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3 days ago
Louisa Smith
backed a project
North Mountain Pastures by Brooks
An earth-banked aging room to cure prosciutto, salami, and bacon on our Pennsylvania farm.
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172% funded $43,211 pledged
- 520 backers
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17days left
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on November 23
Louisa Smith
backed a project
Construction of ten hoop houses on Howard's End CSA Farm by Addison Hoffman
Our project is to construct twelve large hoop houses using a very efficient design in order to grow organic produce year round.
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100% funded $5,014 pledged
- 46 backers
- Funded Nov 27, 2011
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on October 10
Louisa Smith
Posted project update #8A long-awaited update (sorry!)
Post CommentHello, my angels. I know you've been waiting a long time for an update. I kept hoping I'd have better news to share with you- like an opening date- and putting it off because I didn't. I've also been extraordinarily busy- I started work on my second bachelor's degree this fall, this time going for a BS in Nutrition. I know, yes, I do make things that no nutritionist wants you to put in your mouth. The irony is not lost on me. But food is my passion and I'm devoting my life to it! It's no excuse for the lack of communication, but I've been working hard on all fronts and other things keep getting pushed to the back of the line.
So what's going on with the trailer? The good news is that the renovations are all but complete. There are a few finishing touches here and there (when aren't there, in any construction project), but all I really have left to do is plug in the appliances, hang the signs, and get baking. But therein lies the rub.
A couple of months ago, I was working on applying for my kitchen inspection when a zoning question came up. As it turns out, I am not allowed to keep a "commercial vehicle" at my home in my township. Period. Hence the signs not being hung up yet- until I do that, my trailer just looks like an ordinary camper! There went my (I now realize naive) plans to keep the trailer at home, with no rent to pay and no commute.
So began a quest to find a commercial parking space. The requirements were unfortunately odd- I had to be able to bake there. It had to be reasonably close to my home and the markets so I wasn't spending ridiculous amounts of time and gas getting back and forth. The rent had to be reasonable enough that it wouldn't entirely eat up my profits- after all, going rent free had been part of the appeal of a mobile kitchen rather than a permanent building. I had to have access to electricity and to water, at least for dumping wastewater and hopefully refilling tanks, too. As a bonus, it would be nice if I could sell directly from that lot, too, in order to be able to make some money on non-market days.
As you can imagine, finding a spot that meets all of these qualifications has been difficult to the point of absurdity. Local ordinances are not, unfortunately, very friendly to mobile food projects. The good news is that I think I've found my spot, and it is ideal in pretty much every way. The bad news is that I can't access it yet, because the building the lot is attached to is undergoing renovations and that is where the construction vehicles will have to park. At this point, I have had to kiss goodbye the idea that I could get the trailer up and running in time for this farmers' market season. I know it's disappointing for a lot of people, and I'm sure you can imagine how frustrating it's been for me.
So here's the summary: right now I think I probably will not be fully operational and licensed until spring. Without a proper address I can't get the kitchen licensed (or I could, but then the zoning people would be after me in about a week), and so I can't legally sell food. What I am going to do for my backers is to go ahead and send out the non-food rewards: the posters, the tote bags, the t-shirts, etc. That will be happening over the next couple of weeks, so please check the address you've given me, if you've moved since inputting it. As soon as the kitchen is operational (and I mean the second it is licensed and ready to go), food rewards will be sent out, with a little something extra to make up for the exceedingly long wait.
In the meantime, I am going to go ahead and open the Etsy store soon to sell tote bags, posters, t-shirts, and other promotional-type material that takes my fancy, just to keep a little revenue flowing. I'll post a link as soon as it opens, and keep you folks updated on what's going on there. I'll also be posting the occasional preview picture of baked goods, and maybe even a recipe or two. Have a gluten free baking question? Ask away!
Again, I'm so sorry for the long wait for answers, and I'm sorry I can't get your goodies out to you as quickly as I'd like. If there is one thing running a food business has taught me, it is patience. If there's another thing it has taught me, it is that the supply of red tape in the world is absolutely limitless.
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on July 10, 2011
Louisa Smith
backed a project
The Intrepid Girlbot: Volume One by Diana Nock
Volume one of the award-winning webcomic about a little-girl-shaped robot and her search for what that actually means.
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123% funded $8,641 pledged
- 195 backers
- Funded Sep 05, 2011
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on June 28, 2011
Louisa Smith
commented on a projectCongratulations on getting funded!
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on June 28, 2011
Louisa Smith
backed a project
Heritage Seed Co. calling all seed savers by Paul Fireman
Heritage Seed Co. is an organic farm collective designed to reintroduce lost varieties of plants in both soil and online. Start Saving!
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112% funded $11,206 pledged
- 261 backers
- Funded Jul 01, 2011
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on June 14, 2011
Louisa Smith
Posted project update #7Getting ever closer
Hello, my angels! Time for an update!
I know I said in my last update that I was supposed to get my trailer back about a week and a half ago- well, that fell through, but it was only delayed by about a week. As of Saturday, my baby is back in my hands, with fresh wiring and a repaired door. There have been stops and starts- I'm still working part time and that complicates things, I had to get the title officially transferred over with all the red tape that entails, and apparently the makers of the camper saw fit to make everything with clutch tip screws. Don't know what those are? Neither did I, and it took two different trips to stores to find out and buy a bit that could take them out! But today I really got dug in, and progress is marvelously fast.
I already have half the cabinetry and flooring that I need to pull out, pulled out. By the end of today I hope to be finished with what demolition is needed, and have the walls prepped for painting. Tomorrow the goal is to paint the walls and prep the floor for its refinishing- I'm pulling up stick-on tiles, putting down a layer of smooth masonite on top of the original plywood (in surprisingly good shape- the trailer lived in Arizona for almost fifty years, so the wood hasn't been exposed to the moisture that would make it rot, for the most part), and laying a floor of smooth vinyl. The flooring will be done in my time off on Thursday and Friday, along with re-screening the windows.
Once the flooring is in and all the finish work is done on that and the walls, all that remains is loading in countertops and shelves, then appliances, and then getting my license, which I really hope will go smoothly. At this point I'm going to be cautious and say look for me to be rolling and baking in a month. I hope it'll be faster than that, but experience on this project is telling me not to be overly optimistic!
With my next update, I'll give you guys before and after pictures of the trailer interior, once the painting and floor are done. I'll also be posting a menu soon and starting new surveys for what types of cookies, whoopie pies, and macarons I'll be sending out once the kitchen is up and running. So if you haven't answered your survey yet, please do so! I can't send out new ones until then.
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on May 25, 2011
Louisa Smith
Posted project update #6Getting so close!
Hey everyone! Good news! According to the folks at Fast Track Trailers, the work on the trailer should be finished sometime next week. They've been taking care of electrical work and a new door. After that I'll be painting, putting in a new seamless floor, and then loading up my equipment. That will be a relief, since right now it's doing a good job of taking up my garage. At this point I'm probably looking at mid-June as an opening date, depending on how things go in the licensing department- later than I'd hoped, but what can you do?
In the meantime I've been helping out with a collaborative marketing project for the State College farmers' markets. I built the website http://www.centralpafarmers.com, a hub between the three markets. There's a newsletter and a Facebook page to help keep everyone updated and reminded of when the markets are. This also allows the three markets to share marketing expenses, which is pretty exciting! I'm enjoying being part of the markets even when I can't sell there yet.
Speaking of, the farmers' markets have all started again for the season. When the trailer is up and running, I'll be at the Tuesday Downtown State College market, and the North Atherton Farmers' Market, which is on Saturdays at Home Depot. If you're local, even though I'm not there yet, please stop in at the markets and support other local vendors! We all need your support to be successful as a sustainable local food system.
I've also been keeping busy doing recipe testing. I heard from a lot of people that they've been craving soft pretzels- how do these look?
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Karen Rath on May 25, 2011
Glad to hear of your progress. The website lookes great. Thanks for getting the word out about the State College markets. It'll be great to have you at the Tuesday market (even though I won't be there until some time in July). I look forward to trying your soft pretzels.
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Marilyn McPheron on June 2, 2011
I love soft pretzels and these look yummy. BUT I can't eat salt -- I am always wishing I could get a soft pretzel with no salt...
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on May 14, 2011
Louisa Smith
commented on a project updateGot my reward yesterday! The cranberry ketchup is delicious (I love how tart it is- compares very favorably with Heinz 57, which I find too sweet) and the bag is gorgeous! I took it to the farmers' market today and packed it full, and it was plenty sturdy and roomy. Thanks for the postcard, too. :)
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on May 9, 2011
Louisa Smith
Posted project update #5An update! At last!
So I definitely fell down on my update schedule- partially because for the first three weeks, there was nothing to say! All I could was test recipes (gluten free soft pretzels- a challenge, but one that's going well) and window shop while waiting for the money to be released. But now, much is going on...
The trailer itself is out of my hands, and is a tenant at Fast Track Trailers, a local business that does renovations and remodeling on trailers. They used to do concession trailers, but no longer- but I talked the owner into doing a few things for me anyway. So the trailer is there to have some new outlets installed and the wiring checked, for brake lights to be repaired, and for the door (and most likely the doorframe, which is showing some dry rot under the aluminum) to be replaced.
Not too long ago I spent some $2000 online for equipment, and this morning I took delivery of a huge batch of boxes- a commercial Kitchen Aid mixer and Waring food processor, plus spare bowls and blades, various boxes and parchment papers, half sheet pans, muffin/cupcake pans, and my OVEN! It's a Volrath half-size countertop convection oven, specifically meant for baking, and I can't wait to be able to try it out.
I've also ordered a special sink. It has four basins (three for washing dishes, as required by health code) and a separate hand washing basin. It has a 5 gallon water tank and a 7.5 gallon waste water tank, and a 2.5 gallon water heater capable of heating to the required 110 degrees. I've gotten it with an optional feature that will allow me to operate it wirelessly- a savings of wear and tear on my generator, since I'll be able to charge it up before leaving for the market, then unplug it.
At this point I'm still unsure exactly when I'll be able to roll it on out- hopefully early in June. A lot depends on how quickly the good folks of Fast Track can get their work done. After that I'll be painting the walls with scrubbable paint, and replacing the stick on tile floor with a seamless vinyl one. Then it'll be time to install the larger pieces, like the sink, the freezer, and the bun rack, and then prefab stainless steel countertops where the other appliances will rest and where I'll be able to work.
I'll share pictures when I get the trailer back! Now to buy a truck that can haul it...something I keep putting off because I've never bought a car on my own before. But it's time! Much love to my backers. I'll be in touch.
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Karen Rath on May 9, 2011
Thanks for the update, Louisa! I love hearing about the particulars and I look forward to seeing pictures when you get the trailer back.
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Post Comment -
Louisa Smith
State College, PA
I have been a restaurant worker, a private detective, a dog groomer, an actor, a stage manager, a tailor, and now, a baker. Help me turn a vintage camping trailer into a traveling gluten free kitchen!
Hi Louisa,
You're doing a fabulous job! The trailer itself is even gaining more history and a personality of its own.
Love hearing your news,
Nicole
Hi Louisa,
How is the project coming along? Looking forward to your next update...
Marilyn