UP AND IN
On September 21, 2023, a semi-truck from California rolled up and lowered down a crate with our names on it.
Well technically, it was the Honey Moon Coffee Co., but our names were definitely on an invoice.
And it wasn't just a single crate. There were four of these giant crates, ready for us to get inside and unboxed, or get them unboxed and inside. Zac took charge in the way that many leaders prefer... by pointing out how other people could help.
Fortunately, we had all hands on deck to try to solve the problem of the day: how to get these giant roasting machine parts UP and IN to their home.
First up, the chaff collector for our smaller roaster, the SF-10. It was small enough to fit on the hydraulic jack that we purchased for bringing in giant bags of green coffee beans. With the pump-action foot pedal, we've developed a tradition of singing to match our "dancing" motions.
One crate down, but three big boys to go.
After looking at the contents of the rest of the crates, we knew that we would need some bigger guns to pull this off. As his happened, Zac's friend Wes happened to be running (as in exercising) and saw the commotion in the parking lot. He knew exactly the man to call in for the job... his father in law Bernie.
Not only did Bernie have a bobcat-type of forklift with the power to lift up a pallet and payload of this size, but he had the problem-solving skills and moxie to go for it. See the glorious progress in the following videos.
Bernie makes sure that the bobcat can hold the pallet and stay balanced.
Next, watch Wes ride the bobcat while Zac holds on and Ethan wisely recommends a strap.
We needed to figure out how to get the bobcat safely across the uneven and shifting ground with concrete on one track, and a makeshift wooden ramp on the other.
Bernie directed his son Blaine on how to get the angle *just* right.
Wes tried to keep the payload balanced with his body weight, while Jessica nervously laughs at the sight of it all.
This was the final picture we took before we realized that we truly needed to have all hands on deck and no one on camera duty.
In the end, we got the roasters up to the level they needed to be at, and called it a day. Ethan looked on approvingly at his new toys, anxious to get them installed and vented through the roof... which a story for another day.
