Small businesses, falling under the terms cottage industry or Micro Enterprises, can provide for the livelihood for families and small groups. We have been thinking to start one or more of them over time that fit the vision, intention and criteria as listed in the "Economy" section of the Analysis & Design output. The successfully tested candidates are briefly described below:

• Micro Greens
  Growing Micro Greens for the farmers market or potentially for grocery stores, and restaurants. Micro Greens are small plants often grown in soil. At some farmers markets these need to be grown in soil, otherwise they are considered sprouts and are not permitted. They have their first two leaves, the so-called Cotyledons, but not their first true leaves. Micro Greens have similar health benefits than sprouts and taste great. A lot of information about Micro Greens is available online, for example at the Sprouts People web site. Like sprouting, this is a great way to be prepared for world changes as the seeds can be stored easily, often for years, and provide healthy, fresh food when nothing else is available.
  This business has been tested successfully 2 years ago. With some redesign it would fulfill most of our criteria for additional income (see "Economy" section of the Analysis & Design output). The margin between cost and reasonable achievable sales price is quite good.
  
  
• Specialty mushrooms
  Mushrooms have many interesting nutritional properties, including the ability to provide more protein than most other vegetative organism. There is a good market for edible gourmet mushrooms. They can be grown in small spaces. The one factor to take into account is that it takes a while until the first fruiting bodies are produced by the mycelium. There are types of cultivation that do not require a lot of equipment or expenses, including to grow ones own spawn. This has been tried out in a limited way by purchasing a ready to go oyster mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus) bag. Following the instructions we harvested mushrooms for two meals after about 10 days. We also have inoculated a few wood logs with oyster mushrooms, but did not harvest any due to unknown reasons. Again, with some design work, this business would fulfill most of our criteria.
  
  
• Decorative Gourds
  Decorative gourds, which are a collection of several species from the large Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae), are often not edible and mainly used as decoration. They have a good market in the fall season. These type of gourds can be used for many other things once they are dried, including instruments, containers, birdhouses and art. They are easy to grow and usually quite abundant. It will take about 1 - 2 years after the harvest to naturally dry in open air protected from moisture and direct sunlight until they are ready for crafts. This business has been tried out and would require some work in marketing, as the local farmers market does not attract many of the potential client groups. Interesting information about gourds in general is readily available online, for example from Wyane's World. One factor to consider is that this business on a small, local scale does not provide a high return, but there is interest from local artists to have a local supply available as has been found out and researched at the annual arts and crafts fair several years ago.
  
  
• Book selling
  This business is currently in operation and has great potential for easy expansion, especially when moving it online. With a fairly small amount of space, approximately 3-4 bookcases as storage, and about 1 bookcase in a retail location, with little work, a profit of US $100 - 200 can be generated per month. The one factor to consider is that it requires a higher investment originally than the previous examples. This business has been well researched when working as the fulfillment shipper for dirtcheapbuilder.com, a home based online bookseller. Our current business offers books in all areas of sustainability and has grown out of the bookstore at the Inland Northwest Eco-Center after it was closed. It also provides the advantage to be able to buy books at wholesale prices. It also requires inventory tracking, bookkeeping, ordering, etc.