Growing Herbs to Dry and Sell

[hqueen13]

Looking for more options to diversify and make money in conjunction with the organic farm I work at and I thought about growing herbs to dry and sell them. S doesn't really care if I do it, and I'll have his guidance growing, so my real question is how feasible would this be?
My thought process is that busy and inexperienced cooks rely more heavily on dried herbs than fresh. I'm not a good cooking planner so fresh herbs would quickly go to waste (sadly and embarrassingly). But if I were shopping at an organic farm stand and they had ready made dry herbs, I would buy them. Plus the bf and I don't really easy so much that we could consume everything that one plant would produce.
So.... if you were shopping, would this appeal to you (assuming you don't grow your own)? What kind of pride range would you expect to pay? Does anyone know if there would be an issue with selling something like this? I'm thinking it would be easy to say they were dried naturally, which is possible, if some authority for upset over it.
For storage, would oxygen absorbers be needed or is it ok in a jar?
Thanks for the ideas!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I bet it's worth a try! Are you going to package them? If so, I'd keep it small enough to where you can ask a small amount of money so that people wouldn't be intimidated to at least try them. I know I don't mind dropping a dollar or two on something that I'm curious about as opposed to $5 or more. Maybe you could package them in two sizes...one as samples and one size for the folks who know what they want? I've seen small bundles tied with a piece of jute or rafia that look really cute -but I don't know how well they last that way.

I'd say just experiment. Most herbs are really easy to grow and don't take much effort so why not give it a shot?

 

[hqueen13]

That's what I'm thinking, FEM. they aren't that hard to grow, especially if I have guidance and I would think people would appreciate a source of fresh dried organic herbs. I know I'm always reluctant to buy things in the store because the organic is so expensive.
I guess I'll give it a shot and see what happens.
Anybody else have ideas or suggestions?

 

[StephanieR]

That sounds like a good idea...I'm starting to grow herbs this year also and I know that around me there really isn't a lot of people that sell dried herbs and I would LOVE it if they did...Maybe include on the package popular things they could put the herb in because I know that starting out with herbs I pretty much had no idea about anything and had to research all of it...also maybe put some of the medicinal properties on it? I would buy something like that...

 

[hqueen13]

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[StephanieR]

No problem! I'm pretty obsessed with herbs now though I'm not very good at growing anything yet I'm definitely trying...

 

[hqueen13]

That's the place to start! I'm really leaning towards learning about the medicinal plants too. I'm trying to take it slow So I don't end up falling lol

 

[StephanieR]

I understand! I'm a little afraid to but I'm usually just throw myself into stuff and hope for the best..ha!

 

[hqueen13]

Lol. I never want to start of I think it might not work!

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Its on my to-do list also, but if and when I get it going on, I'll be doing it with culinary and medicinal herbs....both container grown and wild harvested, provided I follow all the rules for wild harvesting.
I suppose I'll have to eventually get my own web-site, cuz the local clientelle would be real slim pickings.
My full-time employment status has slowed down some of my projects, but has afforded other.