1001 original paths off the 9-to-5
Unclocked is a field guide to 1001 ways of earning and dwelling that are not a conventional 9-to-5. Each path has a name, an honest description, a step-by-step start, skills, materials, capital, a public source, and people or communities who have walked a version of it.
Filter by craft, capital, and whether the work travels. Save anything that tugs — it lands in your collection.
Minimum initial capital
28 paths
Honey Two-Hives
Grow or harvest after a club apprenticeship
Honey Two-Hives
Grow or harvest after a club apprenticeship
You grow, raise, or harvest after a club apprenticeship on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Farm School Saturdays
Grow or harvest skills, insurance, a porta-potty
Farm School Saturdays
Grow or harvest skills, insurance, a porta-potty
You grow, raise, or harvest skills, insurance, a porta-potty on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $300
Greenhouse Starts
Grow or harvest tomato and pepper plants in spring panic
Greenhouse Starts
Grow or harvest tomato and pepper plants in spring panic
You grow, raise, or harvest tomato and pepper plants in spring panic on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Heritage-Breed Teaching Farm
Grow or harvest tours that pay more than the livestock
Heritage-Breed Teaching Farm
Grow or harvest tours that pay more than the livestock
You grow, raise, or harvest tours that pay more than the livestock on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $2,000
Native-Plant Nursery
Grow or harvest plugs for restoration and yards
Native-Plant Nursery
Grow or harvest plugs for restoration and yards
You grow, raise, or harvest plugs for restoration and yards on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
Duck-Egg Pastry Supply
Grow or harvest bakers who want the fat
Duck-Egg Pastry Supply
Grow or harvest bakers who want the fat
You grow, raise, or harvest bakers who want the fat on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $300
Farmers-Market Umbrella Org
Grow or harvest you run the market, growers bring food
Farmers-Market Umbrella Org
Grow or harvest you run the market, growers bring food
You grow, raise, or harvest you run the market, growers bring food on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $300
Compost Community Bay
Grow or harvest subscriptions and education
Compost Community Bay
Grow or harvest subscriptions and education
You grow, raise, or harvest subscriptions and education on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Maple or Birch Small Line
Grow or harvest where trees and law allow
Maple or Birch Small Line
Grow or harvest where trees and law allow
You grow, raise, or harvest where trees and law allow on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
Seed-Saving Micro
Grow or harvest regional varieties plus classes
Seed-Saving Micro
Grow or harvest regional varieties plus classes
You grow, raise, or harvest regional varieties plus classes on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $200
Goat-Milk Soap from a Tiny Dairy
Grow or harvest licensed, not a fantasy barn
Goat-Milk Soap from a Tiny Dairy
Grow or harvest licensed, not a fantasy barn
You grow, raise, or harvest licensed, not a fantasy barn on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $2,000
Garlic Seed Crop
Grow or harvest one crop done excellently
Garlic Seed Crop
Grow or harvest one crop done excellently
You grow, raise, or harvest one crop done excellently on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $300
Rotational-Grazing Apprentice-to-Lease
Grow or harvest start on someone else's grass
Rotational-Grazing Apprentice-to-Lease
Grow or harvest start on someone else's grass
You grow, raise, or harvest start on someone else's grass on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
Tool Library in a Barn
Grow or harvest memberships for a village
Tool Library in a Barn
Grow or harvest memberships for a village
You grow, raise, or harvest memberships for a village on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Cut-Flower Tunnel
Grow or harvest weekly bunches, not Instagram fields only
Cut-Flower Tunnel
Grow or harvest weekly bunches, not Instagram fields only
You grow, raise, or harvest weekly bunches, not Instagram fields only on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Mushroom Logs and Totes
Grow or harvest shiitake and oyster in shade
Mushroom Logs and Totes
Grow or harvest shiitake and oyster in shade
You grow, raise, or harvest shiitake and oyster in shade on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $300
Orchard U-Pick Alliance
Grow or harvest manage picks for an older grower
Orchard U-Pick Alliance
Grow or harvest manage picks for an older grower
You grow, raise, or harvest manage picks for an older grower on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $300
Market-Garden Eighth-Acre
Grow or harvest salad and herbs for restaurants and CSA
Market-Garden Eighth-Acre
Grow or harvest salad and herbs for restaurants and CSA
You grow, raise, or harvest salad and herbs for restaurants and CSA on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Rainwater and Greywater Demo
Grow or harvest classes plus installs where legal
Rainwater and Greywater Demo
Grow or harvest classes plus installs where legal
You grow, raise, or harvest classes plus installs where legal on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
Egg Micro-Flock
Grow or harvest where ordinances allow, with real biosecurity
Egg Micro-Flock
Grow or harvest where ordinances allow, with real biosecurity
You grow, raise, or harvest where ordinances allow, with real biosecurity on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Seedling Bicycle Route
Deliver plant starts by bike in spring
Seedling Bicycle Route
Deliver plant starts by bike in spring
You deliver plant starts by bike in spring. Clients pay a posted rate, ticket, dues, or commission.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $400
Wool-to-Yarn Cottage
Grow or harvest fiber from a few animals, honest yield
Wool-to-Yarn Cottage
Grow or harvest fiber from a few animals, honest yield
You grow, raise, or harvest fiber from a few animals, honest yield on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $800
Firewood by the Face-Cord
Grow or harvest legal cutting, seasoned stacking
Firewood by the Face-Cord
Grow or harvest legal cutting, seasoned stacking
You grow, raise, or harvest legal cutting, seasoned stacking on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
Agri-Tour Table
Grow or harvest one lunch seating on the farm
Agri-Tour Table
Grow or harvest one lunch seating on the farm
You grow, raise, or harvest one lunch seating on the farm on a small plot. Restaurants, a CSA, a market stall, or classes pay you — line up a buyer before you scale.
Minimum initial capital Minimum initial capital $500
