"I grew up here. I had no idea this existed."
That’s what Celeste, Operations Manager at the Bread Bakers Guild of America, shared after visiting our mill during this year’s Seed to Slice: Northeast field trip.
Even though Celeste spent most of her life in New England - growing up in Fox Point, a tight-knit Portuguese community in Providence, this was her first time ever stepping foot inside a working mill. And we were honored to welcome her and fellow Guild members to Ground Up for a day that celebrated the full journey from grain to bread.
Hosting Seed to Slice at Ground Up
We were proud to host this incredible event right here at our mill and bakery, located in a restored paper mill along the Connecticut River. Our goal was to create an experience that felt immersive, educational, and delicious and by all accounts, it was.
Here’s how the day unfolded:
Guests arrived in the morning to egg sandwiches and yogurt parfaits, lovingly prepared and served from our Grain Train food truck.
After breakfast, we led a full tour of our milling and baking facilities, sharing the story behind our flours and what it takes to run a small but mighty operation.
Then it was time to get hands-on inside the mill, guests made fresh pasta using our stone-milled flour. The pasta was served for lunch, and everyone had some to take home, too.
In the afternoon, we traveled to Thrall Family Farm for a behind-the-scenes look at local grain growing. There, guests toured the fields and watched a combine harvest in action.
Finally, we all returned to Ground Up to wind down with a cold local beer, good conversation, and a deep sense of connection.
“They’re doing a lot, from milling grains to baking to filling orders, with just a few people,” Celeste reflected.
“It reminded me how much small teams, like theirs and ours at the Guild, make big things happen.”
One of the most memorable parts of the day happened during a quiet moment at Thrall Farm. As the group waited for the combine, Celeste and a few bakers from New Bedford stood in the shade swapping stories about Portuguese sweet bread, grandmothers, and cherished bakeries. Andrea from our team overheard and joined in with her own memories.
“It was one of those perfect, spontaneous moments that reminds you of what the Guild is all about.” Celeste said.
Hosting Seed to Slice was more than an event, it was a reminder of the power of food to bring people together. We’re incredibly thankful to the Bread Bakers Guild of America for choosing Ground Up as a host site, and we’d love to do it again.
In fact, we’re actively looking for more opportunities to host educational gatherings, community events, and food-centric celebrations, and now, with our Grain Train food truck, we’re also equipped to cater your event right on or off-site.
Whether it’s a hands-on baking class, field trip, pop-up dinner, or farm tour finale, we’re ready to collaborate and make it memorable.
📩 Interested in hosting with us or booking the Grain Train?
Reach out to orders@groundupgrain.com
