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Backyard Bazaars

Domestic Lawn Aeration Core Plug Drying Producer

Collect extruded soil plugs from lawn core aeration, dry them out, and bag them as mineral-rich potting mix additives.

Startup Cost: £15 Location: Hybrid Difficulty: Easy Useful side income A few hours a week

Earning and time figures are our broad estimates, not guarantees — actual results depend on your area, your effort and demand.

Why it's left-field

Gardeners pay you for dried lawn soil cores gathered from garden lawns to blend into home potting soil mix.

How it works

  1. 1Collect clean soil cores extracted during lawn aeration jobs in your neighbourhood.
  2. 2Spread soil plugs on drying trays in a greenhouse or shed to crumble into fine loam.
  3. 3Bag dry soil crumble into kraft sacks and list on local garden supply groups.

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Backyard Bazaars

Homegrown Dried Herb Bundle Seller

Bundles of home-dried mint, rosemary, thyme and lavender — grown in a bed or pots — sell as kitchen and craft staples at markets and online.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £10-£20Location: Location: Home/MarketsDifficulty: Difficulty: EasyEarning potential: Useful side incomeTime needed: A few hours a week

Why it's left-field

Supermarket herbs cost pennies but arrive damp and wilted; a beautiful dried bundle from a real garden looks generous and sells at craft-fair prices.

Backyard Bazaars

Upcycled Drawer Planter Maker

Old wooden drawers become charming herb and salad planters — salvaged free from skips and refits, then sold filled with plants at markets.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £10-£20Location: Location: Home/MarketsDifficulty: Difficulty: EasyEarning potential: Useful side incomeTime needed: A few hours a week

Why it's left-field

The materials cost nothing and the finished piece looks deliberately rustic, which is precisely what garden buyers pay extra for.

Backyard Bazaars

Pet Memorial Stone Painter

Hand-painted stones with a pet's name and dates — made from free or cheap stone — sell steadily to grieving owners who want something personal.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £10-£20Location: Location: Remote/HomeDifficulty: Difficulty: EasyEarning potential: Useful side incomeTime needed: A few hours a week

Why it's left-field

Grief doesn't check price lists, and a painted stone made to order feels irreplaceable in a way mass-produced plaques never do.