Earn Money with a Modern Greenhouse

AKA CJ // Flickr

Times are hard and the economy isn't as stable as before. Earn extra cash for your savings or as disposable income by making full use of your garden and utilizing the latest in greenhouse innovations.

The Setup
Traditional glass greenhouses are out of the question. They are expensive, easily damaged, and require a lot of maintenance. A polycarbonate greenhouse is less expensive, and it is more efficient than the usual greenhouse. Polycarbonate sheets provide better insulation, keeping your crops safe from outside temperatures. They also disperse the sun as it passes through, ensuring your crops get the same amount of sunlight.

Uniform crops are easier to price and sell and they also give you the semblance of a professional grower. A polycarbonate greenhouse is also easier to set up, maintain and repair. Its plastic sheets are shatterproof and you can use a box cutter to cut it for installation or repair. Polycarbonate sheets are durable. They can endure more weight than glass and can withstand most impacts. If you don't mind the attention, opt for a geodesic dome greenhouse.

These dome-like structures may seem like a better fit on the moon or Mars (even Tesla is planning on using them for their future Mars missions), but they are one of the most efficient structures for greenhouses. Geodesic greenhouses are built to withstand harsh weather while making full use of sunlight because of their shape. The dome-like shape also provides more space per square feet, allowing you to plant more crops.

Growing Money
You won't be growing the usual crops if you want to earn big money. One of the best crops you can grow is medical marijuana. More than 36 states allow the use of medical marijuana and more states have legislation towards legalization. It doesn't take a lot of effort to grow it, but you do need a bit of security to dissuade theft. An ounce of marijuana costs around $300, but there may be variations by state. A typical 10-feet by 20-feet greenhouse can house 10-15 marijuana plants, with an average yield of 1 ounce per harvest. They take around 2 months to grow - but you should be able to sell them for around $3,000-$4,500. Another grass you can grow is bamboo.

Landscapers pay premium prices for these plants, often paying $200 per piece. Bamboo doesn't require a lot of space, but you should keep them in pots to facilitate transport. Bamboo can grow up to 18 feet in limited containers, so make sure you have enough clearance space on your doors and ceiling. Mushrooms are also great options for small greenhouses. Most growers harvest yields averaging at around 25 pounds per square foot. Oyster and shiitake mushrooms can sell for around $6-$8 wholesale, so you'll be harvesting $30,000-$40,000 worth of mushrooms each year.

Documentation
Set up a few cameras in your greenhouse for security and documentation. Upload snippets of your greenhouse venture on the internet, and get into contact with other growers. Using a phone can make it seem more personal, but a dedicated camera setup will make it seem more professional. Farmers and growers often make substantial amounts of money on YouTube, and your specialized greenhouse is bound to attract a following.

You can also get in contact with interested buyers who may want first dibs on your crops. After a season or two, you can even profit by teaching your methods through Course Creator Community and other reliable platforms. You'll be establishing a bit of credibility while growing your brand, and you'll be helping interested growers in their own efforts.

Selling
A little market research is needed to figure out what to grow. Seek out possible clients when choosing your crops as well as the legality - in the case of marijuana - of growing and selling. Unlike other growers, you won't be selling in farmer's markets, so you'll need to network with potential buyers directly. Dispensaries are usually open to local growers once they make sure your crops pass certain requirements - and selling in bulk is a lot easier than going retail.

Get in touch with a few landscapers if you're planning on growing bamboo. Note what kind of bamboo they prefer as well as how tall they want them to be. Mushrooms are an easy sell. If you can sell to a restaurant, you can double your profits by charging $12-$15 a pound. Otherwise, just find a few retailers who would gladly pay for your mushrooms at bulk prices.

Money doesn't grow on trees, but it can in a modern greenhouse. Put the dollar green in a greenhouse by building the most efficient greenhouse for the most lucrative of crops.