our farmers/makers
JANIE’S FARM and MILL - ASHKUM, IL
Harold and his team have been farming organically since 2001. They opened their mill in 2017 and have since been supplying the Great Lakes region with their high quality, organic, stone ground grains. Janie’s Farm has a deep commitment to stewarding the land through diverse crop rotations and organic practices which prevent soil erosion, supports a healthy water cycle, draws down carbon, and grows super nutritious food. Jill and the team over at Janie’s Mill are incredibly talented, skilled artisans with a passion to preserve the integrity of the grains they so beautifully turn into flour for nearby bakeries. Janie’s Farm and Mill employ around 30 people which has a huge impact in strengthening their rural community and so too their community’s connection with ours.
Meadowlark Farm and Mill - ridgeway, wi
John and Halee, under the mentorship of the late Paul Bickford, organically farm and stone mill a wide rotation of crops. Their commitment to organic, diverse agriculture regenerates the land while providing high quality and delicious foods for their community. Their values and remarkable practices as farmers in the Great Lakes Region make them an obvious fit for Bird Dog, even if we have to bring their grain in from a little farther afield. We are all part of the same water table and thus supporting Meadowlark is a great opportunity that we cherish. We are particularly stoked about their “population wheat” which blends, together in one field, many different species of wheat - making the grain more resilient to pests, disease, and a changing climate, while resulting in a super tasty and robust flour.
westwind milling - swartz creek, MI
Lee and Linda are genuine unsung heroes. It is not easy to run a small scale mill in today’s world and Michigan is truly lucky to have them. They are milling up some of the most nutritious and most flavorful grain we have ever had. Not only that, they source directly from organic farmers in Michigan, making sure our farmers get paid fairly for their superior crops and ensuring those acres can remain under organic production - all helping to keep our soils healthy and our waterways clear of chemical runoff. They host many events at their picturesque farm that are fun for the whole family and are open for pick up orders on the weekends. Truly a lovely couple making the world a better place and we are thrilled to be able to work with them and share their craft with our community.
GRANOR FARM - three oaks, MI
Granor Farm is an absolutely gorgeous, diversified, organic farm nestled on Michigan’s southern west coast. They grow over 100 different varieties of vegetables, flowers, and grains and host beautiful farm dinners and events. Wes’s grain program is praised all over Michigan, from bakers, to distillers, to local tortillarias and his advocacy work in strengthening our regional grain shed is truly inspiring. Granor’s farming practices are all geared toward taking care of the environment and keeping heirloom varieties alive and well. Their farm store and CSA provide their community with amazing produce while their summer camp offers a chance for kids to learn on the farm and reconnect with nature, rounding out Granor’s commitment to foster community through good honest food and great company.
LOCAL FARMS include -
We use local produce as much as possible in our pastries and specialty breads. We aim to support farms who share our commitment to care for the environment. Some of our farms include Green Things Farm, Raindance Organics, We The People Opportunity Farm, Two Tracks Acres, Tantre, Renegade Acres, Nightshade Farm, and many many more!
photo credit to the lovely and talented Kristen of Raindance Farm
calder dairy - carelton, MI
We have all heard about the shortcomings of the dairy industry. That is why it was so important for us at Bird Dog to work with a dairy who we knew held the treatment of their herd as their number one priority. Lucky for us, Calder Dairy is just a half hour away! All of the dairy we use in our pastries comes from the fine folks over at Calder who have been at it since 1946! Their cows are treated with the upmost respect. The ladies are free to roam in the fields and are fed on grasses and hay grown right on the farm. Their staff is the absolute best and their farm is open to visitors year round.
grazing feilds eggs- charlotte, MI
Humane animal treatment is a must when we source for our baked goods. Grazing Feilds is a cooperative of small local farms with a commitment to the humane treatment of their flocks - in fact, their certified humane. This certification goes beyond free-range. Their farmers ensure that every chicken gets to behave as a natural chicken would, with the ability to run free, stretch out, forage, and scratch around like nature intended. This cooperative model strengthens their farmer’s viability by ensuring access to markets for their eggs, supporting farmers who hold impeccable standards and unwavering commitment to their animal’s well being. Plus, they’re darn tasty.
washtenaw meats - dexter, MI
Washtenaw Meats is essentially a butcher shop collectively owned and operated by livestock producers in SE Michigan with humane and ethical practices . They partner with 10+ small, local farms and ranches in order to reinvigorate the small livestock system and access to locally grown meats. By collaborating, they strengthen our farmers and processors while bringing high quality, nutritious, safe, and humanely raised meat products to market. Bird Dog is proud to support our local farmers and food system as well as our commitment to humanely raised meats whenever possible. Currently, this includes the bacon on our egg-sandos and the pepperoni on our soon to come pizza nights! Check them out to order delicious, ethical meats for your table!
droscha sugarbush - Mason, MI
We thought we knew maple syrup…we were oh so wrong. The Droscha family has been tapping maples for over 100 years and they still use a roaring hardwood fire to fuel their evaporator. You can definitely taste the smokey wood-fired notes in the syrup which adds depth to our cherry-maple sourdough as well as our pastries. The Droschas have a strong commitment to sustainable management of their maple groves to ensure they are around for at least another 100 years. We were lucky enough to get a tour from Apryl and it is a magical place indeed.
Mindo Chocolate Makers - Dexter, MI
Amazing chocolate from incredibly talented artisans right here in our region. They source their beans from Mindo, Ecuador and hand craft their chocolate in Ann Arbor, MI. Their beans are organically-grown and direct trade from a single cooperative of farmers who they work closely with to help support in improving the growing, fermenting and drying processes. Honestly, our cookies wouldn’t be the same without them :)
new communities - Albany, Ga
If you’ve been with us for the past couple years, you know we love to bring in pecans from New Communities every winter. These amazingly, outrageously delicious pecans truly make our pastries shine and while they aren’t local, supporting the mission behind them is an obvious choice for us.
New Communities was founded in 1969 in Georgia, as the first community land trust in the United States. Run by Black growers, this 6,000 acre land trust was the largest Black-owned and operated parcel of land in the entire country. After disastrous droughts coupled with systemic discrimination, the farm was forced to forclose. It was only through tireless legal battles over this injustice that they were able to purchase the land which the farm sits on today - land that once belonged to the largest enslaver in Georgia. New Communities is led by Shirley Sherrod and a visionary staff and board, who have created a center for social justice and racial healing for Black farmers in Southern Georgia. Shirley has spent more than fifty years as a civil rights activist for Black farmers, working to help rural, underserved farmers in Georgia overcome inequalities that have persisted for generations. All pecan sales support this visionary development project to improve production and quality, and increase the acreage of neighboring African American pecan growers.
If you’d love to bake with (or snack on) the best pecans you’ll ever try, head to Red Tomato Produce to order.