How did Orkney Parrots start? The expanded version.

I have answered this question on a number of occasions now. My standard answer is my family have been interested in drying all sorts of foods ever since I can remember. I had been thinking about Something like Orkney Parrots for a long time.

This is all accurate, however the details are a bit sparse aren't they?

The first time I can definitely say that I thought about something that could be called similar to Orkney parrots was indeed several years ago. However I lacked the confidence and technical know-how to bring it to fruition. Technical know-how being the ability to organise a website.

Before we had food drying machines, my mother would air-dry various herbs around the house. I have plenty of memories of coming home from school to find lime leaves [for lime tea] piled on the fireguard or the bookshelves being taken over by drifts of lavender. Let's not mention the nettles. As I mentioned in our story, I have a cousin who is a nutritionist. While I know that when food is dried correctly the nutrients, vitamins, enzymes and minerals are preserved, it has been invaluable to me to be able to consult with a person in the know and make sure that my information is correct and up-to-date.

Last year [2020] I found myself sitting at home getting more and more annoyed slash angry. I am sure I won’t have been the only one. Where before, I had lacked the confidence to realise my idea now I felt I had nothing to lose. I had been petrified of upsetting the applecart of my life and failing into the bargain. But then I found events doing all the applecart upsetting on a grand scale.

I mention in our story that I kept wishing for products that Orkney parrots now provides. That sentiment was not sales patter. The background context is a Collection of incidents I have never publicly talked about. Like the time I spent weeks looking for just one sweet potato and the time I went to the supermarket to find absolutely no vegetables apart from one (definitely passed its best) Head of lettuce. There were other incidents similar to these as well, but I do not want to belabour the point and leave you on a distressing note.

Orkney Parrots officially launched on the 1st of September twenty twenty. However this website and the Facebook page went live on the 24th of August last year and the first order was placed on the 27th of August.

While things have been admittedly quiet recently, I can definitely say I am loving running Orkney Parrots and being in charge of my own destiny. I really enjoy connecting with you all and knowing I am doing my bit [however tiny] to insure a supply of vegetables for all parrots from budgies to macaws.