079
7 min 23 sec

Worm Composting Empire Brings in $400/Month

Texas man stumbles upon a worm composting method that turns into an interesting hobby and a fun side hustle. Don’t let your hustle idea wiggle away!
Animals Blog Unique Ideas Writing

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What It's About

When looking for ways to compost food scraps, a man in Texas discovers worm composting and a new idea for a side hustle!

Business Model
Blog
Skills Required
Writing & Composting
Complexity
Low
Profit Potential
Low

Words of Wisdom

In order to reach more people, Henry created a website dedicated to teaching people how to worm compost at home. He didn’t really expect to make money from this endeavor, but he set up a few potential income streams just in case: Adsense, Amazon Affiliate Program, and an ebook. This was a smart move, because it now brings in over $400/month of passive income.

Fun Fact

Five years ago, Henry co-founded a nonprofit project in Charlotte growing food at community gardens that they would give to the local meal on wheels program. Along with establishing the gardens and growing food for the meals on wheels program, they composted all the food scraps that came out of the industrial-size kitchen, run by another organization called Friendship Trays, and Henry's red wigglers help compost all of the scraps.

Notes from Chris

Episode 79

Side hustles are everywhere and you really can make money doing just about anything. Today's story is truly a testament to that! Henry wasn't looking for a side hustle when he stumbled upon worm composting—he was looking for a more efficient composting method for his non-profit community garden. But when he saw that worm composting was not a widespread practice, he recognized that he could use the knowledge he had acquired to educate others, and maybe even make extra money for himself.

A key theme of starting a side hustle is bridging the gap between your skills and interests and a problem or need that someone else has (See Ep. 34 & Ep. 66). Henry needed a more efficient composting method, and he knew that there were likely others out there who could benefit from the knowledge he had acquired. By starting his informative blog, Worm Composting Headquarters, he could impact his community in a positive way while creating a new source of income for himself.

Is there a gap that you could bridge at your day job that could lead to a new source of income?

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

  • Nature Discovery Center: When he's not sharing his worm composting experience with the masses, Henry is the Executive Director for the Nature Discovery Center in Houston, Texas
  • Friendship Gardens: The community garden program that utilized Henry's worm composting method and gives to the local Meals on Wheels program.
  • Worm Composting Headquarters: Learn everything there is to know about worm composting on Henry's blog!
SEE ALSO:

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Chris Guillebeau


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Quote of the Day
"I’ve got over 2,500 people on my worm composting email list! People from Australia and Germany have the same questions about worm composting as people from Houston."
—Henry Owen #SideHustleSchool

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To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau