Craft, sewing and woodworking projects are popular as hobbies, and to create useful household projects and special gifts. Occasionally, a project is so popular that the creator is able to turn the hobby or craft into a successful home-based business.

These three DIY projects have been notable favorites of Mother Earth News readers: “Build Your Own Mailbox,” “Old-timey Toys” and “Sunbonnet How-to: Make Your Own Sunbonnet in Less than Two Hours.”

Are you good with your hands? Have you created a successful home business based on a great craft or DIY project? Tell your story in the comments section below.

Quick! If you want to secure grant funds for your farmers market, roadside stand, community-supported agriculture program, agri-tourism venture or related activity, you must apply to the USDA by April 27. 

The Agricultural Marketing Service has announced that $5 million will be available for these purposes through the Farmers Market Promotion Program. Take a look at these guidelines to see if you’re eligible.

PHOTO BY DAN KIDD

Necessity is the mother of invention, so it is said, and Dan Kidd of Maine has proved the point with his successful home business.

Three years ago, Dan was installing an outdoor wood furnace and was using PEX plumbing lines, which necessitated the use of crimpers for connections. Since, he only needed to crimp two joints, it didn’t make sense to buy a crimping tool at a cost of over $100. Renting seemed like the best option. So off to town he went, accomplishing the task and returning the tool. The crimper worked like a champ, but a couple of days later Dan discovered he needed the tool again, so back he went to town and the rental shop.

It was at this point that Dan, owner of a machine shop, had an epiphany – why not fabricate his own PEX crimper tool? So he did! He started selling the PEX Pocket Crimper on ebay two and a half years ago and, according to Dan, they have sold like hotcakes. But the cherry on this home business sundae is the order from Home Depot for thousands of Dan’s Pocket Crimpers.

Who would have thought that a simple tool-rental experience could morph into such a successful home business? Do you have a home business success? If so, please share it in the comments section, below.

According to Melissa Breyer in The New York Times magazine, in the Northeast alone, nearly 20,000 farms are run by women. Here are a few inspiring tales of women who respect real food, and the land from which it comes.