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.
Jasmine Burems
Founder and Owner, Honey & Gold
Philly-born Brooklynite Jasmine Burems is the owner of Honey & Gold, a feminine self-care brand that sells items ranging from love potions to a recipes and rituals book to a yoni egg (an item used to enhance sexuality and strengthen pelvic floor muscles). Burems′ products are created from materials such as organic herbs, raw honey, 24K edible gold and “intentional sound healing frequencies.“ The company is the result of a decade′s worth of women′s wellness research, involving ideas stemming from Tantric, Taoist and holistic ways of thought. Besides running Honey & Gold, Burems is a teacher, speaker, singer, songwriter and part of the radical healing/justice collective known as Harriet′s Apothecary. One thing she is especially passionate about is sustainable herbalism—something she believes “is a mindful practice that supports our local growers and a growing economy while connecting people to the power of nature as remedy, ritual and real medicine.“ Burems also believes that helping women take care of themselves is about something bigger than just making folks feel good. “A truly gratified woman is the most precious and potent resource to her community. … Pampering women and inspiring personal self-love practices is probably the most satisfying form of activism I can offer the world in this lifetime.“
