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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: £10-£20 Location: Home/Markets 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

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

How it works

  1. 1Collect solid old drawers from house refits and salvage yards.
  2. 2Line, drill drainage, sand and oil the wood, then plant with herbs or salad.
  3. 3Sell planted at markets — the plants are what justify the price.

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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.

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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.

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Garden Willow Sweet Pea Frame Maker

Woven willow obelisks and sweet pea frames — made from a few cheap bundles of willow — sell to gardeners tired of plastic supports.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £20-£40Location: Location: Home/MarketsDifficulty: Difficulty: MediumEarning potential: Potential repeatable businessTime needed: A few hours a week

Why it's left-field

The material costs about £8 a bundle and makes three frames; the skill takes an afternoon on a video tutorial, and gardeners pay handmade prices.