Creating a Hub that is Community Driven with Marlena & Noah Fishman

The Upreneur podcast has partnered up with SCORE, hosted by Jeremy Straub, to help bring engaging conversations with today’s top leaders and business owners. In today’s episode, we spoke with Noah and Marlena Fishman, founders of Zen Barn Farms, to discuss how they were able to create a community around their businesses, how hiring the wrong people can help in the short run but affect the vision long term,  and how building a business with family can make the entrepreneurial journey easier.

Zenbarn Farms is a sustainably made, Black-owned, and Vermont-based wellness brand, dedicated to elevating health through full-spectrum CBD products. They're a community-based business and also own Zenbarn, a restaurant/bar + yoga/wellness studio. When hemp was legalized in 2017, Zenbarn made the transition from veggies to farming hemp and went on to pioneer the first CBD-infused food and drink program in Vermont.

About Marlena Tucker-Fishman: Co-founded Zenbarn Farms and Zenbarn's yoga and wellness studio and runs the day-to-day of the retail store. A proud Black woman (living in a largely white state), mother to two kids, entrepreneur, educator, and activist, Marlena is the driving force behind Zenbarn Farms. 

About Noah Fishman: Co-founded Zenbarn Farms and Zenbarn restaurant/bar CEO, Co-Owner.  After a career in international development and nonprofit management, Noah co-founded Zenbarn Restaurant and Farms.  A social entrepreneur, Noah's passion is at the confluence of activism and business, building sustainable and ethical business models.  When not working he can be found on the soccer field, hanging out with his two kids and enjoying live music. 
 
1% of profits go toward social and environmental causes they're passionate about. The Waterbury Anti-Racism Coalition is a grassroots organization, working to combat racism and promote equality in their hometown. Zenbarn Farms owners, Noah, and Marlena Fishman are currently working with the organization in a leadership capacity, to enact real change in Waterbury.  

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/zenbarnfarms

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/zenbarnfarms/

Website
https://zenbarnfarms.com/

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