The Great Chestnut Experiment!
Since the last time we spoke in the spring about the hopeful future I’m co-creating with collaborators, we launched our first brand and project.
It’s my joy to introduce you to The Great Chestnut Experiment!
A chestnut product and experience company that is sharing american grown chestnuts with consumers to support and catalyze a thriving chestnut industry and a resilient, abundant, perrenial food system.
As the name suggests we are in a period of testing new products and ways to talk about chestnuts and their benefites to clarify what will move consumers.
Since our first pop up event in October we’ve sold and sampled nearly 750 pounds of chestnuts at 8 events and have learned so much!
Most of the chestnuts have been served roasted in paper cones but we’ve also tried our hand at baking fudgy roasted chestnut brownies and are trialing a hot chestnog drink with blended chestnuts, cardamom, cinnamon, maple and oat milk.
If you are keen to come enjoy some of our chestnut creations we are popping up in Brooklyn as well as the Hudson Valley this weekend (details here).
We’ve also created a few products that we are shipping nationwide including a Roasted Chestnut Gathering-in-a-Box and a delightful embroidered work coat. The gift box was just featured in an Eater article thanks to a serendipitous encounter with the writer at one of our pop ups.
In a future e-mail I’ll tell you about how the chestnut experiment fits into a larger vision for a resilient food system, some of the ways it’s felt challenging to build this business and what I’ve been learning about myself in the process.
For now, I want to take a moment to celebrate with you (WOHOOO!!!) and give you a chance to enjoy the beauty of these toasty nuts during this winter season and support the project if you feel called.
My invitations to you:
Check out our chestnut gift box for yourself or a friend
Message your favorite group chat about what we are up to or share on a social channel
Reach out to an influencer that might have a good audience and share our project with them
With lots of a love and a big hug,
Sasha
P.S. If economics feel like a hurdle for you, please reach out and I’m happy to share a coupon code or a box for free to meet you where you are.