Growing Kitchen Herbs as a Lucrative Business

In recent years, many people have started growing kitchen herbs, for their own personal consumption. My aunt has taken pride in growing her own basil, mint, parsley and other herbs for her cooking, as well as infusions and teas. But did you think that an herb garden can also be a good money-making venture? You need not have a big lot to turn your herb garden into a cash cow. Think big but start with what you have.

You can first start by checking out what herbs are in demand in the local market. For example, in your area, people may be looking for specific herbs for specific purposes. It helps if you ask around. For example, if people are interested in making potpourri or herb infused massage oils, then aromatic herbs are the way to go. Some people may be looking for herbs that don’t naturally grow abundantly in their area, so having something that is not easy to find will increase the value of your herbs in terms of monetary value. The important thing is to be prepared. How best to do this? Do your research. Talk to people. Join online commentaries. Go to the fairs and local farmers’ market.  Also, do not forget to tend your garden. If you can transfer your garden indoors so that you can provide fresh herbs in the winter, that is an added plus. Herbs in abundance in the summer and early fall can also be dried to preserve them, to be sold at later times.

Packaging is also a key factor in marketing your products, so get creative. There are many ways to package your herbs. Little brown paper packages for dry herbs are attractive. Make sure you label them, and place the date the herbs were harvested. Your contact information must also be on every package. If you have fresh herbs, you can sell them as plants in little flower pots or something similar. People will usually buy what is attractive, on top of being functional, so a good eye for packaging is very important. It is also important to advertise. Let people know that you have products to sell. Start with the persons in your circle, for example, your colleagues in the office, the people you go to the gym with, the members of your church group. This way works well when you are starting small. Also, make sure that people are satisfied with your products. If they are, then they will talk about it to their own circles, and before you know it, you will be getting orders. Make yourself available through the phone or the internet for your customers’ queries. Let them know about your ways of growing kitchen herbs.

Also, it helps if you can set up a website for your products, or at least make an account in a networking site such as Friendster, Multiply or Facebook, so that people who do not live in your area can still know more about your products and see pictures. Sites like the ones I mentioned can also allow for free transmission of information. Make sure that payment and transport methods are secure so that both you and your customers are satisfied with transactions. Price your herbs correctly. Although growing kitchen herbs does not cost much, some herbs fetch higher prices than others. Also, your customers may not be willing to pay too much, so do your research on this aspect as well. If your herbs are underpriced, you will not reap the full benefits of this business, and if you’re overpricing, you may lose your customers’ interest.

Lastly, join the local fairs, flea markets, and craft shows. This is a good way for local people to know what you have to offer. Let them try your samples. Pretty soon, growing kitchen herbs will no longer be just for your food and perfumes, but will also provide you with an alternative source of income.