Tamra B. Orr - Money-Making Opportunities for Teens Who Like Working Outside

Published in 2014 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010

Copyright 2014 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Orr, Tamra B.

Money-making opportunities for teens who like working outside/

Tamra B. Orr.1st ed.

p. cm.(Make money now!)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4488-9383-6 (library binding)

1. Vocational guidanceJuvenile literature. 2. TeenagersEmployment Juvenile literature. 3. Job huntingJuvenile literature. I. Title. HF5381.2.O77 2014 650.10835dc23

2012040029

Manufactured in the United States of America

CPSIA Compliance Information: Batch #S13YA: For further information, contact Rosen Publishing, New York, New York, at 1-800-237-9932.

H ungry Portlanders have a lot of choices when it comes to eating. Besides the usual chain and independently owned restaurants, a growing number of the Oregon citys once empty parking lots are now filling up with a variety of carts, or mobile kitchens, and creating what is called a Cartopia In one corner, a shiny silver cart features a fascinating mix of Swedish and African American foods known as Viking soul food. Over here you can taste a London pasty, a gourmet European version of a beef patty. Like hot dogs? Try this standit has a dozen different flavors of dogs and even more toppings. Does your sweet tooth crave a little dessert? You might try the ice cream stand where they feature local flavors such as lavender lemon or maple bacon. Of course, if you just want a burger and fries, you can find those, too, but dont be surprised if the burger is topped with peanut sauce and cucumbers, and the fries are covered with generous sprinkles of sea salt and parmesan cheese.

Erika Kraner and Melanie McClure, the owners and operators of the street food vendor Taco Pedaler, prepare and serve their delicious food on the streets of Portland, Oregon.

As popular as these carts have become, a few determined vendors have taken convenient and delicious food a step further. Instead of providing a dozen carts in a circle for people to visit, these business owners are literally bringing the food to the people. When they say they are mobile, they really mean it. One such vendor is the Taco Pedaler, a small business created in 2010 and run by friends Erika Kraner and Melanie McClure. Each day, they put on their sturdy sneakers, stretch their muscles, and climb on their bikes. Its time to bring homemade Mexican treats to the people of downtown Portland!

A few years ago, Kraner and McClure were vacationing in Mexico. Their favorite place to eat was found right on the beach. It was a bicycle that had a grill built in, known in Mexico as a triciclo de carga. Each day, tourists lined up to eat burritos and tacos made right there in front of them, with the freshest of ingredients. The two young women were inspired. They knew that Portland was one of the most bicycle friendly communities in the country. Kraner and McClure had always loved riding their bikes and being outsideso could they turn that into a business?

Today, it is clear that the answer to that question is yes. Taco Pedalers is a familiar business in downtown Portland. It recently won an award for the cart with the most style. Kraner and McClure are expanding from just a couple of bikes to several and hoping to open an actual storefront in the coming months.

Its not an easy job. The bicycles, which were imported from Mexico, weigh hundreds of pounds each. Kraner custom designed them to include grills, cutting boards, coolers, menu boards, and prep areas. These trikes are heavy and can be hard on your body, Kraner tells potential employees. Each day of work means biking several miles to a downtown location and setting up the propane grill. They then prepare and sell beef, pork, chicken, and vegetarian tacos and dillas, as well as chips, guacamole, and salsa. Everything is made with fresh ingredients. The companys mission statement reads, Taco Pedalers takes pride in using local and often times organic produce and meats. We support small businesses, use only compostable and biodegradable paper products, and are completely powered by pedals.

Kraners mother, Ellen Finley, isnt remotely surprised that her daughter has created such an unusual and successful outdoor business. My father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all woodworkers, she said in an interview with the author. Erika took after them. When she was young, she picked up some branches someone had cut up, added some spray paint and fishing line, and created this amazing headboard for her bed. Later, she took an old doorless refrigerator and a window and created an incredible CD-cabinet. When the bikes arrived from Mexico, added Finley, they had nothing but a basket on the front. Erika custom designed them so that they would meet all city codes.

Like the majority of outdoor jobs, the Taco Pedalers can work only when the weather cooperates. Since Portland is known for winter rains, this means shutting down between the months of October through February. That also means that Kraner and McClure have to work that much harder during the dry, warm months of March through September. Most of the time, they work seven days a week, for ten hours a day. Having your own business is harder than you think, but it is completely worth it, Finley told the author. Just be passionate about whatever it is you do and take time to build it!

Kraner and McClure found a way to combine their fondness for Mexican food with their love of being outside and riding bicycles. They also selected one of the best cities for a business like Taco Pedalers. Portland is crazy about natural, organic food, independently owned companies, and cyclists. It is the perfect combination for an outdoor job that is fun, healthy, and successful!

Do you have what it takes to make money working outdoors like Kraner and McClure? You love it outside. You would rather camp out in a tent than sleep in the softest bed. You prefer going to sleep to train whistles, wind chimes, and crickets than to music or the television. A field trip to a fish hatchery or wildlife preserve sounds far more fun than one to the museum. You dont mind the summers heat or the winters cold, and no rainstorm is going to send you inside. Free time is spent riding bikes, shooting baskets, playing Frisbee in the park, throwing a ball, and practicing moves on your skateboard. Now that youre older, the idea of getting a job is OK. But getting one that keeps you inside all day isnt. Is it possible to make money and stay outside the typical four walls?

It is! Read on to learn how to find outside jobs, whether you want one just for the summer months or as a full-time profession, and discover what traits you will need to succeed in such a venture. Along the way, you will meet several young people who, like Kraner and McClure, have found a way to earn a paycheckand stay out in nature.