Above: Pepper Patrons on a tour
Stories from our first month
Hey Friends,
When I launched Pepper Patrons, I hoped we'd create something bigger than a way to help buy peppers.
I hoped we'd build a community of people who love small farms, great ingredients, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how our hot sauce comes together.
A month in, that's exactly what's happening.
One Pepper Patron wrote:
"We love bypassing banks. We participate in all of the CSAs that we can."
Another told me:
"You know I'm a big fan of terroir. So freaking cool to see one of the single farms."
The farm updates have become one of my favorite parts of Pepper Patrons too. Getting to share what's happening in the fields while the peppers are still growing feels very different from just announcing a new sauce months later.
I've also loved hearing comments like:
"So appreciative of the micro batch offerings."
and
"Thank you for sharing your craft."
This is exactly what I want Pepper Patrons to feel like. A chance for connection and learning, understanding why ingredients taste the way they do, and share in the experiments happening around our kitchen.
One of my favorite pieces has been our guided tastings.
Any Pepper Patron can stop by our retail store while we're open and myself or one of my crew will pull out the hot sauce samples and spend some time tasting through them with you. We've had a few Pepper Patrons stop by already, and it's been a blast. We have so many different sauces to choose from and each one has a different backstory. The stories behind the farms, and fun comparisons between sauces that make the experience completely different.
A Pepper Patron Guided Tasting
Yesterday I taught our first Pepper Patron hot sauce class. I took folks through the development of a sauce and we ended up making a maple/coriander/cumin hot sauce that wasn't at all what I'd expected. I wasn't expecting to be surprised in my own class.! It turned out delicious. Those are the kinds of moments I was hoping this community would create.
Oh and I have to mention the Pepper Art. Our most popular add-on has been the personalized chili pepper drawings by my 10 and 12 year old daughters.
Pepper Art for You!
One member emailed to tell me their drawing had become "new fridge art." Another said they'd be displaying theirs both at work and in their home office.
We have gotten a lot of heart-emojis.
Those little moments have made this whole project even more fun than I'd imagined.
If you've been thinking about joining, I'd love to have you. There are many levels to join and many ways to be part of the harvest.
You'll be helping us purchase peppers directly from the small farms we work with every year, but you'll also be joining a community that's already turning into something really special.
I can't wait to see where we take it next.
❤️ Claire
CEO & Founder
Butterfly Bakery of Vermont & Fat Toad Farm
