Support Ry in building an outdoor kitchen in her garden! This space will host workshops, community meals, and educational opportunities that connect people with growers and the food they eat.

Georgia Rivercane, our native bamboo. It connects us to the past when it once grew prolific along Georgia riverbanks, and also served as a foundation for native Cherokee homes to keep out wind and rain.

Why?

With the addition of an outdoor kitchen in Ry's garden, we will finally be able to host workshops, community meals, and educational opportunities that connect people with growers and the food they eat. We aspire to impact our community for better health by looking at food as medicine, sharing knowledge, and passing down traditions.

At Ry’s Table we believe that by focusing on where our food comes from, how it is cultivated, and thoughtfully prepared, we improve our vitality. Through this build-out of our kitchen and event space, we look forward to offering the community a space for educational classes, collective learning, and tasting menus that inspire change along your wellness journey.

Background

Stemming from Ry’s extensive career in public health, nonprofits, the culinary world, and farmers markets, food justice has been fundamental to the creation of Ry's Table. Ry's food is inspired by global flavors influenced by years living abroad in Thailand, an active life study of Ayurveda, and the abundance of seasonal ingredients. We dive into these concepts through hands-on learning, by supporting local farms, and cultivating what we eat.

Turmeric and lemongrass naturally grown in Ry's Garden

Over the last 5 years in Atlanta, Ry's Table has explored many mobile ventures prior to establishing a home base. Ry taught cooking classes, owned a granola company, micro-batched vegan yogurt, offered postpartum Ayurvedic meals, and catered wellness retreats. At the present, we do not have a kitchen to continue these ventures or host events. Ry's Table currently operates solely as a local pop-up chef at Atlanta Farmers Markets. We've had to temporarily suspend educational and private event offerings until we could find the right space to build and host.

In  2020, we became homeowners in southwest Atlanta, where we immediately envisioned a future event space for Ry's Table to flourish. Humbled by the nearby Outdoor Activities Center including 26 acres of preserved woodland (one of the oldest ecosystems in Georgia), we knew this was the neighborhood for our family and business to grow. We are excited to root on this land and build the business of our dreams - where growing, cooking, eating and community building can culminate in one place.

The Event Space

Last year we broke ground to establish terraced garden beds, and have already begun cultivating the many foods that you enjoy at pop-ups including the rare tropicals that flavor our curries such as turmeric, ginger, coriander root, Thai chilis and lemongrass. We practice regenerative gardening that nurtures mindful land use, planting natives, and incorporates zero-waste by making our own organic compost. 

In 2022, Ry's Table was awarded the Farmer Champion recognition by Georgia Organics and we continue to strive for this award each year. We have been blessed to work with the specialized team at Community Foodscapes , who led the sustainable hardscape design and consulted on edible plants. Our dream is becoming a reality, and we couldn't be more proud to launch the next phase of Ry’s Table to build an outdoor kitchen for community events.

2022 transformations in Ry's garden

What Are We Funding?

All of the money you contribute to this campaign is going towards building a kitchen in our garden and finishing the space to host you for special events.

Here's the breakdown:

• Equipment estimated at 12k. Includes commercial grade countertops, a sink, dishwasher, a stove, a flattop, refrigeration, and storage & cooking tools, all fit for weathering the outdoor elements. 

• Installation estimated at 3k. This includes setting the foundation for the equipment that will be installed, as well as hiring contractors. We will be running gas, water, and electrical lines from the house up to the event space so the labor of our electrician is also accounted for in the cost.

• Shelter estimated at 4K. We will build a pergola to shade us from the elements (wind, sun, heat, and rain) while cooking, serving your food, or while engaged in a cooking class. A shelter also protects the kitchen equipment that will be installed in the space and ensures its longevity.
• Outdoor Furnishings estimated at 4K. Dining tables, chairs, swings, and seating, for lounge areas around fire pit and platform deck.  
• Unforeseen Expenses estimate at 2k. They happen, from licensing, to supplies costs, to labor, so we want to be sure to buffer for that.

I'M ALL IN. I've put my personal savings towards this and already invested over 45k to just lay the foundation for edible landscaping, a learning garden with raised beds, a fire pit area, and a paved terrace for the event space. Building out this space with a full outdoor kitchen will cost in full, close to 70k, so we deeply appreciate your support!

With your help, by 2024 we will be hosting you around our table for a locally grown meal, connecting you with the food you eat and the people who grow it, while making delicious memories together.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story and invest in a collective future of fostering a community that supports a stronger local food system.

-Ry's Table Team