Meet Our Farm Partner: Oechsner Farms

From Seed to Bread

The grain used to bake our breads has an important link to the health of both people and planet. Organic and regenerative agriculture positively impacts the resilience of the land, the health of the farmworkers that raise these crops, as well as the ultimate healthfulness of the slice of bread in your hand.

Meet Thor

Meet Thor Oechsner, a grower who helped found the organic stonemill Farmer Ground Flour (FGF) in Trumansburg, NY. We purchase some of our organic whole wheat through FGF, along with organic rye and buckwheat, that we blend into our breads.

Oechsner Farms

Thor owns and runs Oechsner Farms, where he and his team grow a variety of organic grains milled by FGF. Thor dreamed of being a farmer since childhood, when he visited his uncle’s dairy farm in rural Pennsylvania. In 1991 he bought the beginnings of Oechsner Farms. Now, the team farms grain organically over 1200 acres in central New York - mostly to be eaten by people (as opposed to animal feed, or byproducts like ethanol).

Tending the Soil

At Oechsner, they believe soil is their primary crop. That means focusing on building the health of their soil through crop rotations. By introducing different crops to a field, the soil can take a break from the specific nutrient needs of any one type of plant. Certain crops even serve as soil rehabilitators, like legumes. The biodiversity of rotation also reduces pest pressures that a monocrop creates over time. Organic growers like Thor prioritize soil and ecosystem health so they don’t have to use synthetic inputs like commercial fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides or genetically modified seed.

Going Above & Beyond

Currently, Thor is pursuing the Regenerative Organic Certification, which credits farmers who go above and beyond the USDA Organic certification. Regenerative agriculture is a growing practice where farmers aim to mimic nature as much as possible to create systems that are replenishing rather than extractive. Some of the work Thor and team do to care for their land includes longer, more diverse crop rotations, limited tillage and cover cropping which helps build resiliency and soil health.

Good Bread Starts at the Farm

We’re proud at Bread Alone to support farmers like Thor, who are stewards of the land and work every day to do the right thing for their people, communities and the planet. Next time you take a bite of our organic toast, you can remember that it’s not just tasty, it’s doing its best for planet earth, too.