When I was thinking of leaving teaching and setting up Wildcraft, I visited as many breweries as I could. I was desperate to glean information, to work out how you jump from a small setup in the shed (my other half would say all over the house) to 100's of litres at a time and most importantly, trying to work out if was something I could achieve. I met some great people along the way and some very good brewers but the ultimate piece of advice that many wanted to pass on was 'Don't do it!'.
Now, for those of you that know me, the easiest way to get me to try something is by telling me not too but in this case, I thought I had better investigate further...
Reason 1: 'Your life will be taken over by it'. I will be honest, this was something that really didn't phase me. I remember sitting one night in the living room, laptop on my lap, marking students work. My other half was a mirror image, sitting across the room and I said, quite innocently how I wished I could be out of education running my own brewery. 'But you will be working all sorts of hours' was the reply. She obviously didn't see the irony of what she was saying as we both then continued to work well into the night!
As it is, yes, the place has taken over my life but thats ok, it will for the first few years but its all part of making sure we do this right! The main difference is that I am myself again, teaching was killing me, I had lost sight of who I was and why I was doing things, I was constantly grumpy and depressed... Not any more!
Reason 2: 'You will just be a glorified caretaker'. To be fair, this one is a true one! I spend more time cleaning the place than doing anything else (although you wouldn't know it sometimes) and this can become quite monotonous. Having said that, I have been the maker of my own demise here, why wouldn't I put a lovely light coloured floor paint in here which shows up every mark, footprint and stain?
Reason 3: 'Its not as easy as you think, its a big jump'. Well excuse my language but no s**t sherlock. I never expected it to be easy, I was well aware that recipes don't just work first time and that going from a small brew to a big doesn't always transfer how you would think. But thats all part of the fun of it, experimenting, finding the best flavours and making something from them. Believe me, we have plenty of unlabelled bottles in the cold room that were experiments that may or may not have gone well.
Reason 4: 'Its a crowded market'. This one is very true, that's where I needed something different... Thankfully, I was already planning on using foraged ingredients so this one was thrown out before I had even got past my first half pint!
And that was it... They were the reasons I and maybe you, if you are thinking of setting up, shouldn't do it. Having taken those on board, I went ahead and did it anyway and am so thankful that I did. Even as I sit here now, typing this in a barn that is currently 3 degrees, I think to myself one thing, its so much better than teaching!!
355 comments
I’ve been attempting to expand my wine business in my hometown in White Plains. For the past 7 years, I do play the lottery in my spare time, but on this blessed day I came across an article about Lord Meduza’s spell to win the lottery. I contacted Lord Meduza to see if it would work and after I agreed to his terms and conditions for completing the task for me, he performed his magical powers for me and within 48 hours, he provided me with the numbers I needed to play the lottery, and I followed his directions. I found out at the store that I was the winner of a $105 million jackpot. For a moment I felt uncertain but I looked again and I saw it was real. As I speak to you, My level has been elevated from grass to grace and I’ve come to know that life is more spiritual and with the Lord Meduza spell, you can actually win the lottery. Please join me in thanking Lord Meduza and his contacts are listed as follows;
WhatsApp: +1 (807) 907-2687
Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com
I’ve been attempting to expand my wine business in my hometown in White Plains. For the past 7 years, I do play the lottery in my spare time, but on this blessed day I came across an article about Lord Meduza’s spell to win the lottery. I contacted Lord Meduza to see if it would work and after I agreed to his terms and conditions for completing the task for me, he performed his magical powers for me and within 48 hours, he provided me with the numbers I needed to play the lottery, and I followed his directions. I found out at the store that I was the winner of a $105 million jackpot. For a moment I felt uncertain but I looked again and I saw it was real. As I speak to you, My level has been elevated from grass to grace and I’ve come to know that life is more spiritual and with the Lord Meduza spell, you can actually win the lottery. Please join me in thanking Lord Meduza and his contacts are listed as follows;
WhatsApp: +1 (807) 907-2687
Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com
Bitcoin Recovery Testimony – From a Retired Doctor
I never thought bitcoin recovery was real until it happened to me.
My name is Mark Breton, and I lost $230,000 worth of bitcoin to an investment scam.
It looked so real, so convincing, and I trusted them completely.
By the time I realized it was a scam, everything was gone.
I felt helpless and angry, not knowing where to turn or what to do next.
Days turned into weeks of frustration and regret.
Then I came across Cloudstrike Cybersecurity Company.
I was skeptical at first, but I decided to give them a try.
From the first moment, their team was responsive and very professional.
They listened, asked the right questions, and got to work immediately.
To my surprise, they were able to recover all my lost funds.
It felt unreal to see the funds back in my wallet.
Their level of expertise and dedication is truly remarkable.
If you’re a victim of crypto scams, I strongly recommend reaching out to them.
You can contact them via email at [Cloudstrikecyber@gmail.com
Whatsapp: +1 (260) 408‑3923
they really do deliver.