My sister gardens for her own personal use and hobby. She grows more than she needs often, so she does a simple table in her front yard and an "honesty" box.
What is it: A roadside garden stand is a small, local business where you sell homegrown produce, flowers, and other products directly to people who pass by. It can range from a simple cart with bins of produce to a walk-in shop with a refrigerator. This more focuses on jut setting up a table and having an “honest box.” This side hustle is perfect for stay-at-home moms who have a passion for gardening and want to share their fresh produce and creations with their community.
Qualifications Needed: Knowledge of gardening and growing produce or flowers, and basic business skills.
Start-up cost: Minimal to moderate, depending on the size and complexity of the stand. Costs include constructing or buying a stand, signage, and initial stock of produce or products.
Hidden costs: None really, besides buying or building a stand and a lock box for the money.
Potential earnings: Earnings will vary depending on the volume of sales, pricing, and seasonality of your products.
Time Involved: Time commitment will depend on the scale of your gardening and the operation of the stand.
Your Customer: Local residents, tourists, and passersby who value fresh, locally grown produce and products.
Scalability: Roadside garden stands can be expanded by increasing the variety of products offered, growing the size of the stand, or build a small, manned stand that offers more variety of items.
Website Required: No but having a social media presence or a simple website can help attract customers and showcase your products.
Advertising/Marketing: Word of mouth, local advertising, signage, and social media promotion.
Equipment needed: Stand or cart, display containers, signs, and cash box or payment system.
Staff required: Not required, but family members can assist with gardening. Keys to Success: Offering high-quality, fresh products, eye-catching displays, and competitive pricing.
Conclusion: A roadside garden stand is a charming and accessible way for stay-at-home moms to share their love of gardening and homegrown products with their community. It provides an opportunity to earn extra income and connect with customers in a local, personal way. Because there is an "honesty box" for payment, you can expect to have some people not pay, or have attempted theft of the box. Try to secure the box so the whole thing can't be stolen.
For more great Side Hustle ideas, check out "101 Real World Side Hustles."