Millions of people around the world lost their jobs due to the pandemic — and many are still unemployed. A monthly jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published on February 2021 revealed that the number of unemployed individuals in the country is about 10 million.
If you’re out of a job and need to earn extra income to pay the bills, you don’t have to look far for a moneymaking venture. You could monetize your backyard, garden, or outdoor space and earn money from it.
Here are a few suggestions to turn that small plot of land into a nice source of income:
- Sell Trees
If you have a big backyard with lots of trees in it (or reside in a densely forested area), you could use that to bump up the money in your bank account.
Start by cutting down dead trees on your residential property. A dead ash tree, for instance, could give you wood that you can sell to farmers, hardware stores and campgrounds. Depending on the type of wood and your area, you can earn about $120 to $180 for a cord of split and seasoned hardwood.
If you plan to chop mature trees on your property, on the other hand, get in touch with a local arborist. Checking in with this professional will allow you to determine the potential resale value of your trees.
- Raise Chickens
Some cities allow homeowners to raise chickens in the city. If you live in an area where you’re permitted to raise these animals, consider taking up this profitable side hustle.
The overhead expense is low if you’re just going to maintain a simple chicken house and feed the hens with organic table scraps. You could also let your chickens free-range for themselves if you have a large outdoor space.
One of the products you could sell when raising chickens is fresh eggs. A dozen brown eggs could net you $2.50 to $5. Apart from that, you could make money from the following:
- Hatchlings – You could earn $3 to $5 per chick by hatching fertile eggs into chicks.
- Chicken Meat – Depending on your location, you could sell the meat of the animal directly to customers. If this is possible, you could net about $15 to $25 for a whole chicken or $3 to $5 for a pound of meat.
- Live Chickens – Some people don’t want to go through the hassle of raising chicks. They instead will shell out more cash for mature chickens. If you have fully feathered chickens, you could sell these mature animals for about $10 to $20 per bird.
- Store RVs and Boats
Not everyone has space to safely store their boats and recreational vehicles. If your residential property has the room (and the regulations aren’t too tight where you reside), you could turn your outdoor space into a storage facility for boats and RVs. You could charge boat and storage rates from $20 to $150. The rate will depend on a few factors, such as the size of the vehicle, your location and additional services like washing and maintenance.
- Open Your Garden to the Public
If you have a beautiful and large garden, think about sharing your pride and joy with others for a price. An easy way to make some extra cash is to host an open garden event.
Another suggestion is to offer your outdoor space as a venue for parties, weddings and other events. You may attract rustic wedding enthusiasts if you have a garden that’s picturesque and worthy of posting on Instagram. Get in touch with wedding or event planners in your community to find out how much money you could earn from renting out your pristine outdoor area.
- Grow Flowers
Flowers do more than just improve the curb appeal of your residential property. You could also sell these pretty plants for profit. A quarter-acre of well-grown flowers is worth about $6,250 to $7,500. You can sell your products at farmer’s markets, grocery stores and florists. A few of the most popular flowers you could grow in your backyard are Zinnia, Larkspur, Sunflower, Snapdragon and Peony.
- Start a Worm Farm
If the idea of taking care of worms doesn’t creep you out, consider establishing a worm farm in your backyard. Earthworms are highly beneficial creatures that accelerate the composting process and enhance the finished compost with enzymes and nutrients from their digestive tracts. You can sell the rich composting material to gardeners in your area.
Alternatively, you could breed worms and sell them to anglers during summer. The amount of money you’ll make will depend on the breed. Red worms, for instance, can sell for $3 for 100 worms.
Sometimes, you don’t need to search hard for an income stream. You can find the solution you need in your own backyard. Give these moneymaking tips a shot to weather the pandemic.