If you are a bit business savvy and have a large garden at your disposal, then it’s easy to add two plus two. A garden presents you with a world of possibilities. However, starting a business that leverages this plot of land that you have does require some forethought. From evaluating what your garden is cut out for through your own skills and preferences all the way to the local demand, there is a lot to take into account. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few ideas that will inspire you to create a business out of your own garden.
Start a plant nursery
The most straightforward gardening business idea would be, of course, selling plants. Starting a plant nursery is a wonderful business idea for several reasons. If you already have the space, there is a relatively small investment involved in dabbling into this, with an outstandingly large return on investment. The critical things to pay attention here are the demand for the plants in question as well as how demanding the plants themselves are. A good combination will minimize risks and allow you to successfully grow and sell your plants to garden centers or directly to customers – whichever you prefer. There are several ways you can go about your nursery. You can simply purchase plant starts, wait for them to grow, and resell them for a much higher price than you paid for them. You can also go for planting seeds. However, if you are planning to grow plants from seeds, it is extremely important to get your seeds from a trusted source to avoid low yield and hereditary diseases. The good news is that as a nursery, you’ll be able to shop at wholesale prices.
Propagate your plants
We mentioned plant starts and seeds, but another good way to make money off your plants is by propagating them. This would simply multiply the return on investment you gain from a single plant. You will need to study your subject extensively to find the right plants for you. Some plants are more suitable for this approach than others. For instance, ground covers are easy to propagate and they pay you back multiple times. Propagating cacti and succulents is also a good idea – a single leaf can produce a new plant in time. You can also propagate flower bulbs and multiply your precious daffodils, lilies, and tulips to sell as cut flowers or bulbs by simply using the flower seeds to grow new ones. However, be aware that depending on the species, this may take years. A quicker method would be separating bulb offsets and replanting those.
Sell seeds
Speaking of seeds, another lucrative garden business idea would be simply selling seeds. You are probably already saving some seeds for yourself to use. It would not take much effort thus to expand this activity and save larger amounts to sell. All you’ll need to do is package them nicely and put a price tag on them. Recently, a lot of people are gaining an interest in gardening as the popularity of organic and home-grown produce keeps rising. What this means is that you will likely have a demand for your product.
Sell your produce
If you have a green thumb but you grow more than you can rationally eat, freeze, and give to your friends and neighbors, maybe it is time to start thinking about this as a business idea. Obviously, this is one of the bigger projects on this list, however, it’s also one of the most rewarding ones. Turning your outdoor space into a vegetable garden is one of the best things you could do with it in the first place. People will always need to eat and the demand for delicious, fresh, home-grown produce will always be high so you don’t have to worry about not being profitable. If selling at farmers’ markets is not your cup of tea, you can also sell your produce to local restaurants.
Sell your homemade jam
If you grow vegetables, selling them fresh sounds like a good idea. If you grow fruits, on the other hand, you can also make money in a way other than taking them straight to the farmers’ market. Everyone loves a good, homemade jam, but not many people have the time or expertise to make it themselves. If you do, however, you can start selling your homemade jam with a little bit of investment. Keep in mind that food businesses face a lot of regulations you need to study carefully before starting to distribute your jars of deliciousness, though.
Plant herbs
Herbs and spices have a wide range of uses and many of them are also easy to grow. This is why they are the perfect option for beginners – you can start small and just sell the extra to your acquaintances. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can package your herbs and start selling them more widely. If you’re creative, you can even make your own herbal tea blends and create your own brand. The possibilities are endless when you have a garden.
Grow flowers
Vegetables and herbs are surely useful, but no one can argue that nothing is more beautiful than a garden full of flowers. Starting a flower business will allow you to enjoy the sight and fragrance of these beautiful plants while also making money at the same time. You can sell fresh cut flowers arranged in bouquets at your local market and make some money on the side this way. Alternatively, some varieties are perfect to be sold as dried flowers. Yet another way to make money by growing flowers is to grow edible flowers. For instance, lavender is used both in cuisine and cosmetics, so investing in this plant gives you a lot of opportunities. Since flowers do need a lot of work to take care of, you will need high-quality garden accessories to make your work both more productive and more enjoyable.
Rent out your garden
Finally, gardening does not have to be the only way to make money with your garden. If you have a big, well-kept garden with lovely landscaping, beautiful flowers and an overall nice atmosphere, then you can also consider renting out your garden for different purposes. This might require a small investment. For instance, you’ll need to make sure there is no clutter around whatsoever, and you might need to make a few small modifications to the current landscaping. Adding a new seating area does not cost a lot, though, and if this could make your garden suitable for outdoor weddings, garden parties, or anything of the sort, you can make a lot of money with relatively little work this way. Just make sure you get all the permits that apply.
It’s not enough to love gardening in order for your garden business to succeed. You also need to devote equal attention to the business side of the project. However, if you have a solid idea and the means to make it happen, this industry is one where the demand never stops, so leveraging your garden can truly be a lucrative business endeavor. Working with plants is a healthy activity and fulfilling job so you will not regret it.
Start a plant nursery
The most straightforward gardening business idea would be, of course, selling plants. Starting a plant nursery is a wonderful business idea for several reasons. If you already have the space, there is a relatively small investment involved in dabbling into this, with an outstandingly large return on investment. The critical things to pay attention here are the demand for the plants in question as well as how demanding the plants themselves are. A good combination will minimize risks and allow you to successfully grow and sell your plants to garden centers or directly to customers – whichever you prefer. There are several ways you can go about your nursery. You can simply purchase plant starts, wait for them to grow, and resell them for a much higher price than you paid for them. You can also go for planting seeds. However, if you are planning to grow plants from seeds, it is extremely important to get your seeds from a trusted source to avoid low yield and hereditary diseases. The good news is that as a nursery, you’ll be able to shop at wholesale prices.
Propagate your plants
We mentioned plant starts and seeds, but another good way to make money off your plants is by propagating them. This would simply multiply the return on investment you gain from a single plant. You will need to study your subject extensively to find the right plants for you. Some plants are more suitable for this approach than others. For instance, ground covers are easy to propagate and they pay you back multiple times. Propagating cacti and succulents is also a good idea – a single leaf can produce a new plant in time. You can also propagate flower bulbs and multiply your precious daffodils, lilies, and tulips to sell as cut flowers or bulbs by simply using the flower seeds to grow new ones. However, be aware that depending on the species, this may take years. A quicker method would be separating bulb offsets and replanting those.
Sell seeds
Speaking of seeds, another lucrative garden business idea would be simply selling seeds. You are probably already saving some seeds for yourself to use. It would not take much effort thus to expand this activity and save larger amounts to sell. All you’ll need to do is package them nicely and put a price tag on them. Recently, a lot of people are gaining an interest in gardening as the popularity of organic and home-grown produce keeps rising. What this means is that you will likely have a demand for your product.
Sell your produce
If you have a green thumb but you grow more than you can rationally eat, freeze, and give to your friends and neighbors, maybe it is time to start thinking about this as a business idea. Obviously, this is one of the bigger projects on this list, however, it’s also one of the most rewarding ones. Turning your outdoor space into a vegetable garden is one of the best things you could do with it in the first place. People will always need to eat and the demand for delicious, fresh, home-grown produce will always be high so you don’t have to worry about not being profitable. If selling at farmers’ markets is not your cup of tea, you can also sell your produce to local restaurants.
Sell your homemade jam
If you grow vegetables, selling them fresh sounds like a good idea. If you grow fruits, on the other hand, you can also make money in a way other than taking them straight to the farmers’ market. Everyone loves a good, homemade jam, but not many people have the time or expertise to make it themselves. If you do, however, you can start selling your homemade jam with a little bit of investment. Keep in mind that food businesses face a lot of regulations you need to study carefully before starting to distribute your jars of deliciousness, though.
Plant herbs
Herbs and spices have a wide range of uses and many of them are also easy to grow. This is why they are the perfect option for beginners – you can start small and just sell the extra to your acquaintances. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can package your herbs and start selling them more widely. If you’re creative, you can even make your own herbal tea blends and create your own brand. The possibilities are endless when you have a garden.
Grow flowers
Vegetables and herbs are surely useful, but no one can argue that nothing is more beautiful than a garden full of flowers. Starting a flower business will allow you to enjoy the sight and fragrance of these beautiful plants while also making money at the same time. You can sell fresh cut flowers arranged in bouquets at your local market and make some money on the side this way. Alternatively, some varieties are perfect to be sold as dried flowers. Yet another way to make money by growing flowers is to grow edible flowers. For instance, lavender is used both in cuisine and cosmetics, so investing in this plant gives you a lot of opportunities. Since flowers do need a lot of work to take care of, you will need high-quality garden accessories to make your work both more productive and more enjoyable.
Rent out your garden
Finally, gardening does not have to be the only way to make money with your garden. If you have a big, well-kept garden with lovely landscaping, beautiful flowers and an overall nice atmosphere, then you can also consider renting out your garden for different purposes. This might require a small investment. For instance, you’ll need to make sure there is no clutter around whatsoever, and you might need to make a few small modifications to the current landscaping. Adding a new seating area does not cost a lot, though, and if this could make your garden suitable for outdoor weddings, garden parties, or anything of the sort, you can make a lot of money with relatively little work this way. Just make sure you get all the permits that apply.
It’s not enough to love gardening in order for your garden business to succeed. You also need to devote equal attention to the business side of the project. However, if you have a solid idea and the means to make it happen, this industry is one where the demand never stops, so leveraging your garden can truly be a lucrative business endeavor. Working with plants is a healthy activity and fulfilling job so you will not regret it.