When Lindsey McConachie and her husband, DJ, decided to expand their L&L Preserves business, they initially envisioned a front-porch operation. But within eight minutes of seeing a trailer for sale on Facebook, they shifted gears and purchased a mobile kitchen.

“It was last June when we started L&L Preserves, and we talked about doing something like this in the future, but at a smaller scale,” Lindsey said. “We were thinking more along the lines of a lemonade stand and then moving up to a mobile operation later down the road. But this opportunity was too good to pass up.”

Following the purchase of the 30-foot-long trailer, which was already outfitted for food service, the couple changed the name of the company to L&L Captain and Crew to reflect the new direction.

Initially started as a way to sell jams and preserves made from berries sourced within town, Lindsey said she hadn’t planned to expand so quickly.

“I just feel like people should have an opportunity to buy homemade jams in their community,” she said. “It might be a little bit more expensive than what you get at the store, but I can tell you where everything came from and everything that went into it. It’s L&L for my name and my 4-year-old daughter, Layla. She helps pick the berries.”

With the move to a mobile unit, the menu expanded beyond preserves and pickles to include hamburgers and hot dogs.

“We officially opened on the weekend of April 18, and the response was overwhelming,” Lindsey said. “We sold out of hamburgers really fast. And we sold a lot of hot dogs, too.”

DJ credited a friend for helping the launch run smoothly.

“We couldn’t have done it without the help of our friend Drew Eyon,” DJ said. “He was our guardian angel and kept the orders straight and organized. He really pulled us through.”

Stationed in the parking lot next to Michelle’s Taste of Asia on Front Street, the couple said a centralized location makes the most sense as the spring season begins.

“People seem more inclined to come out when a business is located somewhere convenient,” Lindsey said.

She emphasized that the venture is part-time. She also works as a captain for Muddy Water Adventures and said time with her family remains the priority.

“Cooking has really become a passion for Lindsey,” DJ said. “But nothing is more important than family.”

The couple hopes to remain open throughout the summer and into the winter, weather permitting.

“This year, we won’t be open as often because of my work with Muddy Water, but we’ll be open whenever we can,” Lindsey said. “We’re just kind of winging it. I feel like I can’t go wrong, because if we don’t sell all of our food we can take it home and I can feed my dogs.”