Today, we’d like to introduce you to Austin Durant.
Hi Austin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Many years ago, I began a journey to learn about where our food comes from. I began looking into how it’s grown and made and its nutritional content, searching for the most delicious and nourishing foods.
Along the way, I discovered the power of fermentation as a way to preserve and transform food. I made my first batch of sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) in 2010, and my life forever changed! It was crunchy, salty, sour, delicious, and simple to make! I also felt better. It was subtle but noticeable; a memorable example of “food as medicine”.
After that, I started learning and experimenting by making fermented things and blogging about them. Eventually, it became such a passion that I quit my “day job” to pursue fermentation education full-time.
Fermenters Club is my business today. It’s all about teaching people about the lost art of preserving food through natural fermentation.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Haha, I’ve definitely experienced bumps and made lots of mistakes along the way! Starting a business, as any entrepreneur can tell you, is fraught with risks, and nothing is guaranteed!
Early on, I took some big chances, but they didn’t always pay off financially. And being too far ahead of the curve means your market is smaller than you might want it to be. Fortunately, fermentation is a trend that’s here to stay, and more people than ever are interested in this ancient tradition!
But the journey and the life lessons you pick up working for yourself are invaluable. I highly recommend pursuing what you love to anyone. As Mark Twain so wittily wrote, “Make your vocation your vacation!”
We’ve been impressed with Fermenters Club, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart?
I started Fermenters Club in 2011 to help revive the lost tradition of food fermentation. A hobby at first, it has since blossomed into my full-time gig! As founder and “Chief Fermentation Officer,” I have tried and documented over 100 recipes encompassing fermented foods and beverages. These foods are rich in vitamins, amino acids, and probiotics, all supporting a healthy body!
My mainstay is teaching live, hands-on, interactive workshops where guests get to use all their senses to experience a fermented food tradition. They watch, listen, touch, smell, and, of course, taste a variety of foods so they become comfortable with making it at home.
Fermenters Club is a community hub with a simple mission: to improve people’s lives by teaching them why and how to make and enjoy fermented foods and to create communities that are connected through their guts.
The community takes many forms, both real-life and virtual. We have a website with over 120 recipes, tips, and techniques on how to ferment food at home, online courses (pre-recorded and virtual), a YouTube channel, local community gatherings, hands-on workshops around southern California, and more!
And, I’ve just published my first book called “Fearless Fermenting”, a beautiful fermented foods cookbook! Available on Amazon and wherever fine books are sold.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
That’s a great question! There are so many qualities an entrepreneur needs in order to succeed. If you made me pick one, I would say curiosity is the most important.
If you’re not curious about what you’re doing, then there’s no “juice” to your actions. You can still be successful, but without it, you’re not accessing your full creativity, learning rules and then breaking them, and making mistakes (which are the best teachers)!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fermentersclub.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/fermentersclub
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/fermenters
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fermentersclub
- Other: https://fearlessfermenting.com
Image Credits
Fermenters Club
