Careers for Suburban Farmers
- Selling produce grown in your garden can earn extra money or be the start of a new career.tomates image by danimages from Fotolia.com
Buying food from local suppliers benefits the environment by reducing the carbon costs of shipping. It has health benefits because the food is fresher. It can also be a boon for suburban farmers looking for ways to make a career out of their backyard gardens. According to the Office of Advocacy for Small Business, 52 percent of businesses with fewer than 500 employees were home-based businesses in 2009. - Neighbors may object to suburban yards being turned into gardens, but for suburban farmers, growing space reaps profits. Restaurants may be eager to buy quality local produce, such as arugula or kohlrabi, to offer customers the very freshest salads. Other high profit vegetables are kale, carrots and tomatoes, which can lose flavor during long transport.
- Potted herbs, perennial flowers and shrubs are easily grown in small spaces and popular at farmer's markets, plant fairs or even in booths in front of your home if you live in a high traffic area. Farmer's markets and plant fairs may have booth fees. Be sure you have enough product to recover those costs.
- If you have a green thumb, share your knowledge as a suburban farming consultant. Specialties can include creating theme gardens, landscape design or gardening workshops to help others make the most of their growing space. Look for opportunities with builders, developers and gardening clubs.
- More people are interested in gardening, but may not have the room or desire to dig out space in their yards. If you have enough space in your suburban garden, rent out some of it in allotments.
Mark off clear separations in the space and be conscious of access points. You want gardeners to be able to get to their plot without having to traipse through your home. A locked gate with access from the side yard is ideal. Draw up a simple contract for renters detailing when the garden can be used and for what purpose. - Many communities allow chickens to be raised in city limits. Suburban farmers can turn a profit by breeding chickens, selling the meat or eggs, or even operating mobile slaughter services.
Eggs and meat can be sold through local food coops. Chicks and slaughtering services can be marketed through word-of-mouth or advertising in newspapers and other local media.
