What began as a skill-building exercise for people with brain injuries unexpectedly morphed into a cottage industry with funds raised going back to a social enterprise.
It all started when Powell River Brain Injury Society built its first greenhouse, according to society executive director Deborah Dee.
“We’re going into our fifth growing season and every year we find a knack for growing hot peppers and tomatoes,” said Dee.
The group started experimenting with the organically grown harvest and landed upon making hot sauces, which it gave away as gifts the first year. Feedback was positive and the group was urged to make more and sell it.
“I had not planned on marketing anything,” said Dee. “I was just going to teach everybody to make it.”
Last fall, a large pre-holiday order nudged the society into officially launching the sauces.
“One of the lawyers we deal with wanted to give everybody a bottle of hot sauce for Christmas and ordered 150 bottles,” said Dee.
Future plans include a bistro and store to sell items created by members of the society.
“With a brain injury, you don’t return to a 35-hour work week full of stress right away, if ever,” said Dee. “We try to do whatever we can as an alternative form of employment.”
For now, that includes upping production of their current sauces and trying new flavours in their test kitchen.
“We plan to experiment with recipes and possibly make more sauces,” said kitchen manager Glen Pavlick.
The first cases of three varieties of Brainiacs Hot N’ Saucy were made, bottled and labelled in-house.
“Brainiacs” was coined by one of the brain injury society’s original clients, who decided he wanted a more positive label for the group.
“Brainiac has two meanings,” said Dee. “It means brain inaction, but also the brain in action.”
The hot-sauce project is part of a larger work experience training endeavour the society is currently implementing.
“This is one division of a greater network called Brainiacs Work and it’s a social enterprise we’re starting,” said Dee.
All funds raised will go back into the enterprise, she added. Dee is hopeful the community will support the work of the society, including the bistro and store when they open.
“Now it’s only fear and good judgement holding us back,” said Dee. “We’re super stoked about it, and it’s a source of pride for the Brainiacs.”
