John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was a professor at Oxford first and a scholar second. The writing was his hobby.

His scholarly work, A Middle English Vocabulary was more important than the "stuff" we know him for. We might not have had the pleasure but for the encouragement of his friend, C.S. Lewis.

Only from him did I ever get the idea that my ‘stuff’ could be more than a private hobby.

Take a second. Imagine The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion as someone's hobby. Where are we with our leisurely passions? Have you found one yet?

In our continuing series on the best Udemy classes, let's switch off from work. Let's press pause on the bullet list of to-do items. Then, let's sit back and see where the more unexpected hobbies take us. In the end, all five will leave you with one realisation -- you can earn extra income on the side.

Here are just five hobbies you can start with the help of these wonderful instructors on Udemy.

1. Aquaponic Gardening: Growing Fish and Vegetables Together

Key Lesson: How to grow safe, healthy organic vegetables and fish in your backyard.

Image Credit: Konrad Mostert via Shutterstock

What would the world look like if we went back to growing our own food? Aquaponics can be a huge part of "hobby farming". The immediate benefit is the returns in food security, fun, and an appreciation for nature. And, don't worry -- there is enough gardening technology available to make it easy for you as a DIY-er.

Growing fish (when compared vegetables) might feel paralyzing. After all, where's the space. But, Sylvia Bernstein shows you step by step how easy to use the waste from fish to grow a bunch of vegetables and fruit. The fishes are the bonus!

This is a hobby that can easily overturn the unhealthy diet choices we make every day.

There are more than 49 supplemental resources to supplement the video lectures. In the end, you can make a better decision about the kind of system you want for your aquaponic garden.

2. Sourdough Bread Baking 101

Key Lesson: Bake your first real sourdough bread with expert help.

Make Your Own Bread

You just need flour, water, salt, and yeast to impress someone. Baking is an exact fit if you love precision. As my friend Joel said, it can be a hobby that a programmer can try anytime. Before I came across this course, I didn't even know what a sourdough bread was. Since then, I have learned that it can be a lucrative side hustle. Read about "artisanal baking" when you get time.

For now, learn all the secrets of baking a perfect sourdough bread with two simple formulas. Yes, you will need the right baking equipment but it will lead up to that heady aroma of oven fresh hot bread.

Try this short course over a weekend. It also might be a memorable gift for someone who loves baking.

3. The Easy Way to Write Short Stories That Sell (no longer available)

Key Lesson: A quicker start to self-publishing with short story writing skills.

Write Short Stories

You might want to get that railroad spike Stephen King stuck all his rejection letters on. The short story market is something like scrambling in the mud under a barbed wire. But if you love writing, then short stories are a shorter route to getting a body of published work under your belt. Plus, there are some major markets that may publish your stories.

As the course description says, bring your imagination. Then plan, write, and submit, sell your own commercial short stories. Rob Parnell is a self-published author and knows a thing or two about selling on Amazon.

But take his advice when he says -- Take it easy, have fun, and everything important will follow!

4. How To Make Soap - Homemade Soap Making for Beginners

Key Lesson: Use natural ingredients in your pantry to make pure aromatic soap.

How To Make Soap

Soap making is one of those simple skills that can take you from a hobby to a home business quickly. The internet has made selling a lot easier. There are several personal benefits too. You reduce the number of harmful chemicals in your lifestyle. Keep those allergies at bay. Then, you can personalize each soap recipe to your unique likes with simple ingredients like essential oils.

Shona O'Connor has been making soaps at home for the last 18 years. She prefers the cold process way instead of the melt & pour because it is easy, quicker, and less messy. Go along with her as she teaches you how to make a basic soap, an exfoliating soap, a shampoo soap, a shaving soap, and then packaging them with inexpensive materials.

Enjoy the simple pleasure of blending aromatic oils!

5. Marathon Training with the Pose Method

Key Lesson:  How to run a marathon with the proper posture to avoid injuries.

Marathon Training

Is marathon a sport or can it be called a hobby? In India, it has quickly developed into a hobby (and also in China). The reason can be credited to the choices of runs available today plus the simplicity of the sport. But behind both is our urge to break free from the normal stresses of life.

This is a comprehensive 12-week course that covers movement and the practice drills which will help you prepare for a big run. Try this even if you have never run a day in your life,

Because, as Christopher McDougall says in the read-worthy Born to Run...

You don't stop running because you get old, you get old because you stop running.

Are You Still Searching For A Hobby?

The web can help you start any hobby for fun.

Pinterest is a wonderful place to find ideas and great visuals to stoke your interest. Wikipedia has a well-categorized list of creative hobbies that include activities like Tatting and LARPing. Try a site like Discover a Hobby for your kids too.

Udemy may not have all the classes, but there are other places on the web where you can go. But on Udemy every paid course you take comes with:

  • Lifetime access.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Certificate of completion.

Do you have an obscure hobby? What attracted you to it? Are you still working at it?