This week I have been building my Barnstorming Brewery Adventure for launch in August. It led me to wonder where the phrase came from thinking it could be tied to the barn raisings/ barn bees tradition of European/North American farmers. Instead it led me to a piece of Americana and Bessie Coleman.
Barnstorming was the flying circuses of early aviation, which toured the land selling tickets and looping the loop. Turns out that in 1920s there were a fair few women pilots and Bessie was not only one of the most successful but also the first Black person to earn an international pilot’s license in 1921.
100 years on, setting out on my own little journey, it was inspiring to read of those pioneer spirit of adventure women.
This month also felt like a barn raising. Finding wonderful breweries in stone & metal barns was just part of the story. The bigger impact was the active community of friends and family, supporting the launch of Bowland & Bay. Instead of hammers and pumpkin pie, folks have proof read/ shared posts/ told their people (far & wide)/ booked tours & given me wonderful support and invaluable feedback. Funnily enough it was a pilot friend in Munich who suggested a brewery tour.
So week 4, my learning has been, allow your start up to grow into the nooks and crannies of the real world. Let the world old and new explore the idea, feedback and if you need to, change the barn plans. We all enjoy being part of the artisan foodie adventure.
