Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Combs.
Hi Dawn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We started a little over 20 years ago with the products I used to overcome my infertility diagnosis. In the beginning, almost everything we made was based in honey because we were herb and bee farmers. Because the kids were the reason we started, they were always involved in the business. When my son was 6, he informed me he didn’t want to use the daily honey blend I had created for his allergy symptoms anymore. He and my daughter were at an age that they were getting curious about soda- with such a strong family health focus, we didn’t drink what was available in the stores. I knew if I could somehow take my son’s allergy remedy recipe and turn it into a healthy soda he’d be happy. So that’s what I did! We tested one after another of my original recipes as soda concentrates and our customers loved them! Our soda concentrate ingredients include ONLY produce that can be harvested from a farm. We unapologetically use only real sugar (just a lot less of it) and no franken-stuff… we make healthy taste amazing! These days, my son is 16 and my daughter is 14. They are the reason for so much that our business was and is becoming that we all decided it was time for them to take over. Soda Farm is now entirely a kid entrepreneur business- from the making of products in our commercial kitchen to wholesale account management and face to face customer service. We’re proud to be Ohio’s healthy, farm-fresh craft soda!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No way! We’ve nearly lost everything more than once. We keep going because our small business isn’t separate from our family- we actually live the lifestyle that goes along with our sodas! I obviously overcame the infertility diagnosis- after specialists told me nothing could be done! We changed a lot about our lifestyle- ditching a lot of the unhealthy things folks are now recognizing as problematic in the food supply. We switched to raising our own and making our own! That’s not as easy as it sounds- trail blazing in real food was an uphill battle. We have always believed that real food should be just as delicious and fun as the chemical laden stuff- creating recipes that worked while not compromising on health OR flavor was NOT easy. It was totally worth it though!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
With the kids taking over the sodas and granola business, I am free to do what I do separately. I am an author in the wellness space with three conventionally published books. I am primarily a plant scientist- ethnobotanist by profession and degree. I am known as an expert in using honey specifically and sugar in general as a medium for medicine making. My understanding of the primary and secondary chemicals found in plants speaks through the recipes were developed for Soda Farm- and I use the knowledge in my own practice consulting with folks on their health, writing for many national magazines, traveling as a professional speaker and teaching in my online educational programs.
Any big plans?
At Soda Farm, we are working next to become Ohio’s own farm-fresh ready-to-drink soda. The kids are excited to get into cans and into the hands of families throughout the Ohio Valley region. At DawnCombs.com I am in talks with a new publisher and am looking forward to travel and upcoming speaking engagements.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sodafarm.com and www.dawncombs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinksodafarm and @dawncombsreally
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinksodafarm
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drinksodafarm
