Eco-preneurs 2015
Co-Owners, Hip Chick Farms
Serafina Palandech and Jennifer Johnson are the hip chicks behind Hip Chick Farms, a company that produces all-natural, free-range, organic chicken meals sold at Whole Foods, Safeway and grocery stores across the country. The idea came about as a result of Johnson′s other job, working for a family in San Francisco as a private chef. (She has also cooked at Chez Panisse, the famed California restaurant founded by Alice Waters.) “Jen′s passion for food was combined with our belief in creating sustainable food systems,“ says Palandech. “The field chose us—natural foods are our way of life.“ The couple, who will be in Food & Wine this month, credit many mentors for their success, including folks at Amy′s Kitchen, Cowgirl Creamery and Three Twins Ice Cream. (“Everyone has been so generous with their time,“ notes Palandech.) But Palandech and Johnson are generous, too, giving back some of the money from their sales to non-profits and participating in their community whenever possible. And while they admit being a lesbian-owned business has exposed them to some discrimination, they don′t let it get in their way: “No matter what happens, we believe in our vision and our family and know that we will succeed.“ Their advice to others? “Always say yes, but never take no for an answer!“
These out entrepreneurs embrace a greener business model.
Mika & Rain Parker
Co-Owners, Eight Owl Farmstead
When a 300-pound Rain Parker rented a farm to grow organic food with her wife half a decade ago, she saw it as a way to shed some pounds. Today, a combined 225 pounds thinner, Rain and her wife, Mika, now run a business that teaches others about their way of life. As Rain recently explained to From Scratch magazine, Eight Owls Farmstead provides “donation-based education,“ which includes inviting camp groups to the farm and offering “farm-based immersions“ for adults. The business has changed their lives in so many ways. “We grew the confidence and capability to become better, stronger, happier women,“ says Rain. “We grew a really amazing marriage over these last five years of living this way. We grew accustomed to dim lighting. (OK, so that last part is just an off-gridder′s poor attempt at a joke.) We grew bigger muscles and mindsets. We simply just grew… beyond organically. Now, our donation-based business focuses on sharing information, education and techniques for women who want to change their mindsets, eating habits and Carhartt overall size. Small changes—they truly do change our world. We, as a business, just strive to inspire the type of change we′d like to see in this beautiful world we live in.“
