The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Ok, I’ll go there. In 2016, we moved off-grid, to a little house made of mud in Tasmania. It was the dream… living and working in the bush by the power of the sun. Business was going along splendidly and we had plans to start screen-printing our own designs. But in September 2018, while everyone else was at home watching the footy grand final, we went and dropped a huge 40-year-old stringy bark right across the roof of our beloved studio cottage. Ouch.
This was the beginning of many challenges to come. But with great resilience and support from friends and community, we set up camp, re-built, re-roofed, re-imagined… and in July the next year welcomed our first baby boy, Jarrah!
It was an insanely challenging year, followed by the vast unknown of the global pandemic. We faced some hard vulnerabilities and finally made some big decisions to close that chapter for the health and security of our growing family and business.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Tricky one. Things balance for a while, they wobble and change, and I feel we are just in the midst of a constant ebb and flow.. in and out of balance.
For a while there I felt like all our balls were up in the air. Slowly but surely we are bringing them back down. In these uncertain times, Alan has sought work outside the business, and we have secured a safe home and workspace for the family and business to flourish. Jarrah has also started in care 3 days a week, which he loves!
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
PRO. Flexi time. CON. Flexi time!
Being able to hit the pause button has afforded us the opportunity be there for someone – or something. I do, however, thrive off being busy, and so interrupting the work flow, has at times been detrimental to my work.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
Beeswax wraps have really come a long way since I started trying to explain them nearly ten years ago! What I would love to facilitate now is teaching workshops, bringing the art of making them in to schools and workplaces. If we are really looking for the most sustainable way to store our beautiful food, we can use what we have. And share them around.
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