Organic market garden with veg boxes

Households on a weekly veg box scheme, local restaurants and cafes, farm shops, delis and shoppers at farmers' markets.

Weekly or fortnightly veg box subscriptions, wholesale orders to restaurants and shops, and market stall sales. Regular box customers give steadier income.

• Growing vegetables and planning crops across the year
• Hard physical work outdoors in all weather
• Selling and keeping regular customers happy
• Basic bookkeeping and planning

• You can only call produce organic if you are registered with an approved organic control body, and conversion usually takes time, so check the rules and costs
• Land access and tenancy terms, including whether you can put up polytunnels, sheds or a wash area (check planning rules with your council)
• Food business registration with your local council and food hygiene basics for washing and packing produce
• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability if you take on staff or regular helpers
• Weather, pests and crop failures can hit income, so spread your crops and sales routes

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on the land, polytunnels, tools and how much you buy in at the start. These are estimates, so price up your own site, equipment and insurance before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,000, depending on acreage, crop mix and sales routes such as veg boxes, farm shops and restaurants. Weather and crop failures can hit income, so spreading crops and customers helps.

Things to check: you can only call produce organic if registered with an approved organic control body, and conversion usually takes time. Also check food business registration with your local council, plus tenancy and planning rules for polytunnels and sheds.