Bootstrapping can have a green thumb

Filed in archive How-to on July 6, 2006

No, bootstrapping is not limited to the IT, high tech or industrial sectors. In fact, a man named Mike McGroarty of Perry, OH, claims it's possible to make up to $3,421 in a day selling small plants from your backyard.

While wholesale plants can be purchased for as little as $.34 to $1.49 a piece, McGroarty says he made $26,000 in four weeks reselling them from his driveway for $4.97 a piece.

A poster with the netonym DicktheHick at iVillage Garden Web notes a few qualifications:

Two thoughts ...

1. His system, I think is for a person that enjoys gardening and/or landscaping, has a full-time job or is retired and wants something positive to do and enjoy, and possibly make a little extra income or plan for the future.

2. Questions about his material are probably dismissed by most of the contributors here because most (I assume) are involved in the industry as a primary occupation, which is a whole other game.

However, a look at another thread at Garden Web should give any bootstrapper with a green thumb some idea of the possibilities.

McGroarty sells a packet of CD's and e-books outlining his "system" and other money making tips for $297, however, his site also contains free information like an e-mailed newsletter and free electronic version of a gardening handbook.

A search of Yahoo! or Google will also turn up other McGroarty articles with helpful tips.

An article by Jean English in Mother Earth News gives more details about starting a bootstrap business by planting ornamental plants in your vegetable garden.