Turn Waste into Gold by Selling Compost

Selling compost is one of those unexpected benefits of raising livestock. It helps to imagine I’m walking through liquid gold when the muck of winter starts to melt. If you happen to have any to spare–we never do–it’s a great way to add an extra cash flow from something you might otherwise spend a lot of time trying to manage and move out of the way.

There’s a high demand for all kinds of compost: leaves, grass clippings, animal manure, etc. If you can combine these into a finished compost, you can command a higher price. Continue reading “Turn Waste into Gold by Selling Compost”

Growing Nettles as a Cash Crop

When we moved to our new farm two years ago, we discovered growing nettles in several patches across the property. I’d heard how wonderful nettles were, so with a pair of surgical gloves and a quest for adventure, I set about harvesting my first nettle crop.

That first harvest turned me into a lifelong fan of nettles. They have to be steamed, cooked or dried before eating, but food made with nettles tastes so amazing. The leaves aren’t the only part of the plant that is useable, though, and that’s part of what makes growing nettles for profit such a sure winner. Continue reading “Growing Nettles as a Cash Crop”