Adventures in Dehydrating – Part 2!

Let’s see – where did we last leave off?

At the end of Part 1 of this story, I was optimistically awaiting a response from a company in the adventure foods market.

I was in the process of figuring out how I was going to come up with 150+ breakfasts and dinners – not to mention lunches and snacks – for my hike. In addition to my low-waste mission, I needed to consider my dietary needs, stick to a budget and learn how to dehydrate my own food. With only a couple months to do so, I thought it wise to seek some professional help.

After a short time, I received an email from Ashley Lance, the owner and founder of Fernweh Food Company. I was absolutely beside myself with excitement!

As I read and processed her response, it began to register that she believed in my mission and wanted to offer her support. To receive help of any kind, let alone from a top cottage company in the adventure foods market (the best in my opinion) was so reassuring to me.

I could really do this!

I’m so appreciative to Ashley for the various ways in which she has provided support for this journey:

1. Discount – She offered me a discount so I could afford to supplement my meals with a couple of her meals each week I’m on trail. She also gave me a free sample of each Fernweh meal!
2. Packaging – I was able to package the meals I prepared in the same packaging that she uses for all of her company’s meals – she had extra/blemished packaging that she had on-hand that she sold me at a very discounted price.
3. Composting – She’s making sure that all of the compostable packaging that I’m using for my meals on-trail gets disposed of properly. Once I no longer have use for the bags, I pack them into a compostable mailer (that she provided) and send it to her to compost. She’s even helping get the BioBags I’m using for all of my snacks to an industrial composting facility!
4. Advice – She offered her advice on a handful of occasions when I was learning to dehydrate my own food. For instance, I learned that you can make and dehydrate your own biscuits by substituting coconut oil for butter (coconut oil has a much longer shelf-life).
5. Words of encouragement – Ashley has been so helpful and encouraging throughout this entire experience.

Now, 700 miles into my PCT journey, I still look forward to opening my resupply box each week and seeing what Fernweh meals await me. Don’t get me wrong – I am proud of the time and dedication I put into learning to make my own meals – but I can’t say I get excited for them in the way that I do for a Green Tamale Pie or Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl.

I can’t say thank you enough to Ashley for her support and the other wonderful folks that stand behind Fernweh. Hint hint – they offer discounts from time-to-time and are running a current sale through 5/24 for Small Business Week!

I’d also like to give a shout-out to LivBar for giving me a free sample pack of their organic (and delicious) nutrition bars. Surprise – they also come in home-compostable packaging! Also, many thanks to John over at Pinnacle Foods for selling me additional compostable packaging at bulk price.

Well, that’s all for now folks! Stay tuned for a trail update and until then – happy trails (and happier eating).

-Dobby