Meet Dustin Young of Seed & Soil Mobile Farmers Market

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Young.

Dustin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
First, let me take you down memory lane. In 2013 I started to transition into a healthier lifestyle due to a friend’s illness. I began searching for cures and I came across Dr. Sebi. Studying his methods and reaching out to the people he’d help cure through diet and herbs sparked a genuine interest for me to change the way I was eating and thinking. I started cleansing and detoxing my mind and body before moving to Harlem, NY, where I spent 3 years living a plant-based life. Ironically, I found it easier to live a plant based life in NY because I had more access to healthier options as opposed to the “food desert” communities in Los Angeles where I was used to working and living. In NY, my 9-5 was to provide mental health services in the homes of families mainly living in food desert communities. While living a plant based life I realized how food plays a huge part in the way people act, think and move. With mental health being a huge issue within black and brown communities, I went to the drawing board to figure out how to provide information to families and the youth within these communities. With the nature of today’s society, I knew I had to do something cool and relatable. So, I created my own crowdfunding site (Our Own) to raise funds that would assist in launching businesses and projects, as well as handing out scholarships to directly benefit individuals in communities with little to no access to such opportunities. For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to give back to my community and I had finally figured out my approach.

With a plan in mind, I moved back to LA to launch Our Own in 2016. Three months after launching we were able to raise enough funds to birth Seed & Soil Mobile Farmer’s Market. I wanted to start with food as the first project funded by Our Own because of the first-hand benefits I had received. A 45-foot touring bus was purchased with the funds. The bus would be converted into a mobile grocery store to provide a one of a kind shopping experience where you purchase natural and organic products, receive health tips and listen to music in the back lounge area. Planning the interior and connecting with the right farmers and brands to provide the best experience possible took all of 2017.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This has definitely not been a smooth ride. You can do as much research as possible before jumping into an unfamiliar industry but cannot plan for everything. Let me remind you that i bought a BUS. I’m familiar when it comes to cars but a bus was definitely a challenge. Before I get into the issues with the bus, let me give you the other challenges.

I brought on a friend to assist with this venture but unfortunately, he was unable to be as hands on. Not having him physically near the project caused many problems since I am assuming most if not all of the responsibilities and risks. Finding additional help was also a challenge. I hired a consultant to help with things I did not have time to do myself because I was still working my 9-5 job. I set high expectations with everything I do, so when they are not met, I take on the task myself instead of expressing frustrations. Though the consultant was able to help, it was not in my budget to continue to use those services. As for building the bus out, I reached out to a person from Instagram to bring out the vision I imagined for the interior. But working on someone else’s time while still trying to meet deadlines became frustrating and not to mention, a lot of miscommunication.

Once again I took a lot of tasks into my own hands even though I was paying people to do the job. This created a lot of anxiety and stress for me. I fell off from working out, yoga and meditating. I was getting sick trying to complete this project. And when the bus was finally to a point where the inside was completed and funds nearly exhausted, I came across the battery, electrical and engine problems. I purchased the bus with everything in working condition but it decided to give me problems when we were so close to rolling the project out.

From batteries being stolen from the bus, running out of CNG gas (gas gage was reading wrong) and power not flowing through the bus, I honestly wanted to give up. I put a lot of time, energy and money into this passion project and was determined to see it through; even if I only took the bus out once. At one point I felt like I was in this by myself, even though I had a partner.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Seed & Soil Mobile Farmers Market – what should we know?
Fresh, affordable, organic produce is in heavy demand in low-income areas all across LA. With only a handful of markets in these areas, none seem to offer a vast variety of fresh, organic produce. And health being such a major US concern, Seed & Soil Mobile Farmer Market LLC offers an innovative, yet convenient solution to the lack of organic produce. Our grocery store on wheels gives us the accessibility to open up shop in any food desert or neighborhood in need.

Seed & Soil Mobile Farmers Market LLC., is a mobile grocery store/e-commerce delivery service. Our bus storefront allows for us to conveniently commute to low-income neighborhoods providing them with affordable, organic produce.

I am most proud of the next step the company is taking. S&S is taking a more effective approach with providing the youth within the “system” healthier meals, education on the foods they eat and culinary opportunities to help combat physical and mental health setbacks. We will be rolling out this program later this summer.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I give all credit to everyone who has contributed to the vision of S&S through the platform of Our Own. My mentor Les Brown whose words kept me focused and fight through any challenge. My good friend, Niaje Wells-Hall (@niaje), not only gave me the name Seed & Soil but motivated me to keep pushing/fighting. Her strength to kick cancer’s ass daily provided that daily motivation as well. All of the creatives I know or follow via social media that are changing the culture also deserve credit.

But my grandfather deserves most of the credit. His transition from earth, due to cancer, is also the reason I decided to change my lifestyle, while exposing others to the information I received, in hopes they would want to make a lifestyle change as well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedandsoil.life 
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/_youngfreshman_/

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