Raw business?

[Sarain]

I'd like to hear from people who are making their living as a raw chef/coach/instructor, or if you know of people who are. I'd love for my career to be based around raw foods, and there is a weekend course I can take locally for $800 in Vancouver B.C. where I live, but first I'd like to hear success stories!

[abeautifulworld]

I, too, am interested in this! Although where I live (Kentucky) I'm not sure if there's much of a demand for raw foods...But hopefully that will change soon enough!

[Sarain]

YOU can start the raw food movement in Kentucky!

[Green_Woman]

Alissa's class that she teaches (in Boston?) is geared to help people find a raw career path! And she's a shining success story. :D

I'm also interested in this topic...

[Revvell]

Alissa teaches in Kittery, Maine. She's also got teachers all OVER the place. Look to the left and/or get on yer mailing list for more info.

[chilove]

I'm a raw food coach but I don't do it full time. I think it would be tough to make a full time living just doing coaching.

Doing "un-cooking" demos, classes, catering and personal cheffing probably have a lot more potential for supporting yourself completley with something raw related.

How about opening a raw restaurant or juice/smoothie bar?

The world needs more of us getting the word out!! Go for it!

Blessings,

Audrey

[somelikeitraw]

Bumping this up 'cause I'm interested in this as well.

[lavendarJ]

I'm interested too...one day I will get to do a class with A.C. perhaps. Life is a busy busy Hornet....

Eventually all of my social work practice will be holistic as far as services, interventions and resources go.

[lovenlife]

I am doing this, on my own, with no "formal" training.


I go with the independant approach over a marketed one(fresh vs canned haha). Keepin it real and personal without so much dogma type stuff....cool.

Just be you and offer what you offer (because it is alot!)

You already have everything you need to simply start! Just do it.

[klomasius]

I'm posting a similar type of reply to lovenlife.

I have no formal training (with raw food at least, but quite a bit of hospitality experience), but have years of experience and experimentation.

We tend to over the years develop our own style and approach to teaching raw foods. I feel that for many of the particular skills and techniques, these can be learned over time, and intelligent observation and invention coupled with an open and friendly teaching method helps us compile the information needed.

I have my own business and have conducted presentations, demonstrations and workshops on raw food and am compiling handbooks on the first couple of modules of my formal raw food courses.

My business plan, which I've implemented the first stages of, is to centre my business around raw food workshops and courses and cross sell merchandise at these and on my online store.

This for me is my method of going about reorienting my business toward raw foods and natural living (my small business is currently more product based). Others orient their focus around coaching (there's lots of free online instructional info about this), and yet others enter the business through becoming a chef and/or opening their own raw food outlet.

I'm trying to ensure that my method leaves me with flexibility and options to ramp up or down the amount of work. Like Alissa discovered with Grezzo, running a restaurant/cafe is hard work and an ongoing commitment that's hard to cycle down workwise. Working in hospitality previously, this certainly isn't my cup of tea!

I guess for me having previous experience conducting workshops that weren't about raw food has given me the confidence to transpose these skills to a raw/living foods framework, and it seems to be paying off. :)

I got told a great piece of advice from another vegan business owner that I've remembered all these years.

'Don't lean on your business and it won't collapse.'

To that end my business partner and I run it as a hobby currently, we both work part time to pay the rent so to speak. This way we can build slowly and without stress.

In the end, if you think you currently lack the skills and/or life experience to start a raw food business on your own you might choose the option of a formal series of classes as your particular way, or you might learn over time and gain the skills and experience needed in an informal way.

You may already have everything you need, you just don't realise it yet. :)

But make sure the way you do it is YOUR way, don't try to emulate anyone else, be your own quirky self!

[lavendarJ]

Excellent advice and thanks klomasius, lovenlife & everyone....

It's funny how things are beginning to unfold and come together in many ways and that this little raw vegan journey that I embarked upon almost 4 short years ago is now shifting toward health advocacy on a greater community level.

Slow and steady has always worked for me! I'm just so excited to finally kick off a raw food gathering/potluck (haven't decided what to call it) in my area next month since we have nothing close by. I have tended to be a simplistic person as far as eating goes and only have momentary spurts of creating more complex dishes. But my sister and I will get to do a lot of experimenting and taste testing with foods. I have been on this journey for almost 4 years and I'm just now thinking about perhaps ordering the excalibur (got a really cheap but highly effective Nesco in my first year as a raw vegan) and doing more dehydrating - never really did much dehydrating before...

[somelikeitraw]

Having only been raw for a little more than a year and not having made any "gourmet" raw items and just a few dehydrated items, I really do not think I have enough experience to share and teach others. Certainly I would be comfortable sharing what I know with a friend, and I am now feeling like I have something to offer on this forum, just not confident enough to charge people for my knowledge/guidance/time.

Taking any of the trainings that have appealed to me (Alissa's, Living Light, Tree of Life) is not currently in the budget, according to my husband. I would take the money out of the 401k but he will not allow that. The time required is also a bit of a snag as I am the chauffeur for our daughter and my husband's work hours do not bend to let him cover that for me.

I guess I just have to step up and start really experimenting and playing with my food!

Thanks for all of the input. You people are fantastic!

[klomasius]

Starting to think about it is the first step towards doing something.

Definitely start experimenting with your food, and DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT DOCUMENT!

If I had a penny for every time someone asked me for the recipe of somethnig I whipped up without taking note of quantities etc. I'd have funded a full exploratory trip to Mars by now!

So I grudgingly started writing stuff down as I whipped it up and I'm so greatful for this now as I have recipes that are great that I would have forgotten how to make, and all the little nuances that went into making them!

It's not just recipes that you should document, but things like the following:

* How you handled/handle obstacles like cravings, travel, making food for family, non raw events, emotional and physical detox and any similar issues.

* How you feel you have 'evolved' through eating raw foods. This might be emotionally, spiritually, physically, attitude wise etc. This is an important journey and it helps others to see what might lay ahead.

* Handy information sources, websites, books, videos, shopping lists etc. Anything you think might help others to become raw or maintain the lifestyle.

I started doing these and found that much of it formed the basis of my handbooks. I really find it helpful to write the main headings and sub headings and fill in the structure (though this is a personal preference).

Once you start writing stuff down, you'll probably be utterly amazed at how much you know and just don't realise it!

[somelikeitraw]

Definitely start experimenting with your food, and DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT DOCUMENT!

If I had a penny for every time someone asked me for the recipe of somethnig I whipped up without taking note of quantities etc. I'd have funded a full exploratory trip to Mars by now!
LOL!

I have definitely learned to write my creations down and if I didn't measure (I really tend to eyeball things and add to taste a lot) to guesstimate. I hadn't thought of writing down the other things you mentioned though. Really good idea!

I'm going to start writing a handbook, as well as play with my food more :D, so I can more easily/quickly get to being a raw foods teacher. As you say -
Starting to think about it is the first step towards doing something.
Many thanks Klomasius! Very encouraging words, great ideas, much appreciated!

[goddessdanielle]

Hey I know it's not exactly like the business you are talking about (catering/coaching ect) but I opened Orraw.com (http://orraw.com) and It's doing quite well, I sell T shirts that have raw sayings and such on them, they are organic and fairtrade,...

all I'm saying is not to limit yourself with JUST coaching and seminars try to think outside the box, to expand the Raw food community into other fascists of life... so we can grow into a force to be recognized hehe

[Junebug]

Just want to say a very, very huge THANKS to klomasius for these advices! I'm also thinking about starting a raw business, and documenting could help me, as sometimes Im really a messy person :o I will keep recipes and pics of me and my journey in my computer, and extend the entries in my diary, that I started right before going raw :D

[klomasius]

Oh yeah, I hear you on the messy bit Junebug! That describes me perfectly!

I wish there was more communication between people wanting to start businesses and those that have a little or a lot of experiences in doing just that. I feel like people get the experience and then are not interested in sharing it unless someone pays for the privilege.

And as Goddessdanielle says, there are so many types of businesses that can be created out of a raw lifestyle.

Good luck!

[Junebug]

Thankyou klomasius :)

(btw: is "messy" the right word? i notice my english is a bit weird/clumsy sometimes)

I can understand that people dont want to share to much, because they want to earn their money with raw business. Still it's a pity, but on the other hand, i got the impression that here in RFT, people really like to share and support each other. I really appreciate the amiable atmosphere here in this board :)

[klomasius]

Messy, disorganised, not a great planner, etc. yep I'd say so. :D

You have good English, I didn't pick it up that it's a second language for you, well done!

I do understand that people want to make a living off raw, but I feel we walk a line between getting the important info out and making a few dollars. Sometimes the message is so important it transcends our desire for money, for some anyway.

Many good raw businesspeople know this, and offer a range of both free and paid services. The free services get them the credibility, reputation, and promote their business, and the paid services bring in the income. There is a happy medium

[Junebug]

Wow, thankyou very much for this compliment :D

[ReneeH]

Sarain,

I know that many here have had success w/o any formal training, which is GREAT!!! But, for me, I'm SOOOOO glad I took Alissa's Class!!! :) It gave me the confidence and training I needed to be successful at being a RAW Food Instructor. I wouldn't trade that week for anything!!!!!! If I could go back and do it all over again, I certainly WOULD!!!! When I look at what I've accomplished so far, I know that it all started with Alissa's Book and taking her Class!

If you are in a position to get training, why not? Learn from someone who is already successful at what you're trying to do. Alissa is a terrific person and her class was ***SO*** much FUN!!!!!

[Junebug]

I would love to take classes, but to me it seems that in germany, you can only take classes at instincto raw fooders. So far I didn't find a person who teaches vegan raw food :( I wish I had the financial potential to take a class abroad!

[Revvell]

I would love to take classes, but to me it seems that in germany, you can only take classes at instincto raw fooders. So far I didn't find a person who teaches vegan raw food :( I wish I had the financial potential to take a class abroad!

There are people in England who teach.

[Junebug]

Do you know a teacher in England, or can you recommend me someone? Could you tell me some address or link? :)

[Revvell]

Google ~ Raw food teachers, U.K.

[puregaia]

I just recently launched my raw food and eco lifestyle store
and I'm also setting up workshops next year. I'm loving the journey I'm on. Prior to going raw, I used to cook food from restaurant cookbooks such as Demuth's, Terre a Terre and Vegan Fusion (Blossoming Lotus). Vegan Fusion has alot of raw recipes in. I love the gourmet vegan raw food.