10 Green Job Ideas for Any Eco-Conscious Self-Starter

Make some green by going green, utilize your resources, and create a business.

Looking for ways to make money in an environmental fashion? Perhaps it's to be able to work from home more to spend time with family, or just to generate some extra side income. 

Here are some ideas for green and eco-friendly side incomes, and potentially full time jobs:

1. Eco-blogging - This can range from a variety of niches, to gardening, general green tips, vegan eating, starting green businesses, etc. 

2. Resale - Finding goods of value from others and putting them into hands of people who are looking for them does add value to society. It saves people money, prevents more production goods presumed lost, and will keep more diversity and styles alive. Typically you can find different items, and pay cheaper for them. It's a win for all. There are many categories to resell in as well:

a. Clothes

b. Vintage goods

c. Jewelry

3. Urban Gardening, Farming, or Boutique Plantery  - Yes I said it, "boutique plantery". Its not a real thing, but think of the idea as like a microbrewery. You are offering high quality items, varieties, and experiences in your unique plants you are selling. Some plants are highly valued and rare, other plants are more useful. You have options in which direction you choose to go with your planting space; but this is a great way to repurpose some space for some extra side income. Cultivating microgreens are another way to generate income in an urban setting. 

4. Boutique Soapmaker - Non-toxic soap products, eco friendly self-care items, and unique scents all do well in the eco-friendly markets. If you have skills making anything like this, this is something that could be done on Etsy.

5. Land Restoration Expert or Land Improvement Expert - As people buy new land and new properties to start their dream homes on, they may find they bought a lot of property that doesn't really have anything on it. They may seek to hire someone to breathe life into the land, plant native species, introduce some beneficial wilflife, and create rainwater capture systems. This will add value to the property over time, and will likely be a job that is available in the future for both wildlife conservation and general city projects. People of this field should have knowledge of swails, water cachements and repurposing, introducing keystone species, southern and northern facing hill benefits, etc. in order to facilitate the restoration and maintenance of a healthy habitat. 

6. Xeroscaper or Eco-Landscaper/Utilitarian Landscaper - Landscaping is huge, sometimes people just plant basic plants to meet the objective of having landscaping. Putting thought into your yard's layout can drastically improve results, yielding more shade, more wildlife, and better use of rainwater runoff. Sometimes, you want a yard of low maintenance and low water for lower bills overall, but still want something designed well. Xeroscaping is perfect for that case, it provides lower water and maintenance while still plussing up the spaces you landscape. Picking plants that are useful as well will also go a bit further than just planting things to "fill the space". Putting some energy into this will not only benefit you, it will make better use of your yardspace and benefit the planet as well. Some ideas to incorporate are:

1. Perennial Herb Garden

2. Living Wall

3. Food Forest

4. Utilitarian Planting

5. Urban Garden

7. Eco-party planner - As people become more aware of their impact on the planet, parties that focus on reduced waste will become more common. This is a job for the future, for experts on consumer eco-products and branding to create an amazing party without sacrifice.

8. Vegan Catering/Home Cook - Dietiing options have always been popular, however vegan options are still one of those things that is just hard to gain traction. Something about the adjustment of what people consume. If you have some good vegan dishes to share, this may be a good way to share them and make some money while allowing people to explore your different and tasty vegan favorites.  

9. Hunting Grounds Maintainer - This may come as a surprise to many of you, but hunting will always be a part of human culture and the sport of hunting sustainably should be advocated for as our Earth becomes more fragile from our impact on it. Many hunters tend to be pretty in tune with nature and wish to maintain it, and most tend to take varying degrees of action to show this.  I once ran into a guy on a plane who told me about how his family has a bunch of land which they maintain a herd of deer and "keep it strong" to allow them and their friends good hunting. They monitor the herd, track the numbers, and damage on the land; make sure the herd isn't getting too out of control and that they don't shoot the big buck or nice doe so they can continue to reproduce.  This can go hand in hand with Land Restoration Expert because as you restore the land you have to keep you herd on, you can attract other wildlife that could potentially be attractive to hunters when their population is strong. This can be anything, livestock as well. Etc. 

10. Rare Species Collector - Collecting and maintaining endangered and rare species is an art form. As the world changes and eradicates some of these species, we may find a purpose for them later we didn't know of before. It is also kind of like history of biology that is being preserved by trying to stave off the extinction of a species. If you are into exotic plants or even exotic animal collecting and you acquire a rare species, it is utmost importance to help it reproduce for others to enjoy. You can then sell or gift the rare species to other exotic species collectors who share similar support for the cause.