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Meet the Minnesota Makers

@meettheminnesotamakers

meettheminnesotamakers

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Did you know that about 40% of small businesses ar Did you know that about 40% of small businesses are owned by women?    Celebrate the women in your life with a thoughtful gift from the @meettheminnesotamakers gift guide! The gift guide is packed with well over 100 local makers, with the majority of these small businesses being woman owned. Choose among experience gifts, activities, farm goods, gifts to share, and gifts for her to enjoy all by herself. The Meet the Minnesota Makers “Shop Minnesota” gift guide is ready with fresh updates from our curated list of Minnesota small businesses. Not only will you make your mom, grandma, godmother, aunt, sister, niece, daughter, and all the special women in your life feel loved, you’ll also give a local small business owner a reason to do a happy dance. Find the full guide at meettheminnesotamakers.com. Our search menu lets you explore by item or by the type of business you want to support. Share the news with a friend. Drop a hint for a loved one. Save a list of your favorite makers on our website to customize a gift list. Newsletter subscribers — don’t forget about your discount codes from the last two newsletters. Follow along @meettheminnesotamakers for more local suggestions for Mother’s Day and all year long.
Pine River Bakery is a cozy oasis that beckons you Pine River Bakery is a cozy oasis that beckons you to imagine your dessert possibilities with inviting glass cases filled with breads, cookies and donuts of every shape shape and size. The air is rich with a delectable combination of yeasty warmth and house made soups. Whether for special occasions or a quick weekday lunch, Pine River Bakery has you covered. Lunch specials change every month. There’s biscuits with gravy on Saturdays. Two soups—one rotating and always their signature chicken wild rice—and fresh made deli sandwiches are always available. Kristy’s favorite part of owning the bakery is knowing that she brings joy to the community. Their unofficial motto is “happy donuts.” How can anyone possibly be cranky while sitting down with a fresh treat made on site? Our family tried six sweet treats: the raspberry Bismarck, key lime Bismarck, Homer donut, salted nut roll donut, the sawdust, and the fried croissant. The mix of sweet and salty elements on the sawdust and salted nut roll donuts are especially yummy. The fried croissant is rich with buttery goodness. The filled donuts have bright flavors that are true to their fruit. The pillowy yeast exteriors yield to gentle pressure for a delicious bite or breaking off a piece to share. The Homer donut was my youngest kiddo’s favorite. It’s a classic balance of the ideal yeast donut with a bright pink frosting with sprinkles. We took a quarts of Italian wedding and Chicken wild rice soup home for dinner. Both soups boasted rich broths and were packed with meat and veggies. The love of food and a desire to share their family’s reputation of being a good cook came through with every Pine River Bakery bite.  Pine River Bakery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 6am-2pm. Make a stop a part of your next trip to the Brainerd Lakes Area. Keep up with their current specials through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Pine.River.Bakery Thank you to @heaths_resort for introducing me to Pine River Bakery! Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com
It’s May! Celebrating the start of Minnesota sp It’s May! Celebrating the start of Minnesota spring with four fabulous small businesses on Minnesota Live TV was a great way to start the month. We celebrated gardens and flowers. Planting them yourself or enjoying flowers that others have grown are all fair game with this bunch. Highlighted products: Wool mulch and wooly pellets from Get Bentz Farm—a natural way to feed your plants, control water absorption, and aerate the soil. These byproducts from making Badgerface Fiber locally- sourced yarn will make your plants happy and all but guarantee that your garden will thrive and grow. Plant sale and gardening classes with Brakstad Family Farm. We shared the pots that our family planted a month ago in the Brakstad Farm greenhouse. Their classes in partnership with Pequot Lakes Community Education are one of many ways the farm connects with their community. Plant sale coming May 10! Acrylic and watercolor botanical paintings from Lime Street Creative + Co. Jamie Rae Miller is a master gardener and artist. Her paintings are small bites of the natural world. Jamie will soon offer classes through the Plymouth Community Center. Her originals are available also as prints, cards, and stickers. Floral goat milk soaps to keep your skin soft and clean from Preserving My Sanity. We also shared her bug deterrent lotion bar that’s packed with herbs that bugs don’t like. A member of Minnesota Grown, Darcy uses goat milk and beeswax from Minnesota farms in her products. Thank you to the Minnesota Live team for giving us space to share our stories. Watch the full segment at https://kstp.com/special-coverage/minnesota-live/meet-the-minnesota-makers-2/ Find these makers, and many more, at meettheminnesotamakers.com
Brakstad Family Farm’s ecosystem thrives with st Brakstad Family Farm’s ecosystem thrives with stately Red Poll cattle grazing on pastures. Beillah, the 2024 bottle calf, intends to welcome all visitors, assuming that she is the real reason they’ve come to the farm. Macy, the farm dog who doubles as a cucumber thief, and a trio of farm cats round out the welcoming committee who monitor the many comings and goings of the farm. Robyn and Lance Bragstad along with their daughter Stephanie Kirkham love sharing their farm with the community. This takes the form of supplying fresh, nutrient-dense produce and grass fed beef that nourishes their customers. All of their beef, typically sold in quarter and half shares, is processed locally. This nourishment reaches people through CSA subscriptions, on site farm store visitors or through the food shelves, grocery stores and farmers markets. “Our business really did start as a simple hobby,” shares Robyn. “This was something we could enjoy together as a pastime. As it grew, we realized that there is a great need for local produce. This led to us growing produce including our hydroponic lettuce to supply the local food shelves as well as being present at farmers markets and three local grocery stores.” During their off season, Lance and Robyn volunteer at the food shelves where they share their products as a part of the Farm 2 Food Shelf program. “It’s a rewarding and eye-opening experience,” explains Robyn. “It’s so powerful to meet the people you help feed with food you grow yourself. Their community involvement also takes the form of classes that highlight the fun and magic of growing food. The family organizes classes in partnership with Pequot Lakes Community Education to make planting approachable for all levels of gardeners. Visit the farm on Saturday, May 10 for their annual plant sale. There will be products from many vendors to kick off the growing season. Planning to visit the Brainerd Lakes Area? Make a stop @brakstad_family_farm part of your getaway to stock your refrigerator or enjoy a class. Visit https://www.brakstadfamilyfarm.com for events. Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com. Thank you to @heaths_resort for introducing us!
🚙 Guess where we went? Meet the Minnesota Mak 🚙 Guess where we went? Meet the Minnesota Makers made its first trip to the Brainerd Lakes Area. Hosted by Erica and Ken Meitz, the new owners of @heaths_resort , we explored this popular area during a slower season.   Heath’s Resort has welcomed guests since 1938. Cabins range from cozy lakeside vistas to reunion houses on top of the hill. Every path leads to the lake. With the ice thinning, we skipped rocks, cracked shore ice in rain boots, and climbed on rocks. 🍽️ What did we eat? Many restaurants are open year round. We enjoyed short waits at even the most popular spots. @mntradersco in Pequot Lakes carries local products in store and in their menu. Margherita flatbread, fresh pastries, full coffee service, and suspended chairs had something for everyone. Our youngest loved the Char-kid-erie board. Pine River Bakery is a delicious spot. They offer a stunning array of donuts; we highly recommend the sawdust, the Homer and the salted nut roll. Daily hot lunch specials and soups are available to enjoy in bakery or on an excursion. We enjoyed a pizza lunch at @raffertys.pizza and a vacation farewell meal topped off with French Silk Pie at @apinerestaurant . (Did you know that their kid meals include an ice cream sandwich?) 🌲What did we do? Spring is a wonderful time of year to explore the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway. Stops include woodsy paths, boardwalk vistas, mild climbs, and new ways to interact with the area’s lakes. Our visit to @brakstad_family_farm was a highlight. This former dairy farm now raises grass fed beef and a produce CSA. The farm offers community events to teach people of all ages to grow and care for their own food. 🏡 Where we stayed Heath’s Resort is the kind of place that makes Minnesota special. Talking about why they bought the resort, Erica and Ken smiled when they shared their guests’ stories. Being a part of people’s treasured memories awes them every season. Donut Tuesdays, boat rentals, nighttime beach clean ups, boating to dinner, walks in the woods, puzzles, games, and enjoying the porch of any of the 16 unique cabins, Heath’s welcomes old friends and new explorers.
Mom wants you to shop locally this year. The Mee Mom wants you to shop locally this year. The Meet the Minnesota Makers “Shop Minnesota” gift guide is ready with fresh updates from our curated list of Minnesota small businesses. Swipe through for a preview of fresh local finds for spring. Choose among experience gifts, yummy treats, little luxuries, and the wonders of spring. Not only will you make your mom, grandma, godmother, aunt, sister, niece, daughter, and all the special women in your life feel loved, you’ll also give a local small business owner a reason to do a happy dance. Explore the full guide at meettheminnesotamakers.com. Search by category or the type of business you want to support. Share the news with a friend. Drop a hint for a loved one. Save a list of your favorite makers on our website to customize a gift list. Newsletter subscribers have access to exclusive discount codes for these Mother’s Day treats. Sign up at meettheminnesotamakers.com or comment gift guide below and we’ll add you to the list. Which of these local items is at the top of your list? Follow along @meettheminnesotamakers for more local suggestions for Mother’s Day and all year long.
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