Thank you for the reply, oldschool. My mother-in-law suggests I would be a good entrepreneur in similar areas and she was a market gardener and sold baked goods for a number of years. I have pondered it, but I wonder this ... is the time and energy spent doing the activity, as enjoyable as it is (at first?), greater than the profit? If there was no great emergency in my life or even in the next 10 years, I'm not sure I want to spend it at the farmer's market etc. What was your experience? Was it an enjoyable hobby even when it was a business?
I would be still doing it today but: I stopped the selling of the produce, jams & jellies I split with my hubby and no longer have the garden. One of the jams that I created people would purchase by the case. I am doing a reno on my own home so no time to build for others. And I look after my mom. Keep in mind it was a second job for me and not my sole income. Also, it was not the same as being in a market stall every day.
My family is a bit creative so most of us have used our skills as a second income. My sister bakes/makes designer cake pops, my mom is an artist with various mediums, one of my aunts sews, another aunt does a lot of different things.
You asked "Was it an enjoyable hobby even when it was a business?" - The answer is yes, I loved it.
Have any of you looked into the Society for Creative Anachronisms?
Their like a group of medieval fanatics who learn the skills of those who lived during the Dark Ages and/or Renaissance times (I'm not sure which or if it's both).
I've been to a few events over the years and yes, a few can be cliquish and a few are down-right odd (socially-challenged) but they will teach you how to churn butter and build a loom and then use them. Armor and weapons also.
Here is a link to the Calgary-region 'chapter'
Have any of you looked into the Society for Creative Anachronisms?
Their like a group of medieval fanatics who learn the skills of those who lived during the Dark Ages and/or Renaissance times (I'm not sure which or if it's both).
I've been to a few events over the years and yes, a few can be cliquish and a few are down-right odd (socially-challenged) but they will teach you how to churn butter and build a loom and then use them. Armor and weapons also.
Here is a link to the Calgary-region 'chapter'
Hi Dang...Brooks Medieval Faire is on August 11-12...check it out online for information Brooks Medieval Faire ...we have it every year.
Ahhhh! My husband has mentioned the SCA for quite a few years. Don't think he was involved, maybe just went to an event or always wanted to participate? I tend to think of it as a bit dorky, but yes, worthwhile hobbies to learn.
My grandmother, who was born in Hungary in '26 and came over in '39, has been telling me a lot of stories from the old days. How they had two cows and one was "creamier" than the other so she often made butter. On their first farm they had a one room shack with a dirt floor and already had two kids by that point. She also told me the technique they used in Hungary for turning hemp plants into useable sacks and clothing. Fascinating stuff, but a person would definitely need some practice, not just listening to stories.
I'll have to mention the SCA again to my husband.
Two things are for sure DEATH and TAXES
How about a job at a mortuary or income tax (could be a home job) doer
Hobo from ontario
We just buried my mother-in-law a couple of weeks ago (she was 95 so this was expected) and dealt with a really nice group of people at an Edmonton funeral home. There are apparently few people joining this profession and as a result the pay is good and the working conditions make for a good combination. We were surprised by the number of young females (several have just gotten married and are planning families) who have taken extensive training and are licensed. Maybe not the career for everyone but definitely has potential for those who are inclined to give it a try.
"It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret"
Working in a funeral home, depending on the job can take a 2 year college course.
When talking to the young girl who assisted us, there is a distance learning program for a number of the different positions. Cremation technicians are trained on site, as the facility has the license for the cremation process. Adding on an embalming certificate takes 450 hours, which can also be done by distance learning. It looks like Mount Royal in Calgary may have a distance learning program. The cremation technicians apparently make around $32K per year and the positions that require training appear to be about $50K. You aren't going to get rich at this job, but as Hobo said, two things are for sure....
We are always going to need people capable of dealing with the dead. Not for everyone I am sure, but it is a necessity.
"It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret"
My step daughter took a course on how to do the make up and hair for the viewing. She found she could not do the job in "real life".
I recently started out selling Shelf Reliance products. They now sell Freeze dried food in Canada through a independent consultant network. I was interested in the products because they tasted good, have a very long shelf life AND most importantly, it allowed me to share my concerns about the general state of preparation in most Canadian homes. I am amazed at how many have never thought about the possible problems they might need to react to, and why having more than a day or two of food on hand might be important.
It isn't a career, but it is a bit of money, and it is allowing me to buy more food than I might otherwise be able to afford.
Rob