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I love getting together with other homesteaders at farmer’s markets, but it can be difficult to find something to sell that isn’t already widely available. Our local markets are crammed with tables filled with produce, from fruit and vegetables to jellies, cheeses, and honey. But if you’re looking for a niche in the market, there are many non-food products that homesteaders can turn their hand to making!
So, for anyone looking to diversify their income stream, here are some great suggestions of things you can sell at farmer’s markets.
1. Handmade soap
Hand-crafted natural soaps made with fragrant garden herbs and natural plant oils are highly sought after at farmer’s markets. Melt-and-pour soap bases make the process incredibly simple, and handmade eco-friendly paper packaging adds a delightful whimsical touch.
2. Candles
Surplus beeswax and homegrown herbs can be used to make natural candles that burn cleanly and create a pleasant aroma. If you don’t keep bees yourself, many beekeepers will swap or barter their beeswax with other homesteaders.
3. Fresh flowers
Growing flowers for cutting is a great way to beautify your homestead while also creating beautiful bouquets to sell at markets. Sunflowers, zinnias, roses, peonies, dahlias, lavender and snapdragons are all very easy to grow and will also help attract beneficial insects to your garden.
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4. Herbal products
Dried herbs from the homestead, such as sage, thyme, or oregano, can be used to create natural remedies and health products such as aromatherapy sachets, salves and soothing balms.
4 Homemade Herbal Salve Recipes for Your Natural Apothecary
5. Handcrafted jewelry
The options are endless when it comes to handcrafting jewelry to sell – you could incorporate materials from the land, such as pressed flowers or wooden beads, or upcycle old jewelry from the thrift store. Customers will love the individuality of one-off pieces with a personal, rustic touch.
6. Pottery and ceramics
You don’t necessarily need a kiln and specialized equipment to make pottery. Methods such as air-drying and pit-firing mean you can turn clay from your land into decorative and useful pieces to sell at the market.
7. Woodworking items
This is my husband’s favorite hobby, and most of our family have received gifts made from timber from our homestead! Good-quality branches can be turned into cutting boards, coasters, coat racks, and beautiful decorative pieces for the home.
8. Knitted or crocheted goods
Handcrafted items like mittens, socks, and hats can be made using natural yarn, perfect for offering at farmers’ markets during colder months. If you’re feeling very creative, you could even try spinning wool from locally sourced sheep or alpaca wool!
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9. Art prints
If you have an artistic flair, photographs or paintings of your homestead, garden, or local landscape can make a unique piece of art that helps promote the homesteading lifestyle and the beauty of the natural world.
10. Vintage goods
If you acquired a lot of old items with your property, consider upcycling them to create one-of-a-kind pieces to sell at markets. Vintage glass bottles filled with fairy lights make beautiful garden decorations, while old tools can be cleaned up and repurposed into functional household items.
11. Plants
While my husband is busy whittling wood to sell at markets, I’ll be building up a stock of plants for our stall. Many herbs, succulents, and native flowers can be propagated from cuttings, and unusual vegetable seedlings are always snapped up by enthusiastic gardeners. Add value by providing useful information leaflets and advice on plant care.
12. Essential oils
Distilling essential oils might sound mystical and complicated, but with some very basic equipment, anyone can create small batches from plants like lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus. These oils can be sold for aromatherapy, skincare, or natural cleaning solutions.
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13. Baskets
Crafting handmade baskets is a very relaxing pastime and the products of your labor can be sold to customers for storage or decoration. For a source of free basket-weaving material, consider growing willow or reeds in a shady, damp corner of your homestead.
14. Upcycling
Old wooden pallets, scrap metal, and discarded fabric can be repurposed into new products, such as garden planters, birdhouses, or quilts. This sustainable practice not only reduces waste but also offers a creative way to generate income from unique, one-off pieces.
15. Garden supplies
As well as plants, consider selling other garden supplies such as hand-crafted tools, organic compost, and handmade plant labels. Surplus seeds and homemade fertilizers are also highly sought after by local gardeners looking for sustainable options.
16. Beauty products
Natural oils and homegrown ingredients like lavender, calendula, and chamomile can be used to craft luxurious lotions and balms. Consider using eco-friendly packaging such as reusable jars to appeal to customers looking to move away from mass-produced alternatives.
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17. Upcycled clothing
Got a flair for upcycling clothes from the thrift store? If you’re talented at repurposing old fabric or clothing into new garments, consider setting up a stall at your local market. Natural dyes from plants like indigo, beets, or marigolds can be used to create unique designs and colors that celebrate sustainability while offering one-of-a-kind fashion choices.
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18. Cleaning products
When I first started investigating eco-friendly cleaning products, I was amazed at how expensive commercially produced cleaners can be! Natural cleaning supplies, such as vinegar infused with lavender, are budget-friendly alternatives that will be snapped up by customers at your local market.
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19. Crafting supplies
Supplies such as handspun yarn, natural dyes, and wooden buttons are highly sought after by craft enthusiasts. I recently spotted someone selling custom-made crafting kits, complete with a pattern and all the materials needed to make the item. A great idea that would definitely be snapped up by people looking for a gift or simple project!
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Kate Chalmers
Kate is a passionate gardener who has a keen interest in all things related to homesteading and sustainability. She resides in Portugal with her husband and menagerie of animals and has over 15 years of experience in the UK veterinary industry. In 2020, Kate and her husband took on a dilapidated Portuguese house and abandoned olive grove, turning it into an abundant food forest and home for nature.
Life on the homestead is never the same from one day to the next, and Kate has mastered many skills that she is keen to pass on to anyone with an interest in becoming more self-sufficient. Kate believes that living a sustainable lifestyle is the key to happiness and fulfillment and that everyone can make simple changes that connect us back to nature and reduce our impact on the planet.
