passive income from Backyard

[Carlos Lopez]

hello everyone:

Does anyone out there have any ideas on how to generate income from a backyard that's hardly used?   The whole property is about .5 acres but part of it is being used by a 1400 sq ft home. the rest  has three sheds. there is certainly open space that I look out every day and it's doing nothing.   Maybe one of you has found ways to monetize this asset?

[Ned Carey]

Oh Phooey. I was hoping you were offering a tip I could use.  No good ideas for you but would love to hear some. 

[Anthony Giannette]

Carlos,

You have so much space, you can do amazing things with imagination. I have some questions for you to begin brainstorming this out:

1. Have you reserved space for your family BBQ?
2. Is there an additional way into the back yard besides alongside your house?
3. Are you against kenneling dogs?
4. Do you need an external office space?
5. A friend of mine imported avocado trees. How about fruit trees?
6. Victory garden? Chickens? Rabbit raising?

[Account Closed]

Napa?

Organic raised bed farming for the local restaurants.

Year round porn shoots!           No pun intended. ;-(

[Justin E.]

Vehicle/Boat storage

Garden space

Grow landscaping bushes/trees

[Al Williamson]

If you're in the city, then consider mini storage. One out of ten households use storage.

Consider covered garages for cars or RVs  -boat storage. Check your local Craigslist to gauge your area's demand.

Some farming ideas include: beekeeping, earthworms, native insect, and orchids.

Hope that helps.

[Chris K.]

I would absolutely do some sort of storage. Be it just parking pads for vehicles, or some aluminum buildings for covered vehicle/household storage.

[Leslie A.]

Rent an RV space.  Not storage, but where someone can hook up to the utilities and live.  Around here, you can get about 250-300 a month or more. 

You might be able to fit a couple there.

[Carlos Lopez]

Thank you guys.  I saw some good ideas.  I have toyed with the idea of renting out some space for someone's boat or RV.  I think that may be a good passive income idea.  another the storage one is a good idea too, I'm checking on the liability I would incur, specially if they decided to store something illegal in my property.

Planting things... not a bad Idea but the passive income part is really key for me.

@Anthony Giannette 

Yes there is reserved space for family BBQ.

yes, there is a door to go inside the backyard that fits a car. 

Kenneling dogs may not be such a bad idea. I think I'll have to research that one more and check with my insurance, I think one of the questions they asked me when I got it was whether I owned any dogs.  

thank you all for the great suggestions.

[Lisa Hines]

Solar panels or windmills. 

[Samuel DeMass]

Have you settled on any of the ideas?

I"m in a similar situation, but mine is the frontage of the property.  The 4-plex is off-set to the back of the property and separated.

I'm considering putting a sign for business advertisements, but I don't know where to start.

Best of Luck!

Cheers,

-Sam