Picture this: you plant a garden that produces far more tomatoes (or other vegetables/fruits) than your family could ever eat. You could spam your coworkers with those extra fruits, or dump them in your overflowing compost pile. You could promise yourself that you will learn to can, even though you know you probably won’t. Or, if this is you, perhaps you can profit from a roadside stand while enriching your community.
Why Have a Roadside Stand?
Extra cash– No, you probably won’t make enough money to quit your day job. But, with a roadside stand, you can make a few extra bucks while you are at work. So long as you live in a community in which crime isn’t rampant, your customers can simply place cash into an honor box. You can go about your day as normal and check your box for money daily.
Less garden waste– Let’s face it… many gardeners plant more than they can eat. Having a roadside stand can be a great way to provide fresh fruits and/or veggies to your community, benefiting everyone. Anything not sold can still be taken to your compost pile.
Happy neighbors– In the process of setting up your stand, you may learn that your neighbors are too busy to garden, but love the taste of fresh tomatoes. You may meet some older members of your community who can provide you with the history of your land, as well as recipes for homemade pesto. In my experience, neighbors may be some of your best customers. They will also spread the word to others, if they enjoy your produce.
Important Considerations
HOA & neighborhood restrictions– Some neighborhoods and many HOA’s have restrictions that do not allow for roadside stands (among other things). Be sure to know what is or is not allowed in your neighborhood before taking the time to construct your own. Do not set yourself up for a silly fine by failing to read your HOA documents.
Location– We are fortunate to live next to a stop sign, which slows traffic enough to see our stand. However, if you live in the country, or on a road with a high speed limit, you will likely need ample signage in order to bring attention to your stand. If you live in a small town you may receive less traffic, but also have fewer problems with crime. In our experience, most people in small towns will pay for their produce with an honor system. However, this may not be the case in larger towns or cities.
Types of produce offered– I recommend planting a garden with a variety of plants in order to best meet the needs of the neighborhood. Although it can be fun to grow exotic plants (yes, I grow several), typically your common produce will sell best at a roadside stand. In the Midwest, produce that has sold well for us includes (in alphabetical order) beefsteak tomatoes, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapeños, pumpkins, watermelons, and winter squash. Radishes and turnips have been less popular. Know your market and plant what you think your neighbors are likely to eat.
Needed Materials
I’ve seen some seriously fancy roadside stands. While you certainly can spend thousands building or purchasing decorative farm carts to display your produce, you will keep more profit from your roadside stand if you start with the basics.
Table– Although I originally wanted a stainless steel table for durability, the cost was prohibitive. I ended up purchasing an old wooden banquet table from the local thrift store for $5 and covering it with an old vinyl tablecloth ($1). This table won’t last forever, but we can afford another $5 table in a couple seasons when this one has rotted.
Honesty box– Any locked box can work if secured to your table or to a post. Unless your table is covered, I recommend using a box with a lid to ensure it doesn’t fill up with water when it rains. We have this box secured to a post next to our table. I have found it helpful to label the box to avoid confusion. A paper label with tape will work just fine. Be sure to remember where you keep your keys!
Recommended Materials
Although not needed, we’ve found the following helpful in attracting passersby:
Feather flag– This is admittedly the most expensive part of our setup. We ordered a custom-printed double sided feather flag through Vista Print, which at the time of this writing costs $224. This flag has lasted well through its first season, and attracts passersby by waving in the wind and having the words “FRESH PRODUCE” displayed in large letters.
Chalkboard sign– Want to make one cheap? Buy a yard sign and paint both sides with chalkboard paint. Find the largest, but cheapest sign you can at a local store… Garage sale? House for rent? Any of these signs will be fine because you will paint over the text. Use regular chalk (will wash off in rain) or chalkboard markers (more stable in rain, but may be difficult to wash off) to write your message. I tend to use bright colors and bold fonts to pull customers in.
Profit!
As noted above, a roadside stand is not the route to quick riches. However, in the right location, it could bring in $50 to $100 (or possibly more) per day. You might even find some bonuses deposited in your box, such as someone’s unwanted Starbuck’s gift card with a $10 balance. (Yes, this happened to us. If the nearest Starbucks wasn’t almost 40 miles away, I’d definitely use it to buy a beverage to warm my hands this winter.)
Perhaps the best profit from having a roadside stand is the satisfaction you gain by providing your community with fresh, healthy food. As you learn more about your neighborhood and the people in it, you will be better able to provide types of produce that are most in demand, to the benefit of all.
Still have too many pumpkins? Try this delicious recipe for pumpkin soup!
