Fermentations mobile

Fermentation Mobile Crowdsourcing Campaign 2018 on now, SUPPORT PLEASE!!!

This page is dedicated to the project "FermentationMobile (fm)" coordinated by Algoldor.

I'm coordinating set up of mobile fermentation center which is suitable for experimenting, education and event support. Importantly it will be legally certified for production and vend of fermented and other products. After nearly a decade of brewing around the world I came to conclusion that having mobile base where kvasirs (brewers, fermentors) can do what they love and legally generate money by their activities which they need for their life is fair and sustainable way to promote the fermentation arts&science in long term.

Current Situation

• 7/10/2018 Crowdsourcing Campaign

It may appear as a lightning from a clear sky but not really, the time has arrived. Crowdsroucing campaign 7-31/10/2018, goal €3000. To summarize it I (Algoldor) have decided that the optimal type of vehicle is A3, L4 (high and long) version of IVECO Daily, preferably 3.0 l diesel engine, year of make between 2001 till 2011. Price of the vehicle should be between €6 000 - 8 000 most likely bought in Germany and brought to France for certification. I need to create a micro-entreprise as a legal structure to be able to certify the vehicle, however the car may stay private for simplicity reasons. I've already passed certification necessary for "micro-entreprise", still have to do one day hygiene training. The reasons for the longer versions are especially to have a capacity to bring things to the fhb and other events with keeping the "experimental kitchen" inside operational. I plan to buy the car in November and I hope to have it certified for 35c3, at the worst case at least bring it for show even if it is not certified. It needs to be fully functional for 2019 summer season, with CCC camp being the "show case". Once the car is set up it should make fhb events much more easy to run because we will have our experimental kitchen always with us since the beginning of the event, it will be easy to take out, all will be demountable. of course there should be also other things like good power generator, hopefully compressor, multimedia center etc. Of course setting up the fm properly will take time and money but we will have both I believe. It comes that most of the cash invested is from my pocket because lets be honest I will use it also for non fhb activities so it seems to me fair that I pay most. So this is the long story short, lets hope that the crowdsouring campaign will end up well!

Project LOG

In this section you can find the log of the project.

7/10/2018 Crowdsourcing Campaign

It may appear as a lightning from a clear sky but not really, the time has arrived. Crowdsroucing campaign 7-31/10/2018, goal €3000. To summarize it I (Algoldor) have decided that the optimal type of vehicle is A3, L4 (high and long) version of IVECO Daily, preferably 3.0 l diesel engine, year of make between 2001 till 2011. Price of the vehicle should be between €6 000 - 8 000 most likely bought in Germany and brought to France for certification. I need to create a micro-entreprise as a legal structure to be able to certify the vehicle, however the car may stay private for simplicity reasons. I've already passed certification necessary for "micro-entreprise", still have to do one day hygiene training. The reasons for the longer versions are especially to have a capacity to bring things to the fhb and other events with keeping the "experimental kitchen" inside operational. I plan to buy the car in November and I hope to have it certified for 35c3, at the worst case at least bring it for show even if it is not certified. It needs to be fully functional for 2019 summer season, with CCC camp being the "show case". Once the car is set up it should make fhb events much more easy to run because we will have our experimental kitchen always with us since the beginning of the event, it will be easy to take out, all will be demountable. of course there should be also other things like good power generator, hopefully compressor, multimedia center etc. Of course setting up the fm properly will take time and money but we will have both I believe. It comes that most of the cash invested is from my pocket because lets be honest I will use it also for non fhb activities so it seems to me fair that I pay most. So this is the long story short, lets hope that the crowdsouring campaign will end up well!

3/03/2018 Steadily Moving Forward

After more than six months of keeping a job and getting regular paychecks, I(Algoldor) have managed to start to build up finances needed for realization of fm. In February I've restarted meetings with the local governmental and non governmental organizations finding out more help and information so I can make the fm happen. It looks like that the best legal status for me is really "micro-entreprise", I should get an obligatory week curse in May (cca 200 eu cost) which allows me to apply for siret business number. I've to confirm but I should be able to have my "business address" in our artistic collective La Cherche where I've my atelier, I need to ask them but it should be fine. Concerning the remorque/trailer or truck/camion I'm more and more considering the camion option partly because I do not have any car anymore. I'm thinking about IVECO Daily, less than ten years old, less then 200 000 km on the clock, diesel engine and "box" structure on the back. Iveco has a good reputation and it is build to last, it would be very handy in more tough environments when touring Africa, East Europe, Asia etc. Costs of decent camion of this type are around 7 000 eu. Rebuild and equipment should be within 2000 eu. Of course I will need to investigate more on for what type of foods&beverages I should apply so the licensing for my business is simple enough and based on that how should I rebuild the car so it meets the requirements, alcohol is out of question at least for the first season. At the moment it looks like that by May I should be able to purchase the car, maybe having to borrow some money depending on how well will go the crowdsourcing campaign which I would like to run under the fhb logo. After that I need to start on the rebuild. By June or July I hope to have the vehicle certified for production of fermented foods&beverages, as a vending point being therefore official, legal micro-enterprise entity (which means also insured). I think the schedule concerning paper work is bit tight but after receiving siret number in May things should become more clear and move forward faster.

31/10/2017 Status Hiatus

At the moment I'm Algoldor too busy and financially week to push the project forward. The good news is that I've started to work at the end of August so I'm becoming more stable by improving my financial situation. I would like to do another presentation of Fermentation Mobile at 34c3 which I hope to be at least partly practical - maybe constructing simple maketa/model of inside of the "trailer". However if all goes well and I keep the job I really believe that during the winter and spring 2018 the project can be fully developed and functional certified prototype will be done.

06/08/2017 Fermentation Mobile Presentation SHA2017

I (Algoldor have presented Fermentation Mobile project at SHA2017, you can find the video recording of the presentation here.

20/3/2017 Update

I've decided to go for trailer option because of the lower cost of the unit when purchasing and most likely no insurance payments during the year. From the legal entities the "micro-enterprise" sounds now most interesting, more legal investigations needs to be done.

Main topics

The Fermentation Mobile (fm) needs to be able to help with organizing events and generate income fulfilling the legal requirements.

Fallowing objectives needs to be accomplished:

• truck of decent size needs to be bought and refurnished
• legal micro-enterprise entity needs to be acquired, such that it will allow for all production and sale
• certification for production of foods&drinks and sale needs to be carried out
• set up for giving workshops and classes has to be done
• there needs to be capacity to attach in the future trailer/mobile unit (cooling, transport)
• producing and selling alcohol in the future would be highly desirable but it is complicated

Mobile Unit

There are two main possibilities to move around (on the land) easily at the moment. One is a truck option the second is trailer option. They have both advantages and disadvantages. At the end it will be probably first truck and after that trailer attached, especially with cooling capacity.

Truck option:

• Advantages:
  • mobile by itself, all in one
  • easier to park and manage at the locations
  • lower gas consumption - compared to car and trailer option it should consume less fuel
  • may be easier to adapt/rebuild if the "box car" version is used
• Disadvantages
  • more expensive - €6 000 - 8 000 cost for reasonable vehicle
  • car insurance and road tax has to be paid even when not used
  • sleeping in the car is likely not to be possible because of hygienic standards
  • selling or transfer of the vehicle in the future may be more complicated because of the papers, insurances etc.

Trailer option:

• Advantages
  • €500-1000 for basic frame, €1000-4000 for trailer with whole framework in place, therefore cheaper than truck to buy and also importantly probably no tax or lower tax/insurance needs to be paid when not in use later on
  • sleeping in the car used to pull the trailer shouldn't be a problem
• Disadvantages
  • can not be moved without a car
  • harder to manage at the location
  • higher fuel consumption of whole set up compared to the truck
  • the weight limit may be an issue, especially if 750 kg is the top without need for special type of license, for bigger events like SHA2017 where around 1000 l or more of drinks may be needed it is severe limitation (can be avoided to a degree by getting special permit)
  • may be harder to build up on the wheel base
  • if higher weight limit is needed getting specific car to pull it may be necessary

Legal Law Entity

There are several legal entities which could be used to legally produce and sell probiotic drinks and foods and possibly alcoholic beverages. "Educative Non Profit Organization" seems as most easy way. Another bit more difficult but still probably doable option would be becoming officially a "farmer", selling alcoholic beverages would be again more complicated. Third option which which I've chosen at the end is micro-enterprise structure.

• Educational Non Profit Organization
  • the whole legal procedure since applying till being able to operate should take around one month
  • accounting system should be very simple
  • from the profit - no direct wages can be paid to "founder/operator" (details has to be researched)
  • from the profit - it is possible to pay variety of expenses like ingredients, fermentation equipment, fuel etc.

• Farmer
  • land would have to be bought or rather rented, minimum size has to be researched, for the baker for example it is around 3 hectares.

• Micro-enterprise
  • increasingly popular concept for small scale business activities. I've met with two persons who are using this entity, one of them is owner and operator of two food trailers and he recommended me micro-enterprise structure because of several reasons which will be discussed later. It seems to fit my requirements best, except production and sale of alcohol at least during first season.

Documentation&links

Micro Entreprise Info how to set up small business in France, Expatica, in English.

Hôtel et Pépinière d'entreprises Cherbourg en Cotentin - Incubator for business projects in Cherbourg, help with planning the project, especially obtaining the legal entity may be acquired.

Maison de l'Emploi et de lq Formation de Cotentin - Incubator for innovations.

example of horse trailer, double wheel, with base of course and it looks like decent frame for €450, Netherlands.