Selling herbs and dried herbs

Monek Marie

My niece can not stand her job and wants to start a home business. She does love herbs and is learning as much as she can about them. She also makes tinctures.

I suggested to her last night that maybe she might want to dry herbs and sell them. I would like to add that to the things I do here too.

What herbs would be best to grow, wildcraft or are harder to find?

How much would you want to dry?

Of course there are all sort of rules and regulations to learn and check in to.

I also suggested she grow herbs in pots to sell.

Torey

@Denise Grant I think it depends on local markets. In my area people are less likely to buy dried herbs because we are very rural and many people that are into herbs either already grow them or wild craft them.

Loose or jarred culinary herbs should sell pretty well in most markets. Loose medicinal herbs are less likely to sell to newbies cause they simply don't know what to do with them. If you are going to sell medicinal herbs, I have found that they sell better when made into preparations. Oils, salves, blended teas for infusions (maybe already bagged). Lip balms are usually a good seller. Not sure what your regs would be like for selling tinctures that contain alcohol. (Don't want anyone to get busted for bootlegging) 😁 Vinegars here are considered a food item and have to go through all the same restrictions as other food products.

Potted herbs sell very well at Farmers Markets here in the spring.

All the best of luck to your daughter's new venture.

Annie Kate

If you have herbs, also include a usage sheet, maybe with recipes. If you print it out nicely with contact info, it's advertising at the same time.

Monek Marie

@torey

Our area is not that interested in herbs and how to use them. I think that will be changing soon. At least I hope so.

Even finding fresh herbs is difficult. Its an open market here

RustBeltCowgirl

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/846477/selling-herbs-and-dried-herbs

Did you point her to the Herbal Entrepreneur conference that was posted?

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/846399/herbal-entrepreneur-conference-mar-21-27-2021

karenjanicki

I considered this myself but didn't because of all the rules and regulations. However growing herbs in pots sounds like it could be very successful. I love growing herbs and have experimented with quite a few but the ones that grew best for me and that I would recommend would be mint for sure, rosemary and thyme. Basil and cilantro are good too.

Monek Marie

@karenjanicki

Thanks for the suggestions. And yes, there are a lot of rules and regulations, more in certain places than others.

I sell microgreens. At the one farmers market I would have to have my well water tested to sell them if they are bagged. So I take trays and cut them in front of the people and bag them there - not doubt they are fresh !~ And my well did not need tested. My well is fine but the cost of having it tested all the time would be a pain.

Yes, I think selling herbs in a pit would be good. You do have to have a nursery license for that but its easy to get and not that expensive, at least in my state.

Torey

@Denise Grant I came across this link in another posting. It might have some suggestions for your niece. In particular, there is an e-book on "21 Plants That Are Easy to Grow and Sell Like Crazy". https://backyardgrowers.com/freegift/?utm_source=mbyn_9715&utm_medium=textlink&utm_campaign=freegifts&utm_content=4

Monek Marie

@torey

Very nice, Thank you!

stephanie447

This might be a really tough business to start due to the regulations. How much investment capital does she have?

Monek Marie

@stephanie447

We are checking to see all the regulations in our area. What she does may be influenced by those. NY states regs are not as bad as ours in PA. We only live a few miles from the NY border