I was just wondering what kind of projects you all make money from? There are so many things that can be attempted, it is often confusing to try and figure what to try first. So what works for you? Here are some ideas I have had.

1)making old fashioned screens to dress behind. 2) attempting pottery 3)selling vegitables 4)various woodburning projects 5)sewing 6)quilting 7)crocheting 8)growing and selling flowers 9)building unique coat racks out of small trees

What I will probably end up doing is a variety of these things + some others. I have a nice office on my property, and my goal is to open a little summer business next year. It used to be that farmers and craftsmen spent a year storing up little odds and ends and then took those things to market. Anybody ever read the children's book "Oxcart Man" ? I am thinking of doing the same kind of thing here and making this little place the market, but only for a couple of months a year.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brightok.net), September 15, 2003

Answers

I agree that low end products move quicker. to me, the most important thing is investment. I want to sell things with minimal investment. One of the things that came in my lot from the Amish auction the other day was a bunch of lamp parts. There is a lamp up at our family cabin in the Sierras that my father made in high school. He made it out of a chunk of redwood. It is beautifully fashioned, and is my grandmother's keepsake. That lamp is more than 40 years old, and still going strong. I don't think my father had any idea of how timeless that lamp would be when he fashioned it.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brightok.net), September 17, 2003.

That's neat that you brought that up, as I was just thinking yesterday that it was time to read this book again and I have been looking forward to it!! Oxcart Man has been one of our favorite books for years :-). We love it so much that I need to see if I can find a hardback copy. Our copy of is just an ex-library, soft cover.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), September 15, 2003.

I would think EBay would be a good place to make $$. So many things I see at sales and auctions go for what seems to be over the top prices there. And things I wouldn't think would sell anywhere go too. Ken Sarabok from the old forum here has quite a few posts about how to do the EBay thing over at the new homesteading today forum. You may want to go see what he has to say about it. His ebook about "making money in the country" was still available last I knew also.

Lil Bit - if you're interested in raising flowers, I have a book about that subject I'd be glad to loan you. email me.

-- John in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), September 16, 2003.

LIl Bit! About 10 years ago I bought a bunch of wood workin tools and started a little business. The first thing I did was to come across about 500 pictures [all the same] that show'd what looked like an Amish farm in the background, a little creek with trees immediately in the forefront. A clock thingy was in the lower left hand corner--just a hole with numbers around it. I bought 200 clock works from a supplier and I was in business. Framed'm, installed the quartz clock works and they were ready for sale. $20 each.

I also build the old style "console" radios with new works. All made from hardwood, by hand, each piece fit and installed by hand. Finished and absolutely beautiful! Very heavy--Automobile stereos, a 12v power supply so it could be run off of grid power. Two 12" and 2 6X9 Speakers. They would rattle the roof when "cranked up" just a mite. The price was just too high for most people. $1200. for the basic model. Took about 40 hours of work to build the cabinet. The Electronics, includin speakers, were around $900.

If a person could figger out something to build thats easy, quick and under $20.--it would be a winner. The "high end" products are a lot harder to move.

Just some thoughts from the old countryboy. old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot (oldhoot@shawneelink.net), September 16, 2003.

vegetables, worms, topsoil, mulch, baskets,swings, picnic tables, chairs, organic fertilizer plant spikes, potted plants, birdhouses, cabinents, woodcarvings, christmas decorations, spring seedlings, raised bed racks, hydroponics gardens, terariums, pinecone christmas trees, clay cookers, pottery and solar ovens are a few of the things I have made and sold from here.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 17, 2003.

Just bumping a few new answers on the board so that they'll put me back on to the list!

Little bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@bright.net), September 27, 2004.

What is finally panning out is my Handmade Soap business. I tried and do for family, spinning, weaving (2 floor looms) but...the cost Walmart sells placemats it not worth it unless people care.

Started making soap 8 years ago, started the business maybe 6 years ago and finally this year I am making money. So I think any home- business takes years to get off the ground. You see finally I have stores (all out of State, for some reason). Clients who buy every month. It just takes years....

Debbie

-- Debbie at Bountiful (debbie@bountiful.cwis.net), October 03, 2004.