Turning the unoccupied space that is usually mowed weekly into a profitable asset is not as hard as it seems. Now when you take the step to start researching garden ideals, soil, canning, or animals it tends to be very overwhelming for sure but I promise it is not to challenging.
This was about 15 minutes worth of picking on a Sunday morning. I proceeded to can some jalapeño jelly and freeze the remaining peppers shortly after. I easily could have sold some of these veggies for a small profit too. Now imagine if you picked this many vegetables on a daily basis from a small garden such as this.
By converting your yard into a food producing haven of utter awesomeness you can save loads of money and even profit if you choose to sell the produce. A little addition every year will eventually turn your lawn into a sustainable mini-farm.
Now you can also expand into other avenues as well!
Rabbits can produce a solid stream of meat every year which can be frozen, canned or sold. Also, live rabbits can sell for $10+ depending on the breed, which is nice since your litters can be from 6-12. Let us not forget to mention the pelts from your skinned bunnies, tanning hides or freezing them and selling them also can bring you a profit. Rabbits are extremely easy to care for and are low maintenance which make them perfect for the part time homesteader.
Chickens are easier to care for than dogs... Yes, they are! This is not my first time raising chickens so I have the advantage of prior experience. I turned an old shed into a coop and made a nice wood framed run for them right in my backyard. In case you are wondering I have less than an acre of land. These little ladies are egg layers and will produce roughly an egg a day each, except for the winter months. You can easily sell fresh brown eggs for $3+ a dozen to locals or use them for yourself.
Remember: Grow Food not Lawns!
Producing your own food and profiting from the rewards is an excellent smack in the face to the state!