Hood River's Local Bread Dream Needs You

About Us

Bran & Ash is the dream project of Casey Hardi and Zoe Mitchell—a micro-bakery born from their shared passion for good, clean, and fair food. Located in downtown Hood River, Oregon, the bakery aims to provide the community with high-quality, handmade bread that Casey and Zoe are proud to bake and share.

Casey has been baking since he was 16 and has worked at some of the most respected bakeries in both Europe and the U.S., including Della Fattoria and Columbia City Bakery. With a degree in business, he combines his love for baking with the skills needed to run a sustainable and thriving business. Zoe, who holds a degree in food science, shares Casey's passion for better food systems. The two met while discovering the joy of baking bread together and quickly realized that this shared passion was the foundation for something more. Their dream is to create a space that not only serves amazing bread but also fosters a stronger, more connected community through food.

At Bran & Ash, the team embraces the "slow food" mentality, focusing on small-batch production, local sourcing, and sustainability. They work closely with farmers and mills to ensure all ingredients are fresh, seasonal, and ethically sourced. Their philosophy is simple: create bread with integrity, that honors the environment and delivers a product that is fair and delicious.

What They Do

Bran & Ash creates handmade, artisan bread, baked with care and commitment. The focus is on quality over quantity, which is why the bakery produces small batches of bread using traditional methods. Whether it’s a crunchy, golden baguette or a hearty, flavorful sourdough, each loaf is carefully crafted to deliver the best possible taste and texture.

Bran & Ash is not just a bakery—it’s a community hub. The space will offer a welcoming atmosphere where customers can grab a loaf of freshly baked bread on the way to work or simply pop in to witness the bread-making process in the open kitchen. It’s a place to support local food, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the art of baking in its purest form.

With the new space, Bran & Ash aims to create more than just a place to buy bread—they want to be a home for the community. The bakery will host events, offer baking classes, and expand its wholesale operation, supplying the entire Columbia River Gorge with quality, locally made bread. All produce is purchased from nearby farmers, making it easier to support the local economy.

What They’re Asking For

Bran & Ash is launching this GoFundMe to help fund the final steps of opening its brick-and-mortar bakery. The heart of the bakery will be the oven, and Casey and Zoe are asking for support to help raise $25,000 for the purchase of a deck oven. This oven is essential to creating the perfect crust and texture in their loaves, and it will serve as the centerpiece of the operation. By supporting this oven, backers are literally helping to bake the bread that will nourish the community—and there’s no better way to strengthen that bond.

Although they are utilizing a variety of funding sources, Casey and Zoe believe in the power of crowdfunding because it brings the community into the process. Every contribution helps ensure that Bran & Ash can open its doors with everything needed to provide the best possible bread for Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge.

Where the Money Will Go

The funds raised will go directly toward purchasing the deck oven and other essential equipment to help scale production while maintaining the high quality Bran & Ash is known for. With support from the community, the team will be able to bring in the tools they need to continue baking bread the right way—while also providing a welcoming space for all.

Rewards

Flour Power — $25–$49

Small but mighty.

Reward: digital recipe card & your name on our website’s Wall of Gratitude

Bread Head — $50–$99

You’re thinking with your crust.

Reward: Bran & Ash sticker, digital recipe card, your name on our Wall of Gratitude

Dough Nation — $100–$249

You’re rising to the occasion.

Reward: Handwritten thank-you note, 1 Large Loaf Token (good for any sourdough loaf) + all previous rewards

Loaf Legend — $250–$499

A legendary rise.

Reward: OG Bran & Ash T-shirt, invite to our private soft opening + all previous rewards

Crust Fund Champion — $500–$999

You believe in the crust—and we knead you.

Reward: Limited-edition single run Bran & Ash T-shirt, a spot in our group baking class (take home bread and recipes) + all previous rewards

The Whole Grain — $1,000–$2,499

You’re the whole package.

Reward: 3-month Bread Cvlt subscription (your choice of tier), Framed bakery art print + all previous rewards

The Breadwinner’s Circle — $2,500–$4,999

You helped us build this from the crust up.

Reward: upgraded 6-month Bread Cvlt subscription, private baking class for you and 5 friends (take home bread, tools, and recipes) + all previous rewards

Patron Saint of Bread — $5,000+

Your generosity is borderline divine.

Reward: Custom bread or pastry created just for you and featured for a week, your name engraved on our bakery founders plaque, framed photo with the first loaf baked in our new space + all previous rewards

Claim your reward here!

Milestones & Stretch Goals

Bran & Ash has set some exciting milestones to celebrate the success of this GoFundMe campaign. If the original goal is exceeded, special rewards will be unlocked for backers!

Stretch Goal: $40,000 – Unlock a community bread-making event.

An additional $15,000 will allow for the purchase of vital equipment such as a sheeter (for making laminated pastry) and a dutchess press (for dividing buns). As a thank you, Bran & Ash will host an interactive, hands-on bread-baking workshop where participants can learn new skills, meet other community members, and enjoy a fresh loaf to take home.

Final Thoughts

This is more than just a GoFundMe campaign—it’s a chance to be part of something bigger. Bran & Ash is a community-focused bakery with a mission to create bread that people can trust, enjoy, and share. The goal is to bring people together over a loaf of bread, and with the community’s support, this dream can become a reality.

By supporting this project, backers are not just investing in a bakery—they’re investing in a better food system, one that values quality, sustainability, and community. Bran & Ash aims to create a space where people can not only get amazing bread but also feel connected to the food they eat and the people who make it. Thank you for helping build something meaningful for the Hood River community. Casey and Zoe can’t wait to bake for you!

Funding Goal: $25,000 – for deck oven & other equipment

Stretch Goal: $40,000 – for a sheeter & dutchess press (unlock: Community bread-making event)

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