We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hannah Gongola a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

I believe we need to be teaching our future generations about self sufficiency. Just like health, this category of education tends to be brushed over. There are no longer shop or home-ec classes in the early years of students education. I’m not talking about how to do taxes or change a tire, which is also extremely important, but I’m talking about simply, how to cook and how to obtain your food. Basic classes that teach you about the food system how to feed yourself. Teaching the basics about animals and why they’re so important to our earth, food, and bodily systems.

Hannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a first generation regenerative farmer just outside of Austin, TX. My love for farming found me through my love of food. I knew since I was a little girl that I wanted to do something with food so I got a degree in nutrition. Instead of going on to any kind of masters program or culinary school, I moved to Austin. My first job was at the central Texas food bank where I was the garden intern. I was pretty much thrown into gardening in the Texas climate, which is the total opposite of where I grew up in West Virginia. I had the idea for my company as I was working the gardens at the food bank and things just escalated from there.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy is currently also my best strategy. I’ve been building a social media following for many years. I showcase everything on my social media from what is being harvested on the farm that day to new babies hatching and being born. I provide recipes and tips as well as a direct link to my online store. I think it helps customers to know exactly where their food is coming from. They keep up on my social media so they feel invested in the farm and want to help support it.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Be honest. Be honest with yourself and your audience. Nothing builds trust and loyalty more in a relationship or with a brand more than openness. Tying into honesty is authenticity. If someone wants to pay you tons of money for something that doesn’t match up with your morals or views, don’t cave on that. Stand up for your authenticity. As a small business owner, it’s very difficult to say no to money, but if the source of the money doesn’t line up with what you’re doing exactly, then it’s not worth it. If you have to justify the reason to take the money, then the answer is probably no.

Contact Info:

• Website: h2grow.co
• Instagram: hannahgongola

Image Credits
Maddi Cislo