The Beginings of a Comprehensive Income List

Hello all, this is my first ever post here at permies, Hazaa!! Anyway, I've been struggling to come up with a sort of comprehensive list of possible income streams of which I can choose from and develop as soon as I'm finished with my book learnin.(Post secondary education) I have been lurking around the site for a few months now, and am 2 years deep into the process of scheming and planning the details of my future homestead/permaculture related business strategy, and in doing this I have observed that there are many others trying to come to a more specific conclusion as to how they want to generate income using various permaculture-esc methods.

So this is what I have come up with so far. I currently live in northern Ontario, so I am limited as to which varieties of plants I can successfully grow. I also am kinda particular in terms of which activities I want to engage in. I don't necessarily want to raise large animals, and it would be very difficult to grow bananas, so I have left an enormous amount of possibilities I can think of off this list. It is also not organized very well. I kinda threw it together.

This being said I think it would be really helpful for both enthusiastic newbies and veterans, if there were a truly comprehensive list of small scale permaculture/homesteadish business ideas available somewhere on the net. Multiple lists would be ideal I think, maybe separated by gardening zones. For example a list of activities and technology(including plants) appropriate for Zone 1-3, 3-5, 5-7 etc or some variations of these.

This is what I have come up with so far.

Please feel free to add to it, and any suggestions as to how to more easily gather and organize this info using this forum or the net in general would appreciated. Some kind of wikipedia like page would be awesome........Hmm maybe that could be the best way, so everyone can add to and modify it.

Anyways, hope this is helpful

Income List (Monetary and In-Kind)

Vegetables
-Individual Vegetables(To many to list)
-Salad Mixes
-Braising Mix
-Stir-fry Mix
-CSA Box
-Sprouts

Medicinal and Culinary Herbs
-Fresh Cuttings(To many to list)
-Dried and packaged
-Medicinal Teas with directions

Fruits(In Northern Ontario)
-Fruit Baskets
-Apples
-Pears
-Plums
-Apricots
-Cherry
-Hascap
-Blueberry
-Raspberry
-Blackberry
-False Solomon's Seal
-Rhubarb
-Strawberries
-Choke Cherries
-Serviceberries
-Grapes
-Figs?(Greenhouse)
-Currents
-Gooseberries
-Cranberries
-Sumac
-Peaches?(Perfect Micro-climate)
-Ginseng
-Goji
-Elderberry
-Thimble Berry
ETC

Plant Starts
-Rare Varieties
-Scion Wood
-Heirlooms
-Cat-grass
-Micro-greens
-Live Christmas tree rentals

Seeds
-Wild Harvested and Intentionally Grown

Preserves
-Jams
-Jellies
-Pickled Items
-Chutneys
-Sauces
-Pestos
-Salsas

Preparations
-Oils
-Salves
-Soaps
-Culinary Spice Mixes(for individual dishes)
-Teas
-Dry Soup Mix’s
-Prepared frozen foods
-Baked Goods
-Fresh Compost Tea

Misc Food Items
-Honey
-Eggs
-Chicken
-Rabbits

Education
-Recipe books
-Beginners Guide’s
-Blueprints
-Workshops: Composting, Organic Gardening, Indoor Gardening, Vertical Gardening, Medicinal Preparations, Saving Seeds, Mushroom Cultivation, Eco-Friendly Lawn Care, How to Build Stuff: “Solar Food Dehydrator, Solar Solar Oven, Solar Hot Water”, Cooking Classes, Bushcraft/Survival Skills, Cob Building, Business Plan Development, ETC
-Internships
-Garden Tours
-Medicine Walk
-Volunteer Student Workers

Constructed Products
-Stick Furniture
-Bird Houses
-Bat Houses
-Worm Bins
-Solar Ovens
-Solar Dehydrators
-Tiny Houses
-Micro Chicken Coup’s

Business Ideas
-Restaurant Truck/Trailer
-Edible Landscaping Consultation/Installation
-Permaculture/Organic Gardening Store
-Local Food Hub Store
-Honor System Farm Stand
-Permaculture Healing Retreat/Eco-Resort

Wild Crafted and Misc Harvests
-Leeks
-Maple Syrup
-Berries
-Essential Oils(Balsam)
-Coppice Wood
-Construction Wood
-Firewood
-Bamboo
-Hay
-Aquaculture in Ponds

Cut Flowers?
Nursery Stock?

Do you want to do all of it for income or do you want to pick three or so income possibilities?

I think I would pick and choose different combinations depending on the seasons or circumstances I am presented with. It would just be nice to have a good solid list of potential income generating activities condusive to sustainable living and permaculture. I dont think one person could manage a business that took advantage of all these possibilities at once but ideas and trends are constantly changing so I think its wise to have multiple contingency options.

These are some of the home based crafts done for income that I am familiar with in our area. Most are not zone specific.

This list can all be done wth hand tools and most with home grown, home gathered and recycled materials.

baskets from grape vine, white oak splits, ratan vine, coral berry vine, etc.
hand spun yarn from sheep, alpaca, llama, mohair, etc.
wooden ware (treen) spoons, bowls, from persimmon, wild cherry, chinkopin, fruit woods, etc.
coopered buckets from cedar and oak.
possibly pottery from local clay... wood fired kiln.
handwoven or twined "rag" placemats and rugs from local thrift store finds
natural dye plants and dried natural dye materials.
handspun yarn woven, knit and crochet items.
cane/bamboo flutes.
handmade plant based paper.

and bent wood pitchforks and rakes.
bark berry baskets. traditionally birch but some hickory works.
hickory bark, split oak, corn husk, rush (cattails) for chair seats.
shaker syle hickory/oak chairs, stools.
ironwork...blacksmithing using scrap iron
knife making using old files, leaf springs etc for blades...horn, wood,leather for handles
photography and painting and drawing

I really think it is better trying out some two or three different things and being very good at that.
However, it makes completely sense writing up a comprehensive list to have some idea what would be possible and how much money you could make and what the expenses are.

Here's a neat idea for a U-pick: http://permaculturenews.org/2011/11/17/fresh-worlds-wildest-supermarket/

That's a fantastic idea for a you-pick, I like the sketches of the rows, I would just be worried about them falling down if they were to narrow. In the actual picture of the rows it looks like there is a foot and a little of bare soil. It seems like that would just erode away after a while unless you planted some good ground cover or something. You might have to secure them somehow to prevent them from falling over, like building mini terraces into them, almost like grocery store shelves . Take that Loblaws!!!

I'm starting to think that this comprehensive list could be developed into a fair sized book. There are so many possibilities within each production category. In terms of the wild crafting category alone there are most likely hundreds of different items that could be profitably marketed depending on regional conditions. Shortly after starting this thread I actually found a similar list in book form produced by a PHD researcher in Canada named Gina Mohammed. The book is called the Canadian NTFP Business Companion. Its focus is on exemplifying the development of alternative income streams derived from wild crafted products specifically in Canada, as opposed to the current economic paradigm which is mainly focused on deriving income by raping the commons, ie large scale mining projects or the harvesting of old growth forests for timber and pulp materials.

To say the least I was pretty excited to find this book, good old synchronicity at work again. The book costs about 50 dollars and I believe it is only available in cd form. Regardless I do intend to purchase this in the near future so ill keep you all posted relative to its usefulness.

Wow, nice

Carson Beauregard wrote:Shortly after starting this thread I actually found a similar list in book form produced by a PHD researcher in Canada named Gina Mohammed. The book is called the Canadian NTFP Business Companion. Its focus is on exemplifying the development of alternative income streams derived from wild crafted products specifically in Canada, as opposed to the current economic paradigm which is mainly focused on deriving income by raping the commons, ie large scale mining projects or the harvesting of old growth forests for timber and pulp materials.

To say the least I was pretty excited to find this book, good old synchronicity at work again. The book costs about 50 dollars and I believe it is only available in cd form. Regardless I do intend to purchase this in the near future so ill keep you all posted relative to its usefulness.

I'm in Ottawa, I would love to get a copy of it! Let me know what it's like!

So after having a good chat with the friendly university reference lady, we found a fair sized overview of this book online, for free!!! Its 66 pages and full of useful information. It briefly goes over the various uses for a huge number of Ontario plant species. The different uses include food, natural health care products, medicinal plants, resins, essential oils, household fragrances, plant biomass, recycled wood material, biological pesticides, floral and craft products, carvings and natural dyes. Definitely a great permaculture resource. Check it out!! Here's the link.

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=non%20timber%20forest%20products%20gina&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mnr.gov.on.ca%2Fstdprodconsume%2Fgroups%2Flr%2F%40mnr%2F%40ofri%2Fdocuments%2Fdocument%2F279238.pdf&ei=eEahUM-bELGgyAGT6YCICA&usg=AFQjCNGjWS_6YTMzGmu5521sJwMaOyuF6A&cad=rja

Oh and NTFP stands for Non Timber Forest Products

Direct link to the PDF: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@ofri/documents/document/279238.pdf

I posted a review of the NTFP Business Companion in the books section. Here's the link https://permies.com/t/21906/books/Canadian-Timber-Forest-Product-Business#179952