Food has always been accessible to most people, and with grocery stores and supermarkets nearby, many could rest easy thanks to its convenience. However, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and lockdown protocols taking over, it’s become more crucial for individuals to source supplies and produce as near as possible to keep themselves and their families safe and well-fed.
You can take advantage of this situation and help out your community while creating a new stream of income for yourself by growing a vegetable garden at home.
Here’s how you can start growing vegetables for profit:
Build a Greenhouse and Use Hydroponics
If you plan on growing your garden long-term, it’s best to build a greenhouse as it can protect your crops from excess cold, heat, or pests, giving you better chances of making more produce. If you’re confident in your DIY skills, you can purchase a ready-to-assemble greenhouse kit or build it from scratch. Make sure you add window shades to your greenhouse to help you bring in more sunlight for root vegetables or less for leafy greens.
You can plant your crops following the hydroponic technique, where you place the seeds in growing media filled with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water for fast-growing and healthier produce. Make the growing conditions more efficient by incorporating a vertical garden technique by arranging the hydroponics into a vertically suspended panel, reducing carbon footprint, and improving air quality.
Convert Your Front or Backyard Into a Vegetable Garden
If you don’t have the means to build a greenhouse but have a decent amount of land at home, find a plot that gets at least five hours of direct sunlight every day for the best results. The wind is another concern you should consider, especially if you plan on growing tall plants. Pick a spot that has protection from the wind, such as beside a tool shed or fence.
Additionally, when converting your yard into a vegetable garden, you need to consider the soil’s condition. You can improve the soil’s health by adding organic matter like compost, dead leaves, and grass clippings.
Make Sure It’s Organic and Safe
Organic farming is one of the most popular methods, resembling traditional production farming minus the chemical pesticides and fertilizers, making produce healthier, more delicious, and nutrient-rich. It’s best to follow organic production to increase your chances of selling more as demand for organic vegetables is ever-increasing. You can start by composting decaying leaves around your home and invest in ‘natural pest eliminators,’ like ladybugs or plant mint tea bags around the garden to deter pests.
Market Your Business on Social Media and Deliver Within Your Community
Once you’ve established a garden and started harvesting some crops, market it on social networking sites that cater to buy-and-sell like Facebook. You can also advertise your fresh produce on Instagram or Twitter and gauge the interest that comes your way. It’s best if you start small and focus on catering to locals in your community and personally deliver the crops to save you money and gain customer loyalty. You can also go door to door and sell your harvest.
If you’re interested in making money while encouraging, supporting, and growing your local economy, starting a vegetable garden business is the best way to achieve that. Follow the tips mentioned, and you’ll be growing fresh produce and your finances in no time.
