It all begins with an idea.
Before Swooping Swallows came to be, creativity was a core piece of Maggie, Chris, and Kaitlyn’s lives: Maggie previously owned a quilt design business and loves the art of baking; Chris is always drawing up designs and building various things around the property; and growing up in a house that fostered creativity it’s no surprise that their daughter, the middle of three, Kaitlyn, loves art and dreams of making it her full-time career.
Around the start of 2023, Maggie and Kaitlyn began making their own dog food with the main goal of feeding their dogs nutritious, simple ingredients from local, natural, and organic sources. While no one here at Swooping Swallows plans on selling dog food, it did lead to the creation of our Peanut Butter and Pumpkin dog treats (the original of the now four flavors) and ultimately the starting of Swooping Swallows itself.
When planning the business, the trio knew they wanted it to stand for their essential values. These include supporting small businesses, local farmers, and natural and organic practices; doing what they can to be eco-friendly and sustainable in efforts to help the climate and earth; and vowing to ensure Swooping Swallows reflects their morals and beliefs on inclusivity, love, and respect for everyone at all walks of life and on all paths of life, particularly those that are frequently discriminated against. The three recognize their privilege and wish to use this business as a platform to help others: animals, humans, and nature alike.
Then came the name. The Swooping Swallows founders wanted the name to reflect the property they’ve resided on in Chimacum Valley since 2008. Many ideas were on the list, such as Whispering Spruce and Bee Bountiful. They brainstormed in the evening focusing on the nature around them. As they sat there, appreciating the land they got to call home, they began watching the swallows. The graceful flyers played in the air, catching the evening bugs. Kaitlyn took note of the swallows swooping about above the trios heads and jotted down the name ‘Swooping Swallows’. Chris wasn’t sold on the name initially. Although, as he notices the abundance of swallows around the property, including a nest in the eves of his workshop, his admiration for the birds grew. Soon, their evening patio visits centered around watching the swallows. Just like that, the swooping swallows on the Chimacum Valley property became the name for Maggie, Chris, and Kaitlyn’s little family business:
The dog treats we make are also freeze-dried - talk about cool! Maggie got into freeze-drying a few years back as a way to process the fruits and veggies they’ve grown. Through the process of freeze-drying, the dog treats become shelf stable for a prolonged amount of time without needing to be refrigerated, frozen, or the use of preservatives. On top of it all, freeze-drying keeps 98% of the nutrients, so your pup can have a tasty, nutrient-filled treat!
Now you may be wondering, ‘Where does the pottery play in?’ While the mix of pottery and dog treats may seem bizarre, it falls back on the creative nature that sprouted this family business. As long as Kaitlyn can remember, her father, Chris, has been interested in pottery. Getting a pottery wheel in 2019 for his daughters, it wasn’t until recently that Chris’s interest in pottery was reignited. He especially looks forward to working with clay as a chance to slow down and recenter himself in his busy retired life. Despite both Kaitlyn and Chris being self-taught, there’s no doubt that you can expect original pieces with practical uses that highlight the creative minds of the two.
