Meet Ryan

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking in my professional and personal life has always been how I relate to the world. Whether in business or relationships I always just dive right in and see what happens on the other side. When my boyfriend at the time (and current business partner) introduced me to fermented foods, it completely changed my digestive system. I have celiac disease and had not been very strict about my diet before I met him. I cleaned up my diet and started eating fermented foods and my whole life started to change. I didn’t realize how much I was suffering because I simply didn’t feel good. And as the risk taker I am, I knew that these fermented foods needed to get out into the community. I had no idea how to start a business or what it entailed, but I didn’t care – I was on a mission. Our product is so different from store ferments because of our time and process. We ferment in traditional ceramic pots for 3 months minimum. The average store kimchi is fermented in plastic for 2 weeks. This long-term fermentation process produces more diverse strains of probiotics which is like medicine for microbiomes. When I began to understand the logistics behind starting a business I was so excited, and I believe that excitement for risk instead of fear is what has driven me in life to just simply go for it. For me, I would rather crash and burn and fail than to not go for it. Over the years, I have had some colossal failures, but I wouldn’t change any of them – its all just learning and growing. I also have a construction business of my own that I have been growing over the years which has come with many failures and is finally starting to make sense. It’s not always easy to fail, sometimes it puts me down and I get discouraged, but as long as the fire is still there I tend to pick myself up and keep trying.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Elk Mountain Farmacy was built on the idea that food connects people. We need good food to feel good to be good! Food is woven into everyone’s daily life and to build a business that supports this daily ritual – supports my wellbeing. In this busy world, I need to feel grounded and this business is a gift to myself to experience that grounding. For me, making a product that supports health might not change the world, but it helps those around me feel good, and that’s really all I need to feel like I’m making a difference. Plus, I absolutely love the process! I love the farmers, the community that eats our product, the people that help us get our product out there (like stores and farmers markets), and the people that work alongside me to make this medicine. I am most proud about how our product brings people together to just feel good for a minute – whether its eating it, making it, or growing it.

Along the way, I have learned so much about business – the parts I like and the parts that I do not agree with and have a hard time reconciling with. Starting a business is true freedom! I can dream something and just give a shot; and to me thats freeing. The aspects that are challenging are the logistics behind it: taxes, licenses, marketing, social media, accounting, and many more. I love the labor and the eating part and not so much the logistics, however, thats part of it and I have learned to embrace and open myself to it. In order to succeed and keep operating as a business you have to buy into the logistics of government taxes, accounting, and licensure. My greatest challenges have been knowing these parts of the business and not becoming overwhelmed by them. The heart and the soul of the business is the labor, and the product and the logistics is just a part of it, not the whole. I started this business with my partner at the time. We ended up breaking up seven years later, but we were able to keep the business alive together and not separate. I think the power of what we were doing together was as big as us. To be friends and running a business together, takes immense amount of work and understanding, and I want the world to know that if you have something special, it can rise above anything and bring you closer, no matter how hard the circumstances. I love my business partner and always will, and most of all, I love the business we created because it is out of love.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Our area is incredible! First, walk downtown Paonia and you will find yourself taken back in time. No stop lights, no hurry, no stress. Its a sleepy little town, that embraces all views and all backgrounds. It is a place to be free. You can be whoever you want to be. Not to mention the beautiful surroundings. I am a rock climber, so I love the Black Canyon. It is a 45 minute drive to access Colorado’s tallest canyon walls at 2,250 ft. It is beautifully carved granite schist with brilliant pink pegmatite bands running like a river through the canyon walls. You can hike down to the Gunnison River and experience some of the biggest and loudest whitewater in Colorado. Its a beautiful force nature – intimating yet absolutely magical.

In summer, the North Fork Valley is bustling place of organic agriculture and fruit and hippie love. Our biggest music venue is Big B’s orchard right outside of Paonia. With live music every weekend in the setting of an old orchard, it is a unique place. Also, the North Fork has many wineries that are very special to this area and elevation, growing unique varieties of grapes. On the edge of the desert and the mountains, the North Fork Valley is a blend of hardworking, passionate farmers and coal miners, all interwoven together with the love of this mysterious place, somewhere caught in time and enveloped with hope and unity for the future.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Elk Mountain Farmacy would not be here without so many people! The whole backbone of this business is built on the hard work of the farmers in our area. We source all local vegetables, so our relationship with farmers is always growing and changing. These farmers work so hard in an industry that is very difficult to succeed in – the farmers that we contract are small organic/naturally grown, and so far, there are no subsidies for these farmers. The risk and passion that it takes to grow food is not to be underestimated. These farmers grow food because they are driven by love to, not because of the paycheck. I feel so grateful that these farmers are willing to grow vegetables for us and continue to do so in the face of uncertainty. I hope to provide a stable outlet for them and continue to grow alongside them.

Website: https://www.elkmountainfarmacy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elkmountainfarmacy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elkmountainfarmacy

Image Credits
All photos except the second to last one were Jake Sakson or Ryan Gannaway. Second to last food picture: Naropa Sabine