Green thumb jobs are ideal for people who love plants, at the same time, want to spread the same kind of joy or positive energy that it gives them to other people.
Gardening is not new. In fact, it has been there since time immemorial. Plants have always been co-existing with us ever since the world began.
However, while some of us have always been in love with plants, others were not so into it — until this whole pandemic thing happened.
A lot of people started planting or taking care of plants because it helped them deal with anxiety and fear. It was kind of a source of distraction. Meanwhile, others saw the value of growing your own food. When people were stuck at home, it opened their eyes to the value of growing food in your own home.
Growing plants (whether it be edible or ornamental plants) within your backyard gives a lot of positive vibes on people. No wonder why in recent months, the green industry have been on the spotlight.
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In fact, in an article published by Reuters, it says that home gardening has become a huge thing over not just in the United States but across the globe during coronavirus lockdowns.
In the article, it says that — “People around the world are turning to gardening as a soothing, family-friendly hobby that also eases concerns over food security as lockdowns slow the harvesting and distribution of some crops.“
Because of this, the demand has gone wild that fruit and vegetable seed sales have increased worldwide. Needless to say, businesses that have anything to do with gardening and growing food or caring for plants have boomed over the past months.
But here’s the thing, apart from the fact that plants help people address the concern about food security, at the same time, it helps calm down people who go through anxiety or panic attacks because of the current very strange situation, your love for plants can also be something that could help you earn a living.
Yes, you read it right, and as mentioned in the title, today, we are going to specifically talk about green thumb jobs or jobs for people who love planting and plants in general. You see, your unexpected love affair with plants could actually be turned to something profitable!
But before we talk about the different green thumb jobs available out there, let’s talk about some important details first —
WHAT DOES “GREEN THUMB” MEANS?
The term “green thumb” is very common both for gardeners and non-gardeners. It basically refers to any person who has the gift for growing plants. As you know, not all of us have that gift to grow plants. There are some people who no matter how much they love plants are unable to grow plants themselves.
But have you ever wondered where “green thumb” came from? Well, we did, and here’s what we found out:
Based on the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the term has two possible sources, and these are:
- First, it may be linked during the reign of King Edward I of England who loved fresh green peas so much that the king had six serfs working to ensure there is enough supply for him. The king gave a prize to the worker that had the greenest thumb — the one who was stained from hours of shelling.
- Second, the term comes from the fact that handling clay pots that are encrusted with algae will stain a gardener’s thumb green.
Apart from these probable reasons behind the term, another is being associated with chlorophyll, which is the green thing in plants, that because very popular in the early 1900s.
Wherever the term came from though, one fact remains, green thumbs are people who were blessed with in-born (or so we thought) capability to grow plants.
Although, on the contrary, Gardener Scott, in his video below tells us that anyone can actually have a green thumb. You just have to want it and be motivated to plant to be able to grow greens. Watch the video below to know more on how to get a green thumb:
WHAT DOES “GREEN THUMB JOBS” MEANS?
Obviously, green thumb jobs refer to jobs available in the market for people who can grow plants or those who love plants. This refers to basically any job that is associated with plants or planting.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT GREEN THUMB JOBS AVAILABLE OUT THERE?
Now that you already know what green thumbs and green thumb jobs are all about, it’s time to share with you some of the best work from home green thumb jobs out there.
With the current situation in the country and in the world, we all know that staying at home is the best to keep ourselves protected and safe from the coronavirus. Thus, we specifically listed down work from home green thumb jobs for those who want to start off a work from a home career at the same time be able to do what they’re passionate about.
Some of the work from home green thumb jobs include:
- Online Plant/Fruit and Vegetable Seller
- Plant Writer
- Plant Video Blogger
- Flower Business
- Food Business
- Horticulture Consultant
- Landscaper or Lawn Care Specialist
Online Plant/Fruit and Vegetable Seller
Online selling has definitely boomed especially in recent months. More and more people have relied on online sellers to provide them with their everyday needs.
While grocery items can be bought in bulk and stock up in pantries, fresh produce is a totally different thing. You need to consume it as soon as you can. So, imagine how helpful it is for people to have a reliable plant or fruit and vegetable online seller.
Selling plants as well as fruits and vegetables online is one of the best ways to make money from home especially these days.
There are actually two ways to do it – One is you look for a supplier of plants, fruit, and vegetables and you resell, and two, you grow your own and sell them online. The latter is ideal, but this can be challenging in terms of ensuring there is always enough supply.
Selling potted plants particularly ornamental plants and herbs is easier than selling fruits and veggies. Why? Because you can plant ornamental plants and herbs yourself. You can do it yourself. All you have to do is propagate the plants and plant in pots and then sell.
When it comes to online selling, there are a lot of ways, a lot of platforms to choose from. You can make your own website, or you can use online marketplaces, or sell through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
We recommend you start selling within your circle – your family and friends. Then, slowly, introduce your online business to a bigger market. This way, you wouldn’t get overwhelmed.
Now, in terms of earning, how much you make as an online plant/fruit and vegetable seller will depend on how many plants, fruits, and vegetables were you able to sell, which actually depends on your marketing strategies.
When you enter into this kind of job or business, make sure to manage your expectation. Also, make sure to always keep your products fresh and live. Otherwise, people will not return and order again from you.
Plant Writer
So, you love plants, at the same time, you can write. Then, why not, do both together and be a plant writer?
As a plant writer, your job is to create content for a plant blog, a website, a publisher, or for a magazine. Generally, you are expected to write anything and everything that has something to do with plants and planting. It could be writing about the different plants, or writing about how to care for specific types of plants – anything, really.
As a plant writer, you have the option to write for your own blog or write for someone else. We recommend creating your own blog or website, but, if you think you are not yet ready for that, you can always look for clients who are looking for plant writers. Check the online job listing sites like FlexJobs, Freelancer, Upwork, etc. for possible job openings.
How much you make as a plant writer depends on the path you choose to take. If you opt to be a plant writer for your own blog or website, while it takes a lot of hard work, if you succeed, you can earn as much as six digits a month. You can earn from collaborations, sponsorships, ads, as well as through affiliate marketing.
Meanwhile, if you opt to work as a plant writer for someone else, generally speaking, freelance writers (where plant writers belong) in the United States earn an average hourly rate of $24.02 according to Payscale. But then again, how much you make as a writer depends on certain factors like the job requirement, your experience and expertise, and more.
Plant Video Blogger
If you haven’t heard yet, YouTube is becoming the most popular platform for people (especially the young generation) not just to express themselves, their ideas, and share their knowledge and expertise, but also to make a living.
Creating video blogs or vlogs has become the current trend. People nowadays go to YouTube not only for entertainment but for learning purposes as well.
Now, as a plant lover, you can come up with your very own YouTube channel, and create videos about plants, planting, as well as tips on how to care for plants based on plant types.
Before you even proceed with creating videos, we recommend you check out vloggers who have the same niche as you. Look for plant vloggers and see how they do things. We do not recommend copying someone else’s work rather get inspired by successful plant vloggers.
Basically, as a YouTube content creator or as a plant video blogger, how much you make will depend on a couple of things like your content, which will drive traffic to your site. Technically, you earn on YouTube through ads, but apart from that, you can also earn from collaborating with other vloggers, as well as through paid content, sponsorships, and more.
Meanwhile, if you intend to pursue this path, we recommend investing in really good equipment like a high-quality camera, microphone, as well as a computer with really good video editing software. All of these are essential in creating videos. The better your videos are, the more people will watch, which in return means, better chances of earning more.
Flower Business
Do you love flowers? How about doing flower arrangements?
If your answer to these questions is yes, then putting up a flower business is perfect for you.
A lot of women will probably agree with us if we say that flowers have that certain ability to make a woman happy. It helps brighten up someone’s day. It brings life to space, and so much more.
Flowers bring so much love and light, and imagine working with flowers on a day to day basis!?
Of all the green thumb jobs we’ve shared so far, running a flower business is probably the sweetest.
By opting to run a flower business, you get to do something that you love, something that you are passionate about, at the same time, be able to make a living out of it.
You can definitely run a flower business from home. You can set up an online flower shop for the meantime, and take and prepare orders from home. By the way, a flower shop business does not only apply to those arranging flowers in pots and bouquets but even those who plant flowers – You can sell flowers planted in pots, too.
According to the Society of American Florists, retail flower shops can generate an average of $362,318 in annual revenue.
Similar to the previous green thumb jobs we mentioned though, how much your flower business earns will depend on the number of orders you will receive, which all boils down to how effective your marketing strategies are, and of course, your products. Customers, after all, will keep coming back if you are able to provide them with the best products possible.
Food Business
A lot of people these days are becoming health conscious. So, if you have a plentiful source of organic food from your backyard or from your farm, putting up a healthy, organic food business would be ideal for you.
Imagine picking fresh lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, etc. and then making a salad out of it, and deliver it that fresh to your customers. That would surely be a hit!
When pursuing an organic food business, it is important to only work with what you have. Meaning, the food you offer will depend on the season – what’s available for harvest. You do not necessarily have to stick on a specific menu unless of course, you have the capacity to deliver.
As we all know, the food industry is always booming regardless of how crucial the situation is. After all, it’s one of every human’s basic necessities. As long as you process the food well, and you practice food safety, plus the food you prepare tastes good, you will surely have a place in this industry, and you can definitely earn as much as you can.
Horticulture Consultant
A horticulture consultant usually works along with landscape architects, arborists, as well as exterior designers and landscape builders. What they do is they provide specialist plant recommendations, as well as design plans, and do installation work.
Although you can mostly work from home, there may be times when travel is required especially during installation.
As a horticulture consultant, you have the choice to either work for a company or you can opt to be an independent contractor. Ideally, you work independently as it allows you to work on a flexible schedule, and of course, you get to be your own boss.
How much you make as a horticulture consultant will also depend on a couple of factors like if you work for a company or if you work independently. Your experience and expertise will also be taken into consideration. However, on average, a horticulture consultant earns around $22 per hour.
Landscaper or Lawn Care Specialist
Technically, as a landscaper or lawn care specialist, you work onsite. However, you get to work from home if you are work independently or as a freelancer. You basically run the business from your home, all by yourself. Eventually, if there is a need for manpower to execute projects, you can always hire people or contract out the jobs.
Meanwhile, if you are not ready to put up your own business yet, you can always opt to do business for someone else. You can use different on-demand online sites to connect with possible clients who need your lawn and landscaping services.
Some of these sites are:
- Lawnly
- LawnStarter
- GreenPal
- Plowz & Mowz
As a landscaper, you can earn an average of $14 per hour. However, if you own a landscaping company, you can earn as much as an average of $41.50 per hour.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON GREEN THUMB JOBS
As you can see, there are a lot of ways to make money out of a certain skill, a gift, a talent, etc. In this case, you can make money by simply being able to plant.
It’s nice knowing that there are a lot of ways for people with a green thumb to make money out of it. Apart from the fact that they are able to do something that they love, they are also able to make a living even while at the comfort of their homes – which, as we have mentioned earlier, is very essential these days to ensure health and safety.
Do you have green thumb, too? How has it been for you?
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