Homesteaders Can Maximize the Value of Their Land With These 6 Strategies
Martin Banks 05.15.24
Owning a large property is the ultimate dream for homesteaders. You can use it however you want, but that also means you must hone in on your best options for making money. Use these strategies to maximize your land’s value without just selling chicken eggs or hosting horseback riding lessons. You’ll find a profitable niche that feels fulfilling and easily covers your monthly bills all while living out your lifelong dream of homesteading.
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1. Grow In-Demand Sod
Homesteaders often invest in their land because they want to farm. You can grow anything you like, but using some or all of your acreage for sod boosts the value of your property to its full potential. Consider growing something like Kentucky bluegrass sod, which yields an average of $5,632 per acre and may be even more profitable during housing booms. You’ll only need to plant the seeds, water the sod regularly and keep weeds away before selling it in pallets to residential construction crews, landscaping companies or individual homeowners.
2. Raise Fish Instead of Growing Plants
If you’ve always enjoyed fishing as a hobby, you could turn your homestead into a fish farm. Aquaculture farming is a profitable business if you combine modern technology with an understanding of fish pond care. The demand for seafood increased by 1.5% over the past 50 years and will likely continue rising as global warming shrinks natural marine life populations.
3. Sell your Mineral Interests
When you bought your land, you also purchased the rights to what’s under it. Although some states limit the depth of your ownership regarding crude oil, you can sell the interests to any minerals beneath your property. A company could sign a lease for your mineral rights and pay an average royalty of 20% for any revenue from your property. They’d have to install drills and wells to reach the minerals, but if your homestead is sizable, you might not even see them. It’s passive income that could quickly pay off your mortgage if you’re living on mineral-rich land.
4. Raise and Sell Puppies
Dog breeding could be a profitable strategy to maximize the value of your acres. Puppies would use your land to run around, potty-train and hang out with their future owners while they wait until they’re eight weeks old and are ready to go home. Choose a type of dog that isn’t available anywhere nearby. You’ll make more money selling hard-to-find breeds than popular options like golden retrievers or German shepherds.
If you’re passionate about canines, you could make your next business venture even more profitable by training them to be hunting dogs. Use your land to let them run around as they grow up and train them to sprint 100 yards to retrieve fallen targets. People will pay more for trained puppies or young dogs, establishing your brand as a reputable and rare breeder.
5. Save Space for Christmas Trees
Christmas tree farms might seem like a limited financial opportunity, but it depends on your seasonal strategies. This is an excellent idea for homesteaders with entrepreneurial creativity. When it’s not Christmas, you could make money letting professional photographers host client photoshoots on your land. You might start a nursery where you sell plants from the extra space on your property or other types of trees in your crop rotation to landscapers.
Don’t forget about the financial potential of tree branches. You’ll have to trim your growing trees to keep them healthy. Consider turning them into custom wreaths or selling them as fishing supplies for people who catch bass with brush piles after breaking branches off their Christmas trees. There are endless possibilities if you want to use your acreage to make money.
6. Rent Bee Hives
Combine your passion for helping the environment with your homesteading lifestyle by becoming a beekeeper. Bees will love using the natural plants across your property for food while you help maintain a set of hives. Beekeeping generates over $624 million annually because there are numerous ways to turn it into revenue. Selling honey is a great way to make extra money, but you can also rent your hives. Local farms can pay weekly or monthly to borrow them so your bees pollinate their plants more efficiently than wild bees.
Maximize Your Homestead’s Financial Potential
Homesteading is a wonderful opportunity to get creative, make money and live the life of your dreams in the countryside. Consider these ideas to maximize your land’s value so it remains beautiful and profitable. As always, let us know all of your thoughts and potential ideas to maximize the profit of your homestead in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
