Interesting business idea for the new frugal economy

Every day I read several discussion boards on various subjects, and lately it seems that all of them, no matter what their subject matter, are revolving around economic discussions and how best to survive the coming zombies.

One woman posted an interesting idea today: she’s planning to offer gardening setup services to people who want to grow some of their own food but can’t or don’t know how to start. She’ll till up the garden area for you, or provide large containers set up and ready to plant for apartment dwellers, elderly people, and others who can’t handle or don’t have access to an area for in-ground gardening. It sounded like a great response to crisis — find an unfilled niche and wiggle into it before anyone else does.

Meanwhile, I’m sitting here looking at stacks of inquiries from panicky people who have either decided they need websites, or their websites need expansion and overhaul and redesign, and they need it right now. I put out three new proposals today alone, all for people who have come to me out of the blue. This is a mixed blessing in a sense, because the busier my business becomes, the less time I’ll have this year to put in that big garden that Monkeyfister is insisting will be necessary (and he’s right).

So, since the garden-tiller-and-container-setter-upper lives nowhere near me, I am thinking that maybe this year I need to patronize the farmer’s market and the country farm I visited yesterday. Spend time putting away the fruits of others’ work, since I know I won’t have time (or energy) to do it all myself. Spend the money I am earning from my work on supporting the local people who would rather raise chickens and corn and beans and tomatoes and squash. Next year I may have more time and less money, but this seems like a good idea for now.

Another plus: it means more trips to the farmer’s market, which are always great fun in the summer!