Meet Katie Burdett of Farmette

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Burdett

Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been farming and gardening organically for over 12 years in the Great Lakes Region, from rooftops in Chicago to acres of rolling grain fields in Michigan. I’m an environmentalist who cares deeply about small business and localized food systems. In 2024 I opened my first business, farmette, a small farm, marketplace, bakery + cafe in New Buffalo, Michigan.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not! Opening a new business is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done… and I thought farming was hard! From securing funding to construction, hiring, decision making and operations, there have been lots of new things to learn and many opportunities for growth along the way. One thing that I’ve learned during this process has been that difficult things will continue to happen, but how we react to it is all that matters.

As you know, we’re big fans of Farmette. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Farmette is a farm, marketplace, bakery and cafe in New Buffalo, Michigan. We are a one-stop sustainable shop featuring all the best stuff. We carry local produce, flowers, coffee, cheese, bread, wine, beer, prepared foods, home goods + more. We are a 100% woman-owned business located right along the shores of Lake Michigan. The new Marquette Greenway pedestrian trail was just installed in our front yard, so you can walk and bike to us from all over. We prioritize local, sustainable products and care deeply about supporting small businesses. Come in for a cup of farmer-direct coffee, sit outside by the farm and snag a loaf of our house-made sourdough bread for dinner.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We love our small beach town of New Buffalo! Filled with small, independent businesses, New Buffalo is also easily accessible from Chicago via the Amtrak train. You can visit the beach, hike the dunes and stroll the pedestrian areas for a relaxing getaway.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.farmettemichigan.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/farmettemichigan