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Freeze-drying candy: Pollocksville veteran, nuclear engineer starts business

Sun Journal - 11/11/2021

Nov. 11—What does 15 years in the Navy mixed with a nuclear engineer background get you? A Pollocksville man freeze-drying all kinds of treats.

Navy veteran David House runs House Family Homestead based out of Pollocksville, bringing delicious and healthy snacks to families. House offers a variety of freeze-dried fruits, candies, and treats — one is even called Marshmallow Unicorn Poo.

Unlike other food preservation methods, freeze-drying does not shrink or toughen the food while maintaining 97% of the nutritional value. Freeze-dried food stored in an airtight container with an oxygen absorber can preserve up to 25 years, according to the House Family Homestead website.

A native of Fayetteville, House moved to Jones County to be closer to family. Before the family homestead business, House served in the Navy as a nuclear engineer. Wanting to originally join the Marine Corps, a recruiter halted his plan before enlisting.

Every interested service member is required to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. House was pulled to the side to discuss his test score.

"He told me I scored too high and if I were to continue into the Marine Corps, I would eventually become bored and get into trouble," House said. "I didn't know it at the time but I am glad I went on to challenge myself, and taking the nuclear program in the Navy certainly did that."

Enlisting in 1979, House had to finish 18 months of school before becoming certified as a nuclear engineer. The program has a 50% fail/drop-out rate and is one of the most complex work details when it comes to safety.

The program is promoted as "the most powerful energy source in the world needing the most powerful minds behind it," according to the Navy's website. When it comes to working on a ship, House said the Navy always had a fail-safe system in place.

"You have a guy doing something, you have a guy watching him, and then a guy watching that guy. Whatever you do, there is always a minimum of three people involved, especially with the reactor side," House said.

That doesn't mean there aren't close calls on the job when working with nuclear power.

Catastrophic to the entire ship, House explained there was a fire in the engine room while out at sea. A constant smell of burning oil was unable to be located until House and a sailor on his watch checked some pipe insulation. Immediately, the area burst into flames, turning the room pitch black with smoke.

"What happened was oil had soaked into pipe insulation. The ship then battens down, but we've got to put the fire out. It took us about 30-45 seconds to put it out completely, but it was the longest 30-45 seconds in my life," House said.

House was medically discharged in 1994, and later found work as a truck driver and then with a railroad company before retiring in 2020.

After his time in the Navy, House said it was difficult to work with a civilian team and chose to find jobs where he could work by himself or with one other person.

"When you are in the military, you build comradery with the people you serve with. You have to trust one another when you are doing your job and when they are doing theirs. It was difficult for me to relate to 20-30 guys I've never worked with before, so I chose to work by myself," House said.

Moving to Pollocksville in March 2020, House began playing with the idea of freeze-drying after speaking with his brother-in-law who started three years prior. Waiting until pandemic restrictions loosened up, House bought his first machine a year later.

Since May, House Family Homestead has been working around the clock to build inventory. House has five daughters and a son, and with his family spread throughout the country, he is able to garner their help in order to set up events such as Rhode Island Comic Con.

There were many times House was unable to see his family while serving. With most of his children having also served in the military, he is using the time now to share experiences and create memories.

"It is just like going back to having that comradery. We get to go out, engage with all types of people, travel to different parts of the country, see my kids, grandkids, and have a reason to do it," House said. "It is an easy way to interact with them and spend some family time.

Locally, House Family Homestead products can be found at Sweet Spot in Emerald Isle, Sweeter Things, and Front Street Grocery in Swansboro, and Maysville Tire and Services in Maysville.

House Family Homestead can also be found on Facebook.

Reporter Trevor Dunnell can be reached by email at tdunnell@newbernsj.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.

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