Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Dunn.
In 2017, having moved back to Atlanta, with 10+ years of experience working in the mental health space, up to a Director managing a drug-free mentoring program, Dunn stumbled upon a tool that he instantly knew would be vital to the early stages of child development and beyond: Food. Specifically, food production, through an innovative process called aquaponics.
Dunn immediately jumped at the chance to obtain an aquaponic certification, doing so at a greenhouse located at The Andrew and Walter Young YMCA on Campbellton Rd. Dunn’s background in mental health provided direct knowledge of what a morning diet looked like for a student living in a food desert area, where income is low and crime is high. These scenarios, in most cases, lead to mental health directly affecting heart health, existing mainly in areas where the access to proper foods needed to kick-start the body properly for a productive day of learning, is minimal. Students grab what they can afford, and what’s available, where unfortunately, the menu of choice in certain communities, includes an assortment of chips, sodas, and candy. They are then expected to assume a posture where they are able to focus on learning in an educational setting. It’s a recipe for failure.
It did not take Dunn long to realize that he would dialogue with others who would not be as excited about the non-traditional method of farming, and teaching it to students and young adults. Although it directly addresses the root of the problem they’re facing, Dunn met resistance when looking to procure funding to create the type of hands-on, thought-provoking program he imagined.
Rather than allowing these moments to be recorded as discouraging, Dunn returned to the greenhouse, where he had a revelation. He noticed that the herbs that grew in abundance were mint (spearmint and peppermint) and basil. Having spent morning after morning at the YMCA, witnessing the amount of coffee consumed by senior members after their workouts, Dunn thought that maybe using some of the vegetation from the greenhouse to create an alternative to coffee, would do two things: 1) create options other than just coffee, 2) draw attention to aquaponics.
The opposite occurred. And because of it, the world can now enjoy a no processed sugar, no empty calorie, all-natural basil lemonade.
This special lemonade, a nutrient-filled beverage with basil as the foundation, has done things beyond his wildest dreams in just a short period of time. He’s been able to document different testimonials relating to: congestion relief, nausea, digestion regulation, swelling, gout, sciatica, cramps, cough suppression, and much more.
The story has been told quite often that adversity is typically “the mother that births entrepreneurship”. In this case, it serves true yet again, but it also continues to echo what we all need as a constant reminder from time to time: ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ There isn’t anyone else in our society who can exemplify this standard in the way that Ryan Dunn has, the brainchild behind Basil Me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what are the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been nowhere near an easy path. There wasn’t anyone I could look to for advice, specifically as it relates to owning and operating a beverage company. It was like I was carving my own path. The issue with that, blind steps every day. Who lives like that? I just had to keep going. Nothing about entrepreneurship is smooth. There are ebbs and flows. No different from life. You just have to keep going.
What is your vision for Basil Me?
The vision for Basil Me is to become a global brand. It is also our goal to create a space where consumers worldwide are more concerned about the contents of the beverages they consume.
What has been your proudest moment since Basil Me was developed?
One of my proudest moment since Basil Me was developed, has to be when I was able to return to my alma mater, ‘THEE’ Clark Atlanta University, and set up as a vendor for Homecoming 2018. The dopest ever. Sold out show on top of that.
ATLANTA locations:
Glenwood Health Food Boutique
3168 Glenwood Rd.
Decatur, GA 30032
Plant Based Pizzeria
730 Barnett St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
640 West Community Café
640 Evans St.
Atlanta, GA 30310
GIAS Organic
3123 Main St.
East Point, GA 30344
Peach Pantry
1085 Katherwood Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30310
AUGUSTA locations:
Jackie M’s and Son
3308 Milledgeville Rd.
Augusta, GA 30909
World Famous Dennis BBQ
3639 San Sebastian Rd.
Hephzibah, GA 30815
Living Water Wellness Center
3019 Tobacco Rd.
Hephzibah, GA 30815
Contact Info:
- Website: www.basilme.co
- Phone: 6786123829
- Email: ryand@basilme.co
- Instagram: basil_me
- Facebook: Got Basil
- Twitter: basilme_co
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
