Aldea recently began an initiative to visit our local partners and learn about their practices. It has become our priority to understand how to be green in our shop, and learn what others are doing at the forefront of sustainable living at home and work. So, we took a field trip to Laughing Tree Bakery, one of the first relationships we formed as Aldea Coffee.
We look to Laughing Tree Bakery as a role model for sustainable embodiment. Not only does the team at Laughing Tree incorporate renewable practices in how they cook and live their daily lives, but also in how owners, Charlie and Hilde Muller, interact as a family.
On this awe-inspiring field trip, we learned about healthy ingredients, Charlie’s brick oven, and solar energy. We learned the basics of brick oven baking and experienced their love, respect, and sincerity as guests and friends.
Our cafe’ in Grand Haven, offers: cherry, blueberry and ginger scones, Tree Huggers, Whandangdoodlers and Pecan Maple Oaties. These are some of the most sought after treats in the shop, especially when they are delivered fresh on Saturday mornings. Laughing Tree Bakery makes these delicious goodies fresh each week with amazing, purposeful ingredients.
Charlie and Hilde Muller.
Andrew and Jeremy first met Charlie and Hilde at the Muskegon Farmers’ Market in 2011, back when the market was located on Yuba Street, north of downtown. Charlie’s joyful spirit and intensity toward football initially drew us to trading our bagged coffee for Laughing Tree’s delicious pastries and bread.
Dough ready for the oven.
Laughing Tree Bakery uses simple ingredients such as leavened yeast, which is natural and easier to digest than traditional commercial yeast. These purposeful and locally sourced ingredients provide healthy, delicious, and sustainable products.
Ducks on the Muller Farm.
Many of the ingredients for popular bakery items may be found on the Laughing Tree homestead, including honey and eggs.
The bakery.
Located in Hart, MI the bakery and Muller home were hand built by Charlie.
Charlie and the brick oven.
Through even heating, the 15,000 pounds of hand-laid masonry accepts Charlie’s offering of whole grain dough, producing perfectly crusted pizza.
Power grids standing strong.
The farm’s multiple power grids soak up the last of the day’s sunlight before hibernating for the night. Both the bake house and the Muller home are fueled by solar energy, making it one of the only commercial kitchens in Michigan to operate entirely off the grid.
The table is set for guests.
Gracie the cat watches over the table prepared for us with plates soon to be filled with pizza fresh from the brick oven.
Aldea at Laughing Tree Bakery.
It has been an honor to work with Laughing Tree Bakery. Through Charlie and Hilde’s example of using fresh, local ingredients, and using solar power to fuel their home and brick oven, we experienced the feeling of quality and care, while consciously using natural resources.
The Treehugger cookie is a shop favorite.
Learn more about Laughing Tree Bakery by visiting their website or taking your own adventure to the Muskegon Farmers’ Market or Aldea Coffee. Consider supporting an amazing family and get healthier at home with their delicious, well-loved bread and bakery items.
