Starting a small business these days is tantamount to economic suicide. The amount of regulations involved is beyond staggering. Virtually no one who is currently only qualified for burger-flipping is going to navigate their way through that maze.
Farming likewise is fraught with oversight obstacles, as you point out.
Small engines (such as those on lawnmowers, garden tractors, and the like), are still pretty basic. Ditto locks. These are areas that would probably be useful. Learning appliance repair would also be a good route (most appliances these days are so modular that no real skill is required). I suspect this will be a growth market for jobs, as the economy slows further and folks try to squeeze longer lives out of their stuff.
I think its kind of sad. Is it such a bad word? Why is there no radio station with the call letters WORK?