Forums » Jugglin' Act

• RobH

  
   

  June 23, 2009 2:00:30 PM PDT

  Just curious if anyone is self-employed, barters, or is involved in a cottage industry or co-op? Do you use your garden surplus to generate some income? For example, I've heard of a few people who sell fresh gourmet mushrooms to local restaurants. There is a demand for local in some markets due to better quality and more people starting to prefer locally-grown.
  
  I'm particularly interested in how you started and what obstacles you faced or continue to face.
  
  I'm also interested in forming some sort of co-op to share work. I'd rather not sit at a computer 9-5 making someone else rich until carpal tunnel finishes my hands off.
  
• Colleen27

  
   

  June 23, 2009 5:40:02 PM PDT

  DH is self-employed as a handyman/contractor with specialties in roofing and plumbing. His decision to strike out on his own was the start of our interest in becoming more self-sufficient in other ways, and it is deeply comforting to know that we can handle the most basic of essentials - keeping our shelter functional - on our own.
  
  At this point, I consider myself a full time mother/homemaker and I don't have a steady, substantial income stream, but after finding a sparse local supply of heirloom seedlings when circumstances led me to buy my plants this year, I'm thinking about growing extra next year specifically to sell at the community weekend market. I've sold extra seedlings and produce in the past at the market, which only takes a $10 weekly rental fee with no commitment, but this is the first time I'm thinking about growing anything expressly for sale.
• MaryinAZ

  

  • 17 posts
   

  June 23, 2009 8:35:20 PM PDT

  We've done those sorts of things in the past but right now I'm in the catch 22. My regular job takes up so much of my time, especially with baby sitting grand kids that I don't have enough time to really keep up with anything else. right now I need that steady income to cover my house note and van payment as well as the fact that it provides me with very cheap medical insurance because my employer pays about 98% of the premium for the employee. But once those two bills are paid off I will have NO debt and will be able to live on a lot less money.
  
  
  Colleen, if you decide to sell plants, why not just make a small nursery? Yes, you have to get inspected by the state ag. dept. usually a couple times a year, checking for noxious bugs and weeds, but that is usually free or not very much $. Then make sure you keep all your reciepts, et. because you will be able to take a nice tax break....check with your tax person [or look thru turbo tax if you use that] and see what you need to keep track of........
• Bull100

  

  • 57 posts
   

  December 16, 2011 7:37:53 AM PST

  With the economy in the state thats it is in I thought I would revive this thred. In the past we have made things to sell at Craft Sales, We started this on a picnic table in the back yard with just an electric saber saw for a power tool and a hamer and nails. We were able to pay our Christmases each year when our kids were small by doing this. Most of the shop equipment that I now have was payed for with the craft sales. Recently we have sold plants at famers markets. However I have learned that this will just pay for our garden expences forthe year. In the past we have had an over abundance of tomatoes which we were able tosell by putting a sign up for just one day in our yard. Once people knew we had produce we never had to put the sign up again that year. In fact the following year people still stopped by and were disapointed when told that we didn't have any that year. When I retired I tried to make a living making canoes, but I stopped this after thinking about the liability issues. Years ago we also sold rabits this also added meat to our freezer. There are just so many things a person can do It seems crazy that people can't afind something to keep them busy and provide a little money for their family. My wife has taken in baby sitting. We even painted a large business building for extra cash one year. A couple of years we stared to go to garage sales, we amased so much cool stuff we had to rent a boothat a flee market to resell it , we didnl't make much but we did make a profit and it was fun. I have found that what ever you do it has to be done well take no short cuts and price things right and you can make extra income
• MaryinAZ

  

  • 17 posts
   

  December 18, 2011 5:42:10 PM PST

  You are right Bull100! The average person out of work is too busy sitting on the couch watching TV to get up and go do something. I'd love to be able to do a CSA or something like that but water is a huge problem and very very expensive where I live. So, I paint and recycle stuff when I have the chance. of late I've taken up writing online and while it's not a living wage yet it's getting better all the time.
• Bull100

  

  • 57 posts
   

  December 18, 2011 7:25:19 PM PST

  Keep it up and plug away at it and before you know it you will be making that living doing what you want to do.
• MaryinAZ

  

  • 17 posts
   

  December 19, 2011 4:42:17 AM PST

  Thanks Bull, I am working at it daily; it's sort of addictive and much fun!
• MikeT

  

  • 4 posts
   

  December 19, 2011 6:21:32 AM PST

  I have been away from this forum for many moons and just revisited due to an e-mail. Since I have been away, I have found ways to make money doing what I love. Garden coaching was a bust since there weren't enough gigs to make it worthwhile, although the occasional $100 here and there did help.
  
  What I did find that works is turning my tech skills to helping local businesses get more customers - "Offline Profits from the Online World".
  
  I am part of several programs I bought into. Eventually, I was asked to come on board and work in the businesses themselves. That, along with the local businesses who are my clients, pays my mortgage.
  
  I am now working with clients in California, Texas, Georgia, Chicago and Canada, and getting more referrals all the time. ('Local' doesn't mean just in my own home town)
  
  Mary, one of the things I do that makes me very valuable is that I know how to write and I am a subject matter expert. 'Content is King' so they say, but quality content is very hard to come by. If you are a good writer, there IS a market for your skills! People are STARVED for good content written by native-English speakers.
  
  Why don't you contact me off-line - let's see what we can do for each other...
• MikeT

  

  • 4 posts
   

  December 19, 2011 6:28:00 AM PST

  I forgot to mention - What separates the 5% of people who succeed from the 95% that fail is ACTION. No action, no progress.
• Bull100

  

  • 57 posts
   

  December 19, 2011 9:59:38 AM PST

  Mike glad to see youback. I was awaymyself for a year or so.
• MikeT

  

  • 4 posts
   

  December 19, 2011 5:22:43 PM PST

  Thanks, Bull. It's nice to be among friends!