Growing energy willow “Salix viminalis energo”

Description: The energy willow or Salix viminalis "Energo" is a species of willow which proved to be the most efficient plant cultivated for energetic purposes. This willow has a volume of timber of 40-60 t / ha dry material and a very high calorific value of approx. 4900kcal/kg, higher than that of oak. The energy willow is used in the form of briquettes and pellets. This willow is characterized by very rapid growth, rapidly regenerating its annual harvest. In addition to high speed growth, energetic willow planting is done very easily, as it is not a demanding plant. Planting the willow is done by means of cutting and planting branches, and it is required only once every 25-30 years to achieve annual crops. It can be planted on any soil (considering that it even helps to stop landslides), but a fertile soil and crops can prove more efficient.

The planting costs are between 1500-2000 euros / ha (investment is made only once for a harvest of 25-30 years) and in the first year there is only a modest harvest obtaining about 10 t / ha with profits of between 300 -400 euros / ha, but the next year after the harvest, it is to reach 40-60 t / h, increasing profits between 1500-1800 euros / ha/year.

Resources needed: - rigorous documentation regarding the characteristics of its planting and harvesting
                             - Availability for a lot of land
                            - Acquisition cost depending on the desired area to be planted
                         - Availability / rent equipment for the annual harvest
Advantages: - Environmentally friendly
                - Once invested, it is regenerated annually.
                - It is a tree that can be planted on any land (even swampy soils) with a resistance to temperature and weather variations.
                - It comes as a renewable and cheap energy solution
                - High calorific value (4900kcal/kg)
                - Once planted, annual profits are obtained, with minor costs.
                - It is more profitable than the use of land for vegetable growing
Disadvantages: - if you opt for the cultivation of large areas, the investment with the acquisition of cuttings can be very high (documentation regarding funding opportunities with EU funds)
Conclusions: In many countries the plant is grown in large quantities (such as Sweden), considering it is an alternative energy product easily obtained and at low prices. In some countries the multitude of agricultural land (or the one that can not be used for agriculture) may be used for this purpose, especially as the international interest in this area is growing.

Bean Bags

Description: This object consists of a chair, of various shapes and colors, characterized by a great comfort. Well known since the early 60's in the U.S., this item is back on the market and is increasingly present in modern interiors. The bean bag can be filled with different materials, varying from different types of seeds, rice, small polystyrene balls, to different types of wool or down. Here you can see an example of design and several models:

The American businessman, Shawn Nelson, managed to build an empire around this product, creating a unique and more comfortable option than the existing products on the market. Here you can see the product's story, called Love Sack:

Resources needed: - determine the patterns to be made ​​and the list of materials needed
- The purchase costs of the materials
- Minimum knowledge of sewing and basic understanding of sewing machines
- A website to promote and sell the product efficiently

Advantages: - low manufacturing costs
                 - Products increasingly popular in modern decorations
                 - The product addresses several age categories
Disadvantages: - minimum skills required in the field
Conclusions: It may be a product that will bring significant profits, keeping in mind that the bean bag is still unknown to many countries. A high quality product and efficient promoting strategies will be essential in achieving success in this business.

Pet rent (Rent-a-pet)

Description: On the international market has recently appeared a service that allows dogs to be rented. Whoever wants a pet, but on the short term, can do so by renting it. Such a service has created great scandal among animal lovers; although at that time the rental service provided for stray dogs. For a stray dog, this alternative of "holidays" in the company of a loving family on a monthly basis would be more convenient than staying in the shelter, in a cage. The service is for those who do not have very much time available, travel a lot or live in an apartment so one can not handle such a relationship on the long term. Also the service can be extended not only for renting dogs, but also cats, hamsters, rabbits, parrots and other small animals.

The supply needed for a rental may be included for each animal: a cage, food, toys (depending on each individual animal), etc.. Rent-a-pet acquisition can be started with small pets and their offering for rent / with option to sell or by making contracts with pet shops and existing animal shelters. It will also be necessary to create a site where the price bids shall be submitted, accompanied by pictures of the animals and details of the items offered in the price and details of the optimal care for each animal.
Resources needed: - to study the most effective strategies (acquisition, rental contracts with animal shelters)
                                -
Advantages: - if you opt for an agreement with the shelters, the investment is very small
                 - For animals in shelters, there are very large benefits
                 - This service may cause additional financial resources and animal shelters reduce the number of animals on the streets.
                 - Comes to help people who want to test whether or not to acquire this pet on the long-run.
Disadvantages: - it is important to apply certain conditions to the customers, in order to avoid any kind of problem for the animal.
Conclusion: If done correctly, this service not only helps reduce the number of animals on the streets, but also offers better living conditions. Besides, all this can be a profitable business, without much investment.

Worm farm

Description: Such an activity is not intended for trading product for fishing, but for marketing the soil resulting from the process of raising the worms. The selling price of such soil arising from a production is about 5 EUR / kg. There are currently no fertilizers on the market that are more natural and more nutritious than this. It can be used both for gardens (one needs about 5-8 kg of fertilizer per 100 square meters of garden, with better results than any other product), as well as for potted plants. Worm farms can be made on a small scale (in simple containers or on a floor) or by restricting large scale to the ground + a sorting arrangement (designed to create a separate the worms from the soil).

The soil will be populated with common red worms, and regarding their diet, any residue will do, both food and non-food, with the specification that you should avoid high fat foods (meat, cheese) or high acid foods (citrus, onion family vegetables). We present below three simple ways to organize a good worm farm.

1. Organizing a simple small-scale farm:

2. Double storey farm organizing:

3. Organizing large-scale farm on the ground + an example of the screening process:

Resources needed: - Setting up  the method
                             - Availability of space outside the city / unincorporated land
                             - Expenses related to acquisition of the worms or their picking
                             - Expenses related to the construction / farm land itself (farm should be constructed so as to maintain a level of moist)

Advantages: - very small investment
                - It can be a very productive activity
              - The process is static, the worms do all the work, the only effort is the sorting of the soil from the worms.
                - Benefits as the product itself is far superior than the alternatives on the market
                - Fans of this activity are calling the soil black gold, as its price is high compared to the simplicity of the process.
Disadvantages: - The activity is not recommended to people with phobias on this topic
                      - Work may become really messy
                      - It can not be held indoor for various reasons
Conclusion: If you have a property of any land outside the city and you have no stomach issues on such subject, such business can be extremely profitable.

Dish rental

Description: This service consists of renting all objects needed in catering (dishes) to people organizing various events. Among the objects that can be rented in this service you can include plates of different sizes, bowls, forks, spoons, knives, glasses for different types of drinks, platters, coffee cups, etc... Prices may be based on the number of pieces / on the product, package or event.

Resources needed: - making the list of catering dishes most requested on the market
                              - Dishes acquisition expenses
                              - Availability to purchase a delivery vehicle
                              - A site to promote the service and to take orders
                              - A very good promotion through business cards, flyers, presentation site
                              - Dishwasher (in care you have large number of orders)

Advantages: - you can obtain a passive income
                 - Market prices are high
                 - Depending on the promotion, the invested money can be recovered quickly
                 - Storage and taking orders can be done at home
Disadvantages: - initially, the investment may be high,  as you will have to focus on acquiring quality dishes
                      - The rental process should have some sort of guarantee or a reimbursing method, in case your product gets damaged
Conclusions: Although the investment is quite high, this can be done gradually. With an effective promotion, you can make a rapid return on the initial investment.

Seed paper

Description: This product, relatively new on the market, consists in a process of embedding plant seeds in paper objects. The end result is an object that can be planted, providing thus the ideal gift for certain events. Such plants can be original gift items for special events, such as invitations to: baptisms, weddings, funerals, Christmas holidays, Easter holidays, birthdays and invitations to various parties, etc.. These unique gifts, which actually come to life, can be considered reminiscent of some pleasant events in the human life. Your clients  can choose form a variety of objects that can be achieved by this process: wedding invitations, invitations to parties, birthdays, funeral services, baptisms, you can also design paper figurines, different plants such as egg butterflies, hearts, bells, buttons, or various figurines representing animals.
   The process of embedding the seeds in the paper is done as follows:

Next we present a video portfolio of international providing an example of models and prices for sale:

Resources needed: - practice and testing the product (it is important that the product has attached to it the indications of growth and how to manage the planting process)

- Promoting the product through a website, business cards, portfolio, and price offers.
                             - Pricing will be established for each product individually, depending on the complexity and type of seeds
Advantages: - very small investment
- It does not require knowledge or talent in the field
- There is a very large usage, a wide market for the product (it can be a simple gift or a birthday gift to participants at a office party, wedding, baptism)
- It is a fully recyclable and a natural product
- Can be easily sold online and delivered directly to the customer
- It is an activity that can be easily carried in your own home at minimal costs
- Great opportunities to expand this niche (visible in the movie above)

Disadvantages: - one may be faced with only superficial achievements, in the case of failing to test the product first.
Conclusions: It is an interesting and relatively new product on our markets, which requires very low investment and can be done at home with minimal knowledge. The success of such activities depends on the quality of your products, involvement in the search for new clients and product promotion.