Making Money from a Garden-Hobby or Business

About this site

Whether you are just looking for an easy, economical way to raise some of your own vegetables, make some extra money or go into the business of raising food, this site is for you.  We encourage you to sign up for our e-mail letters that will notify you of all posts listed on this site.

We intend to:

• Show you how to work without a hoe
• Start with little money
• Find the information you need
  
• Find multiple sources of markets
• Develop unlimited products
• Grow without expensive chemicals
• Have a fun, enjoyable life

For a beautiful enjoyable life
   
    Pete Williams

Catalogs

For your information, we have added a list of catalogs on the side bar.  We have included catalogs familiar to the home gardener like Henry Field's as well as wholesale sources such as Hazzard's.  In addition, you may find local sources.  In my area we have a store near a city market which has been their for over 100 years and they sell seed and supplies in bulk saving money and transportation.  I also live near an area that has Amish farmers and I buy much of my products from them at a cost near wholesale.  You will find there are catalogs that cater to only one product such as the one on tomatoes on the list.  Also, Seeds of Change carries organic seed, but more and more catalogs are carrying a small selection as well.

If you find a catalog that you feel merits our list, then e-mail us at pete@unitygardens.info and we will consider your requests.

Happy gardening,

Pete

Organic Insect Control

Many times, the person who grows their own food, does so because they want the taste that comes from fresh, handpicked food.  It helps that we can choose varieties that have not had texture and taste compromised in order to be able to ship food vast distances.  Of course, watching our vegetables disappear to uncontrolled insect infestations is not our goal.

One of the most effective insect controls happens to be organic. In fact, it is so safe that we eat it unknowingly.  There is a natural occurring product that is approved by the USDA to be used in our grain storage bins for the control of insects.  They feel it is so safe that the product does not have to be washed off our grains before bread is made. 

That product is diatomaceous earth. 

I doubt that you  will find it on the shelf of any store.  Most of our insect control products are made by chemical and oil companies which generates a tremendous profit.  Why use a natural occurring product that is effective and has a low profit margin?

Diatomaceous earth can be used on pet for pest control and we use it at the farm for worming our sheep. 

One source for small quantities is Nitron's.  They also have an applicator called a Dustin Mizer at a reasonable price which will more than pay for itself by allowing you to apply only as much as needed.  If you have a large operation, then you can get a 50# bag from Welter Seed and Honey

If you have other suggestions, then click on the comment at the bottom of this post and add your information.

Pete

No Money

Whether you have a window box for your garden or several acres, many of the decisions are the same.  You must decide:
     if you intend to start your own plants or buy bedding plants;
    what kind of vegetables and how much space you will need;
    are you going for one vegetable or a complete line;
    do you want to start early in the year as well as trying to grow up until the fall holidays;
    will you be happy with 3 months or less in the summer.

On this site, we will be emphasizing a combination of three planting options.  We will use the raised bed system to plant on the square foot method controlling weeds and fertilizing needs with mulch patterned after  the no work gardening system.  There are many books available on these subjects and if you feel the need to know more than I will explain, many of the older, still valid, books are available on Amazon.com .

For the easiest garden, take a trash bag, make some slits in the bottom for excess water to drain, put a bag of soil mix inside and plant a tomato plant or two.  Sit the bags outside where it will receive sunshine and keep the soil fairly most.  You will have your tomatoes for the summer. 

If you take 20 bags and repeat this operation sitting them in your back yard, you will have a crop large enough to sell to your neighbors.  For a larger operation, purchase bags designed for this type of production and put a hundred plants on that vacant lot close to where you live and tomatoes too numerous to sell will appear.

Not easy enough for you.  In the fall, take a bag of leaves that one of your neighbors sat out for trash pickup.  Dump it on the  ground where you want a tomato plant to grow.  In the spring, move the leaves enough to be able to place the roots of the tomato plant on the ground and then pull the leaves back up around the plant.  Water well. 

No work.  No expense.  No tools.  Lots of tomatoes! ! !

Keeping it simple, if one lives in a urban community, you may go door to door selling fresh produce.  In some areas, a simple table with a tent cover would suffice for a stand to increase sales.  From your back yard you should be able to raise enough to feed your family as well as bring in extra money.  Many businesses have started in this manner and what I wish to show you is how you can grow and grow.