Welcome to this issue of Stumped by Nature, where we notice nature lurking just beyond our screens, curate a list of outside-y events in Austin, and build community with other folks in the thick of the startup ecosystem.
In this week’s issue:
🍂 A modern misogi, business-build edition
🌤️ Upcoming outdoors events
Let’s dig in!
-Nicole
PS. ATX Outsiders is the batch of newsletter readers who meet IRL outside each month. Join us!
NATURE SPOTLIGHT
You know those moments when a moderately obscure interest of yours happens to overlap with a stranger’s moderately obscure interest?
In the small world of Austin, on a patio with a batch of founders/VCs/community builders, my newsletter mentor Ethan Brooks (of Austin Business Review fame) pointed to me, pointed to Ian McCluskey, and said Talk.
But why just talk when you can Yaupon Yap?
Hi Yams!
It took maybe two and a half sentences to find the why: Yaupon holly.
Today, Ian continues our Misogi Series with his decision to take the leap to build December Yaupon.
Here’s the scoop:
What was happening in your life when the misogi emerged? Set the scene with context.
I grew up in a hamlet outside of Seattle named Lake Forest Park, as quaint as they come. It looks the same today as it did 30 years ago when I spent most of my free time among the red cedars and douglas firs blanketing the hills behind my house. It was a charmed childhood, and the rest of my youth was spent recovering from the first day of middle school in the city!
By the time I graduated college, I believed we could reverse global warming with renewable energy. From volunteering to install solar panels on low income homes to building utility-scale battery systems that deploy clean energy at night, it consumed me for over a decade. Then one day I looked around and noticed the renewable energy industry has been commandeered by capitalists to increase their own wealth rather than clean up humanity’s act.
It was like the corporate “EXIT” signs and light strips suddenly illuminated and I knew it was time to prepare for a change.
Why this, and not something else?
I still had to muster the courage to gasp quit my job, so I started to host dinner parties with friends and families centered around local food. It was a great way to reconnect in every sense of the word after the alienation of COVID. I also started working on an amaro recipe made with all local ingredients that turned out great and reignited my passion for herbalism. Through a series of fortunate events, I discovered that Yaupon, a plant my mom had introduced to my world, makes a mean espresso shot. Yes, we literally roasted and ground it up to be used in espresso machines and the business took off. For someone who loves the challenge of building awareness around new concepts, it was a dream come true. We had a blast growing the team and opening a cafe. But after only about six months I got some unexpected news.
What surprised you while you were in it?
Our yaupon farmer lost his farm in his divorce. I wondered, is this a sign I should go back to my previous work? Lots of friends and colleagues offered me great roles. But after talking with my partner Dorian, we decided to push forward. We thought through how to make good yaupon more accessible to as many people as we could and we decided expanding the cafe model would take too much money and time. We reached out to both of the country’s leading yaupon farmers here in Texas and decided to make the leap to start December Yaupon here in Austin.
What physical details still linger?
The warm aromas of the markets and the cafe where we served thousands of cups. The sore muscles from carrying coolers and hot water dispensers. The ritual of brewing and prepping while thinking about all the people we would meet and connect with that day. Bundling up for the long Christmas markets, and opening the cafe windows for a breeze in the summer.
What role did place play? Would this have been different somewhere else?
Now that we’re in Texas, the pressure is on. There are production MOQs, expiration dates, supply contracts, distribution and a million other considerations. This is a big state with big expectations. But I’m happy to say the welcome has been warm and the business is growing. We made sure to put ourselves out in the community to share the vision and gauge the reaction before launching. So far it has been nothing short of supportive. There is nowhere else in the world that suits us better.
What didn’t change, despite all the effort?
My preoccupation with the ever-widening gap between the actions of this country’s so-called leadership and what’s best for the rest of us. Everyday it gets harder to do the right thing without losing access to food, shelter, employment, transportation. As the cost of living surges, many people have to choose lower quality, lower cost products despite their desire to support local farmers and producers. We’re working to bridge that gap in at least one aspect of life.
What felt more true after?
For the first time in my life I don’t feel any internal distractions at all when I’m working.
What would you not recommend others copy, and what would you encourage?
I don’t think starting a business makes sense for most people. But for those that can’t stop thinking about it, look for the right moment and go for it! There are ways to check those instincts. For example, before we decided to move to Texas, I did a long water fast with lots of meditation to really quiet my mind and body and listen for my truth. The louder our world becomes, the more paralyzing it feels. There are ways to cut through that noise.
Which photos give a sense of the experience?
We have thousands of photos and videos from the last few years. I look forward to showing them to my kids one day. From the early days of dinner parties and late night freestyles to the recent days in the factory, every moment has been beautiful. It’s all been about two things. First, yaupon seems to be saying it is ready for its moment in the sun and in peoples’ cups. Second, the connections created between people through this project are precious and timeless.
How can readers learn more about your work/support you?
First, please support our local retail partners by finding and visiting them.
Second, please follow us on Instagram.
Third, we love to help people trying to harvest and brew yaupon at home so reach out, we have some tips.
EVENT ALERT
Obviously Ian and I are co-hosting a Yaupon Yap: Tasting and Foraging event.
Join us on Sunday, June 7, to have a taste of Yaupon Nitro Cold Brew, identify Yaupon on the trail, and learn how to DIY your local caffeine option.
UPCOMING EVENTS
🗓️ May 21: Strength Training + Metabolic Health marker testing: Get stronger and know what you’re up again
🗓️ May 22: Pitch and Run: Talking point: what’s something great that’s happened this week?
🗓️ May 23: Mushroom Cultivation 101, especially culinary mushrooms
🗓️ May 23: Two-Step Night: Slow, slow, quick, quick your way through Waterloo
🗓️ May 23: The Board Walks: walk it out
🗓️ May 23: Nature Day at Nalle Bunny Run: a “choose-your-own-adventure”-style river-front preserve event
🗓️ May 23: Pirate Prom, featuring December Yaupon drinks from ya boy Ian
🗓️ May 24: The Austin Symphony Concerts in the Park: Brass Ensemble
🗓️ May 24: Austin Area Begonia Society May Meeting: the Begonia Maculata in my windowsill approves of this message
🗓️ May 24: Masters of the Night: Exhibit Opening: Spoiler: we’re talking about bats. Did you know they’re pollinators?
🗓️ May 24: Walk and Talk with ATX Writing Club: My favorite group of creatives in town is taking it to the trail
🗓️ May 26: The Waterwise Home: think cisterns and native plant education
🗓️ May 27: Toddler Yoga Breathe through those big feelings
🗓️ May 28: Ice Age Night: Including animatronics, a corn dog food truck, and threats of a dance party
🗓️ May 28: Austin Ruck Club: You LOVE 6am event start times, and they love you back
🗓️ May 29 Trail Talks: Consistently one of my favorite walks
🗓️ May 29: Meet a Founder Friday: Pickleball: dink your way into deepened relationships
🗓️ May 30: Kayak Trash Cleanup: Grabbers and gloves provided
🗓️ May 30: Botanical Painted Paper Collage Workshop: Texas Native Series: only a few tickets left!
🗓️ May 30: Mead Making Class: yeast and hydrometer included
🗓️ June 7: Yaupon Yap- Tasting and Foraging: I’m co-hosting this foraging walk with Ian McCluskey of December Yaupon
🗓️ June 21: Reverse Brain Rot: I’m co-hosting this book + notebook + Barton Springs lounge with Zac Solomon of ATX Writing Club
PSA
That’s all for this week!
In the meantime, I hope you do something just at the edge of your ability and pocket the learnings.
-Nicole
OPTIONAL SIDE QUESTS
🪵 Would my perspective be useful to a project you’re working on? I can take on one more. Let’s chat.
🪵 Are you looking for a community of people in the startup ecosystem who go outside together? I’ve got you.
🪵 Are you sitting on a misogi-esque story? Spill.
🪵 I also write essay(s): this one is about witnessing a bison harvest.
🪵 Is this newsletter not your vibe? Forward it to your enemies to make them suffer too.
💰It’s safe to assume there are affiliate links, and I’ll monetarily benefit from any purchases you make. Hooray, capitalism! So far, this newsletter has generated $3.46 of cold hard cash. 💸