Freedom Farmers is an institution that aims to impart farming and agricultural knowledge to small, urban farmers and green-thumbed entrepreneurs. Not to be confused with the book “Freedom Farmers” by Monica White, this organization is dedicated to helping individuals and families become growers of their own food and educating them regarding sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.

Freedom Farmers has ‌15 courses available, but one course that stands out is “Start A Microgreens Business From Scratch” by Jonah Krochmalnek. Jonah Krochmalnek is an online entrepreneur that has found success growing and selling microgreens. He is an instructor at Freedom Farmers and the founder of Living Earth Farm. In his course, he details the same process he took from growing microgreens for fun, to making close to $700,000 a year. 

According to Jonah, there are three big reasons you should start your own microgreens business:

Overall, Jonah Krochmalnek looks like a genuine, legitimate guy that wants to share his passion for growing microgreens and help others profit off of the same business model he has been using for years. He has the numbers to back up his claims and seems to know exactly what he’s talking about.

Starting a microgreens business is an excellent idea for aspiring entrepreneurs. What was once a gardening hobby is now highly sought after by chefs and local restaurants. On top of that, it’s realistic, promising, and highly profitable. However, there are certain issues that need to be considered before diving in headfirst in this space:

If you’re searching for an online business that isn’t subject to these risks, check out local lead generation. Local lead generation is an online business that involves building a website, ranking that website organically using search engine optimization (SEO), allowing local businesses to generate leads through your website, and making money for each lead that is converted to a sale. 

The best part about local lead generation is its potential to become completely passive in the long run. It requires little to no maintenance, allowing you to make money online while pursuing other hobbies and interests outside work.

3 Reasons You Shouldn’t Start a Microgreens Business

1. Upfront and overhead costs are expensive

As ironic as it seems, being green-thumbed comes at a hefty price. Even if you start your own microgreens farm without enrolling in a program or course, costs can quickly accrue and could eventually produce low profit margins.

Here is a quick breakdown of the costs you can expect to incur:

• Seeds: $40-$50 per pound
• Growing trays: $10-$15 per tray
• Growing medium: $30-$40 per bag
• Grow lights: $200-$500 per light
• Watering system: $50-$100
• Electricity: Varies based on location and usage
• Marketing and advertising: $100 to $5,000, depending on your strategy

These numbers might not appear expensive at first, but they can quickly pile up if you fail to successfully generate enough sales to cover your expenses.

2. Tasks and processes are repetitive and technical

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking to build a business that has the potential to become passive, a microgreens business might not be a good idea. Agriculture, in general, is a very technical industry that requires a lot of hard work, patience, and constant learning. Even if you find success during your first year, rapidly evolving technologies and practices will require you to keep up to stay in the game. 

It’s also a business that will inevitably get your hands dirty, which can be a major red flag for some. Be sure to start your own microgreens business only if it aligns with your passions. If you’re in it for the money alone, you’re in for a huge disappointment.

3. It’s not a side hustle

Starting your own farm or agriculture business isn’t a hobby you can just do on the side. You have to fully commit your time and effort for it to become successful and profitable. Given the sheer amount of work and money you will have to put in, treating it like a side hustle will do you more harm than good. You’re either in the agriculture space or you’re not - you cannot pursue a business in agriculture if you’re not willing to let go of everything else.

Who are the Freedom Farmers?

The Freedom Farmers are a group of seasoned farmers and agricultural experts united by a single passion: organic and sustainable farming geared towards instilling community resilience, building sustainable communities, and encouraging community wellness. They are able to achieve this by teaching families and individuals modern farming practices that can be applied indoors and outdoors, both in rural and urban spaces.

They’ve steadily established an online presence in recent years, garnering over 556,000 subscribers across 36 countries worldwide.

Are these Freedom Farmers the same as the Freedom Farmers by Monica White?

The Freedom Farmers are not the same, nor are they connected or affiliated in any way with the book Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by Monica M White, which talks about black farmers constantly fighting for civil rights, racial justice, food justice, and environmental justice in the United States. The book also contains excerpts from prominent figures within the African American community such as George Washington Carver, Booker T Washington, and WEB Du Bois. 

The two might be contextually different, but it’s safe to assume that both Freedom Farmers advocate for noble causes. One pushes for sustainable, organic farming, the other is a call for political resistance against racism towards African American farmers and black people in general.

Who is Jonah Krochmalnek?

Jonah Krochmalnek is an online entrepreneur who has been in love with microgreens and farming ever since he was a little kid. His passion for agriculture would inevitably catch up to him even after he finished his degree. He left the finance industry to volunteer at a local farm and would eventually start his own microgreen farm in a 150 sq ft room. Fast forward to today, he is the proud owner of a 5000 sq ft large scale, vertical farm known as Living Earth Farm and is one of the biggest producers of plants, herbs, and vegetables. 

The plant facility generates close to 1,500 trays of microgreens every week, and makes over $60,000 in sales per month. It caters to a wide customer base, which includes individuals, families, grocery stores, and many others. 

Jonah is also an instructor at Freedom Farmers. His combined passion for farming and teaching has allowed him to educate hundreds of individuals online.

Start a Microgreens Business From Scratch (Modules)

Other Freedom Farmers Courses

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Conclusion: Are Microgreens Really Profitable?

Microgreens can be profitable especially since the demand for it is rapidly increasing, making it a product that has the potential to make a lot of money and grow exponentially. Unfortunately, reality sets in pretty quickly once you realize how harsh the agriculture industry can be. Not only are you at the mercy of large agricultural firms, you will also have to relentlessly compete with other businesses and companies selling microgreens. To add injury to insult, agriculture can be very technical and scientific, making it an industry that’s just not for everyone. 

Even if you put in the time and effort to gain the necessary skills and expertise, rapidly evolving technologies will require you to keep learning and updating your knowledge. At the end of the day, a microgreens business might not be worth it for anyone looking to build a stable source of income.

Why Local Lead Generation Is the Best Online Business

Local lead generation is a business model that allows you to generate passive income in 5 simple steps:

• Pick a niche or industry you want your business to focus on and select a city you want to start in. 
• Build a website, choose a domain name, and pay for hosting.
• Apply search engine optimization (SEO) on your website to make it rank in accordance with Google’s algorithm.
• Use your search engine optimized website to generate leads for businesses and companies within your chosen city or area. 
• Repeat this process as much as you want and watch your business scale faster than you can imagine.

The best part about this business is it requires little to no maintenance, which makes it a passive income stream in the long run. I have websites from 2014 that still generate over $2,000 every month, and I barely touch them.

If you’re after a business model that’s profitable, sustainable, and has the potential to become passive, look no further. Local lead generation could be your ticket to finally achieving financial freedom stability.