Garden side hustles to earn more before Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching, many households are seeking quick ways to earn extra money and cover end-of-year expenses.

Statistics back that up – Google searches for “make money quickly” have risen by 171% in the past month, and, on TikTok, the hashtag “side hustles in own garden” has exploded with more than 9.9 million posts.

With that in mind, Robin Antill, founder of the garden spaces company 1st Choice Leisure Buildings, says that simple outdoor projects can generate a meaningful amount of extra cash.

“People often overlook what’s sitting right in front of them,” Antill explains. “A shed, a few herbs or even your compost can become a small seasonal income stream if you know how to use it.”

Here are six ways he outlines for you to start earning money within your community, from your garden, before the Christmas season.

Sell homemade compost

According to Antill, a healthy compost has more value than one would think. Spring planting is soon to be planned, and gardeners are on the hunt for nutrient-rich compost. If you’re a gardening enthusiast with your own established compost heap, consider bagging some up and selling it online for a cash boost.

Clear out the shed

Sheds are useful for keeping everything you want out of your sight inside the house. But every once in a while, it’s good practice to have a proper look at what you’re holding on to – as some treasures you realise you’ll never use again might be useful for someone else, even if for restoring.

Offer garden maintenance services 

Some people have time on their hands, while others don’t, but are willing to pay someone to take care of things they can’t. During the holiday season, when families host guests at home, it’s a good idea to offer a type of gardening service – such as leaf removal, installing Christmas lights and decorations, or trimming shrubs – to those who want their homes to look pristine.

Grow and sell Christmas dinner herbs

It’s almost time for the family cooks to gather their best ingredients for the main meal of the season, but it’s essential to note that traditional festive herbs like rosemary and thyme are still thriving in the cold and growing at this time of year.

They can easily be planted in pots and sold if you have them in your garden, but if not, it might be worth buying a single plant, dividing it into smaller pots, and growing them for a while indoors on a sunny windowsill. Decorating the pots once grown is also a nice touch.

Make natural decorations and handmade gifts

Foraging in your own garden or around parks might lead you to come across pinecones, evergreen sprigs, dried flowers, berries, and seeds, which can be used to create nice Christmas wreaths and other types of decorations if you’re into crafting. They sell well online or at local fairs and also make for low-cost, meaningful gifts for friends and family.

Rent out your summerhouse

If you have a summerhouse, it’s safe to assume this is exactly the time when you won’t be using it. However, people looking for a quiet place to work when family is around or when festive projects are being developed might see your spare space as a quiet refuge. You can rent out the space by the day, week or hour, depending on the demand, and Antill recommends platforms like Facebook Marketplace as the perfect places to find clients.