Our Story

‍ ‍For thousands of years, humans have done something absolutely amazing: we figured out how to feed entire villages and civilizations with large scale farming and agriculture. 

I have always been particularly fascinated by Egypt’s ability to thrive from farming practices. By 4000 BCE - grain was the foundation of Egyptian life.  It was so important that it was used as currency.  Workers building the pyramids were paid in grain, bread, and beer.  Egyptians paid their taxes with grain, paid their debts with grain, and deposited their grain in a grain bank.  Once power shifted to Rome, Egypt became the breadbasket of the Roman civilization; cultivating enough grain to feed not one civilization, but two.  

The ancient Egyptians were connected to their grain in such a meaningful and practical way. What if we could be more connected to our grain too?

My story begins when I looked into milling my own flour.  Even though I found local grain berries sold by a very reputable local mill off the internet, it felt intimidating to buy something I had no experience with.  The real nail in the coffin was the realization that a decent high quality grain mill costs anywhere from $400-$900.  

That's when I threw my hands up in the air and dramatically declared, 

 “Well never mind then!!!”  

Over the next few days I kept thinking about how weird and annoying it was that fresh, local grain could be grown all around us and still feel so inaccessible. 

Pikes Peak Grain Exchange was born the moment I decided to help bridge that gap.

I realized we needed Colorado grain, a high quality grain mill, and a booth set up right at the market. People could pick out what type of grain they wanted, then mill it for free right there on the spot. No intimidation, no huge expenses, & full transparency. We can know exactly how and where the grain is grown - choosing to support farmers who prioritize things like soil health and regenerative farming practices.

It’s not about tearing down the current food system. It’s about building a regional food system alongside it. Both can coexist - meeting different needs for different people and our society as a whole. I feel that it is a hopeful, sustainable step forward for our community, our farmers, and our planet.