Market garden selling veg boxes and at farmers' markets

Households that subscribe to weekly veg boxes (CSA), farmers' market shoppers, local restaurants, grocers and food co-ops.

Seasonal box subscriptions paid up front, market stall sales and restaurant orders. Most income arrives in a few months, so plan your cash flow across the year.

• Growing crops and planning a planting calendar
• Hard physical work outdoors
• Selling directly to customers
• Basic record keeping and budgeting

• Zoning and farm status rules: check with your municipality and provincial agriculture ministry
• Food safety expectations for washing and packing produce: check with your provincial regulator or public health unit, and CFIA rules if selling across provinces
• Commercial general liability and crop or equipment insurance
• WCB/WSIB coverage for farm workers varies by province, so check before hiring help
• Short seasons, frost and drought can cut yields, so keep a cash buffer
• Water access and a lease with enough years to make investments in soil worthwhile

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your land lease, tools, irrigation and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and price your own setup before you commit to a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your acreage, crop mix and sales channels. The estimate assumes at least about 20 hours a week.

Things to check: zoning and farm status with your municipality and provincial agriculture ministry, food safety expectations for washing and packing produce, CFIA rules if selling across provinces, liability and crop insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage before hiring help.