi has an ebook on this topic that will give you a great foundation.
18. Dog Food/Treats
Many people are moving away from commercial dog foods today. Processed food isn’t good for us or our furry friends. But making homemade dog food can be difficult to fit into the day for most people.
If you already make dog food for your pets each week (or plan to), you could make extra and sell it to neighbors or friends. Be sure to check local rules and regulations for making and selling dog food/treats.
Or start a pet bakery and sell your goodies at farmers markets! People love to treat their dogs while out and about.
19. Paint, Draw, and Photograph
Get creative and learn to turn your work into postcards and other fun mediums to sell. You can sell your artwork online or locally.
20. Metal Artwork
Metal artwork has become coveted as the ‘farmhouse’ style continues to be popular. If you know how to create metal artwork, consider selling your creations to make extra money at home.
Ways to Make Extra Money with Plants
You’ve likely already considered selling produce at a farmer’s market or roadside stand to make extra money at home. But veggies aren’t the most profitable goods. Here are a few other ways plants could help to grow your homestead income.
21. Houseplants, Landscaping, and Garden Plants
Houseplants are easy to multiply. Sell them (or landscaping plants) at a farmer’s market. Or, start and sell extra fruit and vegetable plants when starting seeds for your own garden.
The best way to do this is to get a few “clients” who agree to buy certain plants from you. This way you reduce the chances you’ll be drowning in tomato plants!
If you’re looking for some extra help with selling plants, check out this new book The Easy Way to Start a Home Based Plant Nursery and Make Thousands in Your Spare Time by David the Good. It goes over everything you might need to think about from pricing your plants to soil types and accounting practices.
22. Microgreens
Microgreens are fast-growing and take up little space. They can be grown year round and are bursting with nutrients.
Help people grow their own or sell fresh microgreens to individuals or restaurants. Check out this resource guide and video to learn more about these healthful greens.
23. Fresh Cut Flowers
Fresh flowers make a great product to sell at a farmer’s market. People want flowers for events, to give to loved ones, and for their own homes.The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower’s Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowersby Lynn Byczynski is the best resource on growing and selling cut flowers.
24. Seeds
Heirloom seeds are popular. Save them from your harvest and learn to dry and package them for selling next season.
25. Mushrooms
Either hunting for mushrooms on your property or growing them from a kit can be a great way to make extra money from home.
You can learn more about growing mushrooms at home here. If you’re going to forage for mushroom make sure you know 100 percent what you’re picking!
26. Tap Trees for Syrup
Learn how to collect sap from maple or birch trees. Process it into syrup and sell it. This is a fun project often taught at conservation centers. If you don’t have access to an in-person learning opportunity, check out this Guide to Maple Tapping to learn more about this unique and profitable skill.
27. Sell Extra Bulbs
Spring bulbs produce quickly. Dig up extras and sell them. Think daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and more. Selling bulbs would be ideal in late winter and early spring when there are fewer things to grow and sell at a market.
Ways to Make Extra Money Utilizing Larger Plots of Land
Although you don’t need a large plot of land to make money from home, here are some ways to utilize your extra space if you do have this resource.
28. Sell Mulch, Compost, or Manure Tea
Selling extra mulch, compost, or manure tea is an efficient way to make extra money at home.
If you have the space and equipment to make mulch, compost, or large quantities of manure tea you could really make a profit offering these items to local people lacking room and resources to do this themselves.
It might be helpful to hold a class on the benefits of using these natural materials around your homestead to share with others how you can help them out by providing these products.
29. Sell Natural Items from Your Property for Crafts or Photography
Not everyone has access to natural items that can be turned into trendy home decor items. Acorns, pinecones, wildflowers/dried flowers, tree nuts, unique rocks, snail shells, etc. make fun pieces for art and photography.
Collect and sell them on Etsy or at a market. You could also use these items for your own crafts which you could then sell.
30. Create a Christmas Tree Farm
Investing time and energy in starting a Christmas tree farm is a way to plan for a future profit. Different types of evergreens can bring in various amounts of money, but you won’t make extra money up front as your trees will need time to mature.
However, this is a way to invest your money in land and plants to see a return several years down the line. If you are looking to diversify your income, this can be a very enjoyable way to do that.
31. Create a Seasonal Experience with a Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze, Orchard, and Berry Field
Learn how to start a Pick-Your-Own Farm with seasonal events for the whole family. Many people are wanting to ‘return to the country’ and experience the seasonal joys of apple picking, pumpkin carving, and corn mazes.
Create an experience on your land and celebrate the seasons by sharing your produce and livelihood with others.
32. Log Property
Learn the ins and outs of selling trees from your land to make extra money from home. Sustainably logging your property is a way to make extra money using your resources.
Sustainable forestry tries to mimic nature and not take down more trees that can be replenished. Strategically taking down trees in overgrown areas can benefit other plants and trees on your land, too.
33. Sell Firewood/Kindling
Firewood plays a vital role for many homesteaders. If you have forested land, I suggest planning to chop extra firewood and selling what you don’t need throughout the winter.
You might also consider selling boxes of kindling and twigs in addition to split wood. If you live near a city, you can sell “campfire wood” for much more than you would think!
34. Rent Space for Others to Farm or Hunt
If you have more land than you can use, why not rent or lease it out for others to use? Many hunters want a private place to go hunting without purchasing their own land.
Additionally, leasing your land to a farmer gives you income and a new farmer the chance to farm.
Once a rental agreement is drafted and signed, this would be an easy way to make extra money from home.
35. Rent Out Farm and Yard Equipment
Just as you’d rent out your farmland, you could rent out your farm equipment to those that could use the tools without paying full price to own their own.
36. Create a Picturesque Flower Garden or Turn an Old Barn into a Rustic Event Setting
Many people are looking for barnyard weddings and places to take rustic, outdoor pictures for special occasions. Turn an old barn into an intimate event center or offer to host family or wedding pictures in a unique and beautiful flower garden.
37. Clean Up Littered or Shrubby Land for Others
If you have a great deal of land, you may already have the equipment needed to take care of it.
If that is the case, you can offer to use your tools and time to clean up areas of overgrown (or littered) land for those that don’t have the time or aren’t able to do this themselves.
You might advertise that you could provide this service in a newspaper or online to friends and family.
38. Offer to Store Boats, RVs, and Farm Equipment on Your Land
Having a larger plot of land would allow you to offer that space as storage for people that do not have a space to keep their boat or RV when it is not in use.
This would be especially beneficial if you live near campgrounds or a popular lake.
Ways to Make Extra Money with Your Animals
Animals provide versatile goods and services to any homestead. Grow your homestead income by learning to raise animals and sell their products.
39. Breed Dogs
Small dogs require little space to breed and can make a good profit if you know what different dog breeds sell for.
Purebred dogs tend to bring in the most profit, and herding dogs are popular for homesteaders. If you are looking to take your dog breeding business online, this resource will help you get started.
40. Raise and Sell a Variety of Animals and Their Products
There are many animals you can raise that can help bring in money to the homestead. If you’re already raising some of thee for your own family, it doesn’t cost much in time or money to add a few more to sell. Here are some ideas:
- Turkey – eggs, meat, feathers, chicks, laying hens
- Duck – eggs, meat, feathers, ducklings, and laying birds
- Chicken – eggs, meat, feathers, chicks, laying hens
- Pheasant – eggs, meat, feathers, chicks, laying birds
- Goose – eggs, feathers, laying birds
- Emu – eggs, feathers, laying birds
- Sheep – meat, wool, lambs
- Rabbits – meat, fiber, poop for fertilizer, kits
- Goats – fiber, milk, meat, kids
- Pigs – meat, piglets
- Bees – honey, hives for others to start beekeeping
- Fish – aquaponics systems, backyard fish farms
You don’t need a large farming operation to make money from your animals. If you’re a beginner I recommend starting with chickens.
I love Lisa Murano’s blog Murano Chicken Farm for resources on making a profit with just a handful of chickens. Lisa’s ebook Making Money with Chickens will give you an even more in-depth look at how she makes $1000 a month with just 15 chickens!
41. Raise Mealworms for Chicken/Turkey Treats
Mealworms are easy to raise and don’t require a lot of space. Here is a how-to to get your own mealworms started at home.
Once you have enough to feed your chickens or turkeys, you can start venturing out to sell them to make extra money from home.
42. Sell Worms and Worm Castings
Just like mealworms, you can easily raise worms to sell. Worms and worm castings, also known as ‘black gold’ for their fertilizing power, can be sold online or at a farmer’s market. I buy composting worms here.
43. Buck Services
Goat owners that wish to have kits will pay to use your male goat to breed with their females rather than having some of their own.
Sometimes male goats can be mean, and goat owners would rather have a female goat that provides milk and kits for their homesteading business.
44. Rent Pigs and Goats for Working Land
Some landowners prefer a passive land maintenance plan rather than always cutting grass and working up pastures for the following growing seasons.
You could offer pigs to root around a fenced in area for a month or two to work up the land. Goats can be offered as well to graze and clear grasses and shrubs from overgrown plots. Goats love poison ivy too!
45. Host Petting Zoos for Birthday Parties
Petting zoos are popular for birthday parties, and they can be an educational experience for children’s classes, too. Be sure to have lots of helping hands though, as you will want to ensure the safety of children and your animals.
46. Give Horse Riding Lessons
If you enjoy horse riding, why not teach others? This can be a rewarding job, and it is a popular skill desired by many.
You wouldn’t need a large stable or a lot of land to provide one-on-one or small group training sessions. This resource will help you think about the business side of providing horseback riding lessons.
47. Start an Animal Adoption Program
Offer to let people sponsor an animal on your homestead. They will make a monthly donation to help with food and upkeep of the animals.
They can also visit your homestead to interact with and care for your animals at specific times.
48. Board Animals for Others
If you have the space to keep animals, you could offer to board animals for others. You could do this on a regular basis or just for people needing a temporary place for their animals to stay while they are away.
Ways to Make Extra Money Providing a Service
There are so many different homesteading skills to have. Not all require a large plot of land or animals. You can provide services that utilize your skills to benefit others’ on a homesteading journey, too.
49. House-Sit for Other Homesteaders
Homesteading is a full-time gig. Which makes vacationing difficult. You can offer to maintain a homestead for others while they are away.
Be clear on what you will be taking care of for them while they are gone. If you are reliable, you could be asked to do this often.
50. Teach In-Person Classes on Homesteading Topics
Local libraries are often looking for new classes to hold for their community. You could provide classes on making herbal medicine, caring for a sick pet/farm animal, growing specific veggies, or more.
Your best bet is to start with a conversation at your library or local coffee shop about teaching in-person homesteading classes.
51. Become a ‘Jack of All Trades’
Some people just know how to fix things. They can take something apart and put it back together without much thought. If that’s you, why not make a profit?
As someone who isn’t that handy, I would be glad to pay someone to fix things instead of replacing them. Show off things you can fix on Facebook and start with your friends and family to grow your customers.
52. Do Seasonal Work for Others
Offer to rake leaves and clean up yards in the fall. You could shovel or plow snow in the winter, and keep gardens weed-free in the summer.
53. Offer Butchering Services
If you butcher animals on your homestead, you could offer to butcher animals for others, too. You could also teach butchering classes to new homesteaders and hunters.
54. Pet-Sit or Become a Pet Groomer
I have a friend who got herself in over her head with expenses on the homestead (it’s so hard not to get all of the animals at once!).
She started a pet sitting business from her home since she was home every day. If this interests you, check out a book on the topic (this is a popular one) to learn what you need to do to get started (and to make sure it’s a good fit!).
55. Walk Neighborhood Dogs
Walking dogs can be a fun, healthful and easy way to make extra money quickly – especially if you live in a neighborhood. Ask your friends an family who might need help walking their dogs.
56. Offer to Give Tours of Your Homestead
Many people are overwhelmed at the thought of starting a homestead themselves, although it might be a lifelong dream. You could help them by offering to give tours of your homestead to show them how it works.
57. Start a CSA
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups are becoming very popular. Learn to run a CSA and provide quality, locally grown produce to others that wish to support your journey as a homesteader.
Keep It Simple to Succeed
When it comes to making extra money on your homestead my advice is to start small.
Find a few things that work and take the time to master the skill of creating an income on just those ideas.
This will lay the groundwork to create a livelihood from your homestead.
When you are comfortable with one or two income streams, then you can diversify (find more income streams).
Diversification is a great way to always have money coming in, even if one source dries up.
Which ideas are you going to try?
