How to Make Money From Your Homestead

Homesteading is a lifestyle centered around growing your own food, raising animals, and living off the land.

This way of life allows you to rely on what you produce at home instead of constantly buying from grocery stores or markets, helping you save money.

But did you know that homesteading — even small-scale homesteading — can also help you earn extra income?

You might be surprised by how many ways there are to earn money while taking care of your family and your farm, regardless of its size.

Whether you have a small backyard or a larger piece of land, there are numerous ways to turn your homestead into a source of income.

So, if you're interested in learning more, keep reading to discover some unexpected ways to start earning money from your homestead right away.

Why Should You Consider Making Money Through Homesteading?

If you have a job right now and are just getting into homesteading, that’s still a great start, even if it means you can’t produce or earn as much.

Even with limited time, there are still ways to make some money. You could try making delicious jams or baking bread and cookies.

These are simple things you can do, even if you live in an apartment, farm or the suburbs.

If you’re fully committed to homesteading with your partner or family, you can really make the most of your farm, livestock, and other services to create a steady income.

Take a moment to look around and consider what genuinely interests you, and you might be surprised to discover ways to earn extra cash by doing something you enjoy.

This could be anything from gardening to baking or crafting—whatever makes you happy.

When you focus on what you love, it opens up opportunities that align with your skills and hobbies.

For example, if you enjoy cooking, you could start making jams, baked goods, or meals from your homegrown vegetables.

If gardening is your passion, consider growing herbs or vegetables that people are eager to buy.

The important thing is to do what you enjoy, so the work feels more fulfilling and less like a chore.

So, How Do You Earn Money from Homesteading?

So, without further ado, here are ways you can make money from homesteading.

By Selling Fruits and Vegetables

One of the best ways to make money on your homestead is by selling fresh foods.

If you enjoy gardening and want to earn extra income, consider growing additional fruits and vegetables beyond what your family can consume.

Focus on crops that are popular in your area and that you know you can grow successfully, ensuring that your goods will sell quickly at the market.

Start With Some Easy Plants

Consider these easy-to-grow plants:

• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Zucchini
• Herbs

If you have a large garden space, why not plant more than you need so you have extras to sell?

Farmers' markets are an excellent place to meet people who frequently buy fresh, local food. Most consumers are looking for something fresh and appealing, so make sure your produce looks its best.

If you want to reach even more customers, you can also sell online through social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram.

There, you can post pictures of your fresh produce and let people know how they can purchase from you. 

How To Price Your Produce

To price your produce, research what others are charging at nearby markets. This will help you set competitive prices while ensuring you cover your costs and make a profit.

By gardening, you'll not only ensure a steady supply of fresh food for your household but also earn some extra money to cover basic needs, even if it’s just a small amount.

Raising Animals and Selling their Products

Chickens

Another great way to make money on your homestead is by raising animals.

You can start by raising chickens for their eggs.

We've been raising a few chickens and ducks, which provide us with free eggs that my mom cooks for breakfast, whether it’s fried or boiled eggs.

And based on my observation, chickens are relatively easy to care for. As long as you provide them with food, water, and good shelter, they can supply you with fresh eggs regularly.

If you have extra eggs, you can sell them to friends, neighbors, or at local markets.

People love fresh, homegrown eggs and are often willing to pay a good price for them.

Goats and Cows

You might also consider getting dairy animals, like goats or cows, for milk and cheese.

They produce milk that you can consume or use to make cheese and yogurt. If you have a cow, you'll have even more milk available.

Just make sure to check local regulations, as some areas have rules about selling raw milk or dairy products.

Many people appreciate fresh, local dairy, so this could be another good way to earn extra income.

Besides the products these animals provide, you can also sell the animals themselves.

We have a few goats that roam around our small piece of land. My mom had a carpenter build a wooden shelter for them, so they have a place to stay at night. During the day, they roam around and munch on grass and weeds.

With the goats grazing, they help control weeds on our land without the need to pay for equipment or materials. We also ensure they have access to fresh water and plenty of food (grass works great) to keep them healthy.

Recently, my mom sold one of the goat kids for some financial reasons (cover my brother’s college tuition).

My point here is, for my low-income family, raising animals is a good investment for the future because it serves as a financial backup when we really need it.

If you don’t want to keep the animals long-term, you can sell them as breeding stock or for meat.

Not only do they provide us with meat, eggs, and milk, but we can also sell the animals if we need to.

By raising chickens and dairy animals, you create an opportunity to make money from your homestead.

Make Homemade Jams and Baked Goods

If you have extra fruits and vegetables from your garden, you can make homemade jams and baked goods instead of letting them go to waste as they start to spoil.

When produce begins to spoil, it can be disappointing, but you can turn that food into something delicious.

Not only will you save food that might otherwise be thrown away, but you’ll also create tasty treats that others are sure to love.

Baked goods are also a great option if you have extra fruits like apples, berries, or peaches — you can bake pies, muffins, or bread.

These treats are always popular and can be sold at farmers' markets or roadside stands.

You can also sell these goods online by using social media or local groups to reach more customers.

When pricing your baked goods or preserves, be sure to consider the cost of ingredients, packaging, and your time, or you may want to check what other vendors are charging at local markets for similar products.

Sell Handmade Soaps

Have you ever considered selling your own handmade items?

If you enjoy crafting, consider making and selling handmade soaps, candles, or other small goods.

Natural soaps made with homegrown herbs, flowers, and oils are in high demand, especially if you market them as eco-friendly and free of chemicals.

You don’t actually need to make a large investment to start selling handmade soaps. You can reduce costs by using natural ingredients that you can grow or forage on your homestead, like lavender or chamomile.

Don’t forget to get creative with packaging, as it can help your products stand out and attract buyers.

Wondering how to price them? Checking what similar products sell for can help you find the right price point.

Make Money from DIY Compost

Do you create your own compost at home?

If yes, you might be surprised to learn that you can turn this habit into a way to make some extra money. 

One of the easiest ways to start is by selling the compost you create. You don’t need to spend money on buying materials for composting — if you have vegetable or fruit peels in your kitchen, along with other food scraps, you can already use these for composting.

See how easy and cost-effective it is?

If you are not sure how to compost properly, check out our guide on composting (in just 18 days!) for more tips.

Once your compost is ready, you can sell it to gardeners, landscapers, and farmers who need good soil for their plants. 

Many people are looking for high-quality compost because it helps their gardens thrive. So, take the opportunity to sell your compost (packaged in bags) at local farmers' markets or even online.

If you're interested in starting a business, you could consider launching your own composting venture. You can collect organic waste from local restaurants, coffee shops, or even your neighbors for a fee.

Many businesses are eager to find eco-friendly solutions for disposing of their food scraps, and you can provide that service.

You can also think about creating products from your compost, like potting soil mixes or organic fertilizers.

By mixing your compost with other natural materials can create special products that gardeners will love.

These are just a few ideas, but practical ways to earn money from composting.

Host Workshops about Composting

Why not host some workshops or classes on how to compost? 

Some people (especially gardeners or farmers) want to learn how to be more sustainable and improve their gardening skills (like learning how to do lasagna garden), and they might be happy to pay for that knowledge.

Through these workshops, you can share your own experiences and tips on making compost at home, including what materials to use and how to maintain a healthy compost pile.

Not only will you be helping others learn something useful, but you’ll also create a supportive community around gardening and sustainability.

Let Others Rent Your Space

Do you have a beautiful view or extra space on your homestead?

Lots of people are looking for unique places to host events, like photoshoots, weddings, or special gatherings. 

If you have extra space on your homestead and you think it has a good scenery or view, you can make some extra money by letting others rent it out. 

If you don’t have any idea how people can discover your space, websites like Peerspace can help you find people who want to rent your space.

Tip: If you have a special feature, like a garden, barn, or scenic view, highlight it in your listings and promote your space through social media to attract more renters.

You can also set clear rules regarding how long guests can stay and which parts of your property they can access to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Renting out your space can help you earn some extra cash while allowing others to enjoy your homestead.

Woodworking

If you’re interested in woodworking as a source of income, a good way to start is by making items that people often need or want.

You could build furniture like tables and chairs or create smaller items such as shelves, picture frames, or cutting boards.

Handmade products are valued because people enjoy finding unique pieces that make their homes feel more personal.

You can sell your work at local craft fairs or farmers' markets, and you can also try selling online through sites like Etsy. 

When setting prices, think about your material costs and how much time you spend on each item.

You can actually make a decent income from woodworking by selling specific products.

For example, if you focus on creating custom cutting boards and sell around 30 of them for $50 each (depending on wood type, size, etc.), you could bring in about $1,500 in a small town.

A good rule is to price your items at two to three times what you spent on materials and labor.

At the End of the Day…

Ultimately, it comes down to what you enjoy doing.

Whether it’s growing your own food, raising animals, or selling homemade goods, you can turn your homestead into a source of income while embracing a simpler lifestyle.

This way, your work will feel more like a hobby than a job.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)