Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Grant Jones, owner of Hungry Hollow Farm, located in Shelton, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Hungry Hollow Farm, we raise chickens, pigs, and beef cattle on pastures here in the Pacific Northwest in what the Agroecology nerds call a "Multi-species Pasture Rotation System" (MSPR). In short, the animals are raised in species-appropriate ecological contexts and managed in ways that are mutually beneficial to both the animals and the land.
As a species, we've been farming for over 10,000 years, and we still haven't figured it out. The United Nations has stated that unless we adopt better agricultural methods, we may have less than 60 harvests left due to topsoil erosion. The industrial model of food production is an ecological catastrophe, and new sustainable models must be developed and scaled. Our customers value our products for their nutritional superiority compared to factory meat products. They share our beliefs in good animal husbandry and land stewardship.
Tell us about yourself
I came to this business out of a deep concern for the current state of agriculture and animal husbandry in our country and with a desire to provide a local, pasture-based alternative to our factory meat products. Livestock has a critical role to play in sustainable agroecosystems in the coming decades, and building a working model and sharing what we learn with the world keeps me motivated.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I started a gourmet popcorn business from a garage. I grew it to over $10 million in annual revenues with shops in the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Inconsistent personal income, sometimes going years without a paycheck.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Who you hire and the culture you establish are the most critical decisions you'll make.
- Don't start an organization unless you're deeply drawn to the mission on a personal level.
- Recognize that reality will be a lot more complicated than your spreadsheets.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
The world desperately needs impact-driven innovators working in alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.hungryhollowfarm.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HungryHollowFarm/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hungryhollowfarm/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/granttjones/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.