This is going to be a bit of a wandering thread so I apologize in advance. But I wanted to provide the background and explanation for what I'm talking about....(so you don't think I'm a complete whackjob!
But maybe its too late
)
So I have a decent sized garden....its about 35x50 and I have added to the soil for years so it is really rich great soil. Stuff grows like crazy. Some years the weeds have overwhelmed me even with using hay and grass clippings or something to keep them at bay, but the bottom line is there is nothing better than fresh veggies right out of the garden that end up on your plate within minutes. And it produces tons. I usually have plenty to give to neighbors- squashes, tomatoes, etc.
I posted in Stewie's thread about a video that I saw a while ago and while I have meant to put it into practice I just haven't yet- the guy uses wood chips as cover in his garden, it adds nutrients over time, keeps weeds down and also provides great water retention. It's a long video but there is no denying the guy's success with it. Here's the YouTube version of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPPUmStKQ4I have learned a lot from it....he quotes scripture throughout the video and explains how he came to use wood chips as a cover for the garden, it makes a lot of sense.
Anywho.....so I am also a big believer in multiple lines of income.....I have been down the road of one job, one income and come to see how quickly that can change due to circumstances beyond your control. So I am looking to make sure that as I move forward I have income streams from a variety of sources. Yes I still work at my job but even that has morphed somewhat as I do consulting for a few different companies as well. But the point being that I am just darned determined never to have income only come from one place.
So I'm screwing around on YouTube last night and I come across this video:
"How to make $100,000 farming 1/2 acre you don't own."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP5bOr0aC58*Just a note of caution the interviewer is kind of a nutjob wanting to "save the world" type and he also swears some so just be forewarned if you're watching it with kids around.
Hmm.....but okay.....make $100K? I'll bite....I watch it. Its an interview with a guy in Canada who "rents" yards and other places to grow greens, cherry tomatoes, etc. for farmer's markets. He also sells them to restaurants. Bottom line is he likes living in a city but wanted to grow his own vegetables etc. He didn't have enough money to buy land given city prices so he started "leasing" yards and lots from other people. He trades them vegetables that he grows for letting him use the land. And he sells the rest.
He's got a book that he wrote to tell his story:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865718016/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DERHe supposedly explains the process he went through and what he does. I haven't bought it yet but its in my cart at Amazon. And I realize that while he probably gets pretty high prices because he is in a city, I am guessing almost anywhere someone could set up a small table at the end of the driveway and sell extra produce that you grow. He's got some business sense too as he explains that he focuses almost exclusively on things that he can get multiple crops per season (spinach greens, kale, arugula) or produces all season long (cherry tomatoes).
He has a website also where he shares quite a bit it appears.
http://www.greencityacres.com/So I am going to try the table at the end of the driveway this year for my excess. I post this as it might help add some revenue to some here if you wanted to try it, or it might be a good project for kids looking to earn some coin (not many paper routes any more....). And with the sizes he's talking about its not an overwhelming thin to do on a part time basis. Do I think I'll make $100K? Nope. Not by a long shot. But if I make a little something I figure it will be worthwhile. And I will learn some.
Sorry for the long winded post.....