Episode #11: An Interview with Donna van Groningen: The Story of San Felipe Brewery: A Community Effort

In this episode we had an opportunity to speak with Donna van Groningen. Donna's husband, Joe, is part owner and founder of the San Felipe Brewery. Between the two of them, they have put in a lot of time and effort getting this idea for a business in Mexico off the ground. Here we learn a little more about them and the evolution and workings of what has become the first (and, most popular) local microbrewery. Donna also shares her thoughts on the need for more communication between San Felipe proper and the communities north of town.

ABOUT

Turn Left at the Cactus is a locally operated podcast in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico. This podcast is produced by Calyn Whedbee and co-hosted by Calyn and Tricia Sikes. We dropped our first podcast in the summer of 2022. And, honestly, given the demographic we are working with, had absolutely no idea whether any of it would fly. And, honestly, still don’t know.  To our amusement and surprise, however, our listening base is growing --“poco a poco.”    

The primary focus of Turn Left is discovering what foreign nationals,who live and work here--full or part time--find so attractive about the area; why they moved here; and, what they think is deserving of more attention. However, we don't always stick to the script, so virtually anything is possible.

We drop episodes as often as we can interview people and get them into postproduction.  Given that we are retired, and that this is … to use the cliché…a labor of love….AND, that life in SF tends to pull in lots of different directions….we have opted out of a specific time schedule. We “drop” when we can. If you join the group on Facebook, however, you’ll always be the first to get the latest episode.

The views expressed by our guests may not always be those of the hosts. However, it doesn't matter, we want to hear those views anyway.

If you are loving learning more about the many voices that make up our San Felipe community, please subscribe to our podcast and give us a LIKE on Spotify or Apple.   You can make us really experience "no bad days" if you buy us a beer at: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/turnleftatthecactus⁠.

 MOST IMPORTANTLY please share us with your friends!

If your business or organization would like to become a sponsor of an episode, please message us or email us: ⁠cactusleft@gmail.com⁠.  You write the promotional material or we can do it for you.  Either way, we will make sure your message gets out there. There is only one caveat to this offer.  Any sponsorships we accept must be from businesses or organizations with whom we have had good personal relations and whose services we can vouch for.

If there is someone special in the community that you feel deserves a shout out on Turn Left at the Cactus, please email: cactusleft@gmail.com Put: SHOUT OUT in the subject line, give us their name and what wonderful they’ve done.  We will be sure to recognize them on our next episode.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Remember to Turn Left at the Cactus ....for NO BAD DAYS!

Cal & Tricia