A lot of people are starting to realize that out in nature is where a life most worth living is to be found.
And, thanks to the internet, homesteading and living away from it all is more convenient than ever.
Even with the lowered costs of living off the land, running a small farm takes money.
Below are some feasible ways you can make extra money homesteading.
17 Creative Ways to Make Extra Money Homesteading
1. Host Farm-to-Table Dinners or Events
If you have a large garden or raise your own livestock, you might consider turning your harvest into an experience by hosting farm-to-table dinners.
You can offer seasonal meals using ingredients straight from your homestead and charge guests for an immersive dining experience.
People are increasingly interested in sustainable, locally sourced food – especially Millennials – and you could start by planning small, intimate dinners and inviting local foodies, influencers, or bloggers to generate some buzz.
You could also try hosting themed events like harvest festivals or cooking workshops. Social media would be the ideal place to promote these events.
2. Create and sell DIY Homestead Kits
Once you’ve got your homestead how you want it and feel confident showing others how to go about creating their own little oasis, you might consider creating DIY kits that help people get started.
These could range from home gardening kits (complete with seeds, instructions, and soil) to soap-making or candle-making kits.
I tend to see these sorts of DIY kits following trends, so start by researching what DIY projects are trending and then start sourcing the materials needed.
Make sure you’re creating clear instructions and package the kits attractively so that they are able to compete on places like Etsy.
You might even consider going the brick-and-mortar route and selling them at local markets or even at farm supply stores.
A lot of people seem interested in homesteading but don’t really know where to start.
You can capitalize on this by offering classes or workshops on various homesteading skills such as gardening, animal husbandry, food preservation, or sustainable building techniques.
If your homestead is equipped for it, you could end up turning it into a fully-fledged school.
Start out by offering short classes or weekend workshops where you charge people to learn how to can their own vegetables, process chickens, or build small structures like greenhouses.
Once you’ve got enough followers and experience, you can expand to multi-day courses or retreats.
I’ve seen these kinds of experiences promoted via social media, local community groups and on homesteading forums.
You might even consider reaching out to local school districts and inquiring about including your homestay on the local field trip circuit.
4. Create an Airbnb “Farmstay” Experience
The variety of stays that are now available on Airbnb is quite extraordinary when you consider what the platform was offering when it first began.
Treehouses, igloos, and a growing number of very popular and successful farm stay experiences.
People increasingly want unique accommodations, and if you have the space for them, you could consider turning your homestead into a rustic Airbnb destination.
Guests could stay in the farmhouse, cabin, or even glamping tents, experiencing farm life firsthand.
You can offer activities like milking goats, collecting eggs, or harvesting vegetables to make it a full farm stay experience.
5. Offer Animal Boarding or Pet Services
If you already have the facilities and space for animals, consider offering boarding services for pets or even farm animals.
I used to board my golden retriever at a small hobby farm on the way to the airport and it seemed like the owner had nonstop business.
You might also consider offering additional services like dog training and grooming, or even a small pet store on-site with organic pet products.
Start by assessing your space and the types of animals you’re comfortable taking care of. Advertise locally through veterinary offices, social media, and pet-related forums.
You might even consider creating a niche by offering organic, healthy, or farm-based care for animals, which will set you apart from traditional pet borders.
6. Grow Specialty Crops for Niche Markets
Instead of focusing on common crops (and trying to compete with big agribusiness), you could consider growing specialty or high-demand crops like lavender, hops, medicinal herbs, or gourmet mushrooms.
These can fetch higher prices and attract niche markets like breweries, herbalists, or chefs at fine dining restaurants looking for locally sourced, high-quality produce.
The best way to start would be to research local demand and find out what specialty crops would do well in your region.
After that, partner with local businesses that might be interested in your products and start small.
7. Create a Subscription Box for Homesteading Enthusiasts
Subscription boxes are a growing trend, and you could cater to homesteaders or people interested in sustainable living.
Your box could include seeds, tools, DIY kits, handmade goods from your homestead (like soaps or jams), or guidelines on different homesteading topics.
Each month, your subscribers would get a curated selection of items tailored to their specific homesteading journey.
The best way to start would be to research similar subscription boxes and brainstorm ways to stand out.
Again, this is the kind of homesteading business model that thrives on social media and homesteading forums.
Keep people engaged by offering seasonal products, exclusive items, or tutorials in your boxes.
8. CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) Program
A CSA allows community members to invest in your homestead by buying shares of your produce in advance.
In return, they receive a box of fresh, seasonal produce on a regular basis. This is a great way to create a steady income stream and build a loyal customer base.
You can even expand to meat, dairy and homemade preserves or baked goods eventually.
A word of caution: make sure you are compliant with legislation in your region covering selling food to the public.
The first step would be to plan out what you can grow or produce and how much your land can yield.
You can market your CSA locally through social media, farmers’ markets, or community boards.
Create tiers of membership based on what people can receive and offer the option to pick up boxes at the farm or have them delivered.
9. Offer Off-Grid Living or Survivalist Training
If your homestead is off-grid or you have specialized survival skills – hunting, shelter and fire-building, foraging, purifying water, you can offer workshops or retreats for people interested in self-sufficiency.
You can teach things like solar power setup, water purification, wilderness survival, or even prepping.
This is a growing niche, especially the more that emergency preparedness and sustainable living become necessities rather than hobbies.
You can start out by offering small group workshops or weekend survival camps on your property.
Partner with local outdoor stores or survivalist communities to promote your offerings and slowly expand into online courses for those who can’t attend in person.
10. Make or Sell Compost or Organic Fertilizer
If your homestead generates a lot of organic waste, you can turn it into compost or organic fertilizer to sell.
Gardeners, landscapers, and even local municipalities might be interested in buying nutrient-rich compost for their plants.
You can also create value-added products like compost tea or worm castings, which are in high demand for organic farming and gardening.
All you need to get set up is a composting system and then you can start marketing to local gardeners, farmers, and businesses.
11. Homestead-Themed YouTube Channel and Blog
If you’re passionate about your homesteading journey and have some camera presence, why not share your life with the world through a YouTube channel or a blog?
You can document your projects, offer tutorials, share tips, and inspire others who want to do what you’ve done.
As your audience grows, you can start monetizing your channel and blog through ad revenue, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and even creating your own digital products like e-books or courses.
Focus on what makes your homestead unique and the niche down your content to attract a specific audience (urban homesteaders, permaculture enthusiasts, etc.).
12. Rent Out Your Land for Events or Photography
If your homestead is on a particularly scenic piece of land, consider renting it out for events like weddings, photoshoots, or even workshops.
A lot of people want rustic, nature-filled settings for special occasions, and your property could be the perfect location.
The first step would be to determine if there is a market for these kinds of events in your area and then begin by preparing a portion of your property as an event space.
Create a portfolio of high-quality images showcasing your land and promote it on websites for event venues or photography locations.
You might even consider reaching out to local event planners and photographers and letting them know.
13. Create and Sell Natural Skincare and Beauty Products
If you’re growing herbs, flowers, or other natural ingredients, you can use them to create skincare or beauty products like soaps, lotions, lip balms, or essential oils.
Natural, homemade beauty products are highly sought after, especially by eco-conscious consumers who want organic alternatives.
Start by researching recipes and experimenting with different ingredients from your homestead.
Make small batches to test with family and friends, and once you’ve perfected your products, sell them at farmers’ markets, online, or in local stores.
14. Let People Camp on Your Land
Another way you can monetize your homestead and help pay the bills is by offering your land as a campsite.
If you have a big enough property with beautiful natural surroundings – whether it’s forest, lakes, or scenic views–you can turn it into a place campers want to do.
I’ve seen a ton of people around rural Ireland who do exactly this with their farms and rural properties.
Campsites, especially in popular destinations, tend to fill up fast, and if you can help add to the supply during peak periods, you can earn a decent amount of money from eager campers.
Check out platforms like Hipcamp, Campendium, and even Airbnb – which is where a lot of outdoor enthusiasts looking for places to pitch a tent, or park an RV or camper are looking for sites.
15. Build Tiny Homes or Off-Grid Cabins to Sell or Rent
If you have carpentry and other skills required to build off-grid or homesteading structures, you could make good money constructing tiny homes or off-grid cabins on your property to sell or rent out.
You could also help others build on their property.
The tiny homes market is a growth market with a lot of opportunities to get into the niche (depending on where you live). Here’s a graph from Market Research illustrating growth trends over the next several years:
If you want to specialize in a single service (solar power installation or rainwater collection systems), you should do that as well (or instead).
16. Raise and Sell Specialty Livestock or Breeds
If you have the knowledge (and the stomach) for raising and selling specialty livestock, focusing on things like heritage chickens, alpacas, miniature goats, or even bees can be a way to turn your homestead into a business (even if it’s only a seasonal one).
You will, of course, need to know which breeds are going to do well in your climate and if there’s a market demand.
Then, you’ll need to set your homestead up with the necessary infrastructure.
You can sell breeding stock and raw products like wool or honey, and you can even offer up animals for breeding.
17. Produce and Sell Firewood or Timber Products
If you have significant wooded land, you can turn that into a profitable business by producing and selling firewood or timber products.
Firewood is always in demand, especially in the northern hemisphere, and if you manage your forest sustainably, it can end up being a renewable income stream.
You can also craft small timber products, like wooden furniture or handmade cutting boards, to sell (online or create relationships with local brick-and-mortar shops).
You’ll need to make sure that your woodland has trees that are suitable for harvesting, and you will also need the right equipment to harvest.
