Our Story

Growing up in central Indiana, my mom had a tradition of planting a garden every year. When harvest season came, she’d gather the vegetables and preserve them by canning, along with making fruit jams. It was a ritual she’d learned from her grandmother, who was an enthusiastic gardener herself.

One summer, my aunt had an abundance of black raspberries ripening on her property. She was out of town and wouldn’t be back in time to pick them, so my mom and I spent an afternoon navigating the thorny branches, picking enough to fill a couple of buckets. We brought our haul back to my mom’s house, where she taught me the art of making jam. We had so much fun that we began experimenting with different fruit combinations.

Though local fruit was usually the focus, one day we decided to try something a bit more exotic: Kiwi Pineapple Jam. We jarred it up and shared it with friends and family, and it was an instant hit. People started asking if they could buy more, and that’s when I began thinking about turning our hobby into something bigger. At the time, I was working as a pastry assistant for a large catering company, but I was eager to start a side project. My mom and I kept experimenting, leading us to our second creation: Strawberry Balsamic Jam.

We loved exploring unique flavor combinations, like Hibiscus Jelly (inspired by my husband’s fondness for Hibiscus Tea), Blueberry Rhubarb, and Banana Butter (which has the smooth consistency of apple butter but the comforting flavor of banana bread).

In 2012, my husband, Toby, and I began selling jams and jellies at Indiana farmers markets and to local retailers, a venture that continued for 12 years. In November 2024, our family made the move to Oregon, where we continue to handcraft our products in small batches, ensuring each jar is made with the same care and attention to detail.

We’re thrilled to share our Indiana-born, Oregon-made creations with you through our online shop.

With gratitude,

Melanie