Weekend Pick-Your-Own Berry or Veggie Patch

Local families, school holiday day-trippers and food lovers who want fresh produce and a day out.

Customers pay by weight or by the container for what they pick, with an optional small entry fee. A few extras like jam or eggs can add sales.

• Basic growing knowledge
• Friendly with customers
• Planning crops for harvest timing
• Social media for local promotion

• Council planning rules and zoning for visitors, parking and signage
• Public liability insurance that covers customers on your land
• Scales used to sell by weight may need to be trade approved, check with the National Measurement Institute
• Weather, pests and crop failure can wipe out a season, so spread your risk
• Farm safety and biosecurity, including tidy paths, hand washing and keeping animals away from crops

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on your land, the crops you choose and how you set up for visitors. Treat this as a rough guide and price your own plan before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your crops, the season, weather and how many families visit. Plan on roughly 10 hours a week or more, and remember a bad season can cut income.

Check council planning rules and zoning for visitors, parking and signage. Also check that public liability insurance covers customers on your land, whether your scales need trade approval through the National Measurement Institute, and farm safety and biosecurity basics.