Our Sourdough Story
Hi there! We are Natalie and Braeden Quast, and we know and understand food allergies. Between the two of us, we can’t have gluten, soy, garlic, or garden peppers. Most people’s reaction to that is, “Wow, that sucks.” While it does make eating out tricky (if not impossible at times), it’s only fostered our love for cooking and baking at home.
The gluten and soy free bread options at the grocery stores in the United States are horrible. Not only are they loaded with inflammatory oils, stabilizers, and sugar, but they also taste terrible and fall apart as soon as you take them out of the packaging. Have you ever tried a gluten free hot dog bun? Not good, period.
Inspired by the quality and taste of the gluten free bread we had on our honeymoon in Europe, we set off to create a better, healthier loaf of bread at home. It’s a labor of love, but we’re excited to share our sourdough with you, and we hope you love it as much as we do.
Our Farm
While both of us grew up in the Cleveland area (we actually even went to the same high school!), we ended up spending over a decade living on the East Coast. Braeden left to play hockey around New England before committing to play at Middlebury College in Vermont. Shortly after graduating, he moved down the East Coast to New York City to start his career. Meanwhile, I ventured off to Boston College (Go Eagles) and stayed in Boston for work after graduating.
We both independently made the decision that the rat race of the East Coast was fun for a while, but ultimately not for us. Braeden moved back to Cleveland first, followed by me a year or so later. We began to daydream about what it would be like to own some land, grow our own food, and commit to a slower, more natural pace of life. The dream kept snowballing, until finally, we took the leap and purchased a home with 5 acres of land and a barn.
Our first animal on the farm was a grumpy stray ginger tabby named Chester, followed a day later by two rescue goats named Abe and Buster. Abe came from a farm animal shelter in the area. In his previous life, Abe had suffered abuse and neglect, and distrusted humans in general. Buster was the runt of the litter, rejected by his mother, and riddled with health issues. Buster’s bold and determined spirit makes him the perfect sidekick to Abe’s reserved demeanor. Chester also settled in to domestic life on a farm and enjoys his days overseeing the chores, jumping in our laps for snuggles, and basking in the afternoon sun.
Our crew of misfits (as we lovingly call our animals) fill our days with so much joy, laughter, and reward. Creating a loving, safe home for them is something we are most proud of. In fact, our farm is named after our very first “farm animal.” Before we took Chester the Barn Cat home, we were warned that he was a difficult cat, especially with his affinity for swatting and biting. Chester has grown to trust us over time, and has become the most loving cat to anyone and everyone. Chesterfield Farm is an ode to how love, care, and patience can turn something deemed “difficult” into something beautiful.
Fixing up this small farm into what we want it to be is a lot of work. But, it’s good work. It’s fun work. Most importantly, it’s fulfilling work. We are so grateful to love our small farm back to life together, creating healthy soil, growing vibrant produce, and raising silly, happy animals. Thanks for joining us on this journey!
