Woodland Confectionary is an artisan candy business in Rogers City, MI. We make classic and unique confections using high quality ingredients that are local and sustainably-produced whenever possible, and never artificial. I feel passionately about the power of food, and also own a small farm with my husband called New Sun Farm. We focus on year round vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs that can be made into candy, and heritage breed, free-range pork and eggs.
My history with candy...
My name is Katherine Wilbur. I'm from Rockford, IL, but became a Michigander 9 years ago. My husband, two children, and I own a beautiful piece of forest and farm in Rogers City, MI. We started our farm, New Sun Farm, when our son was born and we now grow sustainably managed fruits and vegetables, free-range, pasture-raised heritage breed pork and eggs, and sell them direct to consumer at the Rogers City Farmers Market July-September, and at Woodland Confectionary October-April.
A big focus of ours at the farm is improving the soil and ecosystem through organic, regenerative, and permaculture practices. Another focus is growing products that can be turned into CANDY (ie. fruits, flowers, herbs, bacon). Here's why...
One of my first jobs as a teenager was at the Chicago-based candy store, Fannie May. There was one in between my house and my school, and I remember my mom taking me there as I grew up to get Grandpa his holiday box of chocolates, and us, a little treat. I adored that job. A lot of teenagers have retail jobs at places where the product is crappy, and likewise, the customers and employees are in a sort of crappy mood. That doesn’t happen in candy shops. I mean, how annoyed can you be when you’re surrounded by delicious confections? I worked there for about six years, until I had to move away to continue college. Luckily, the town I moved to had an even better candy store, where the candy was made in house, and what was even better? I got to help make it! Ah, the DeKalb Confectionary. There, I really fell in love with absolutely everything about an old-fashioned, handmade candy shop. Christmas through Mother’s Day was the busy (sometimes insane) season, with people lined up like a long licorice rope, back and forth, waiting to pick out their wives’ or mothers’ or grandpas’ favorite candy.
On Valentine’s Day, 2008, I was working at the shop after finishing class at Northern Illinois University. There was the typical hustle and bustle of a candy store on Valentine’s Day, when suddenly, an announcement came over the radio that there was a shooting happening at NIU. Customers started getting phone calls, everyone was confused and so worried for their friends and family who were at school there. It was horrible. After the shooting was over, people came into the candy store, numb, in disbelief, yearning for some sort of comfort and familiarity. Customers and employees hugged and cried together, and the healing started to peak out from the grief. I saw, firsthand, the power of a little shop in a little town where people go for no other reason than to get treats that make them happy.
I started Woodland Confectionary to bring that happiness to people living in and traveling through Northeast Michigan. I feel passionately about the power of food, and I believe that high quality and natural ingredients are the first steps towards great candies. That is why I never use artificial ingredients and also strive to use local and sustainably-produced ingredients in every batch of confections.
Right now, Lora Schwab, owner of the delectable Three Heart Bakery just north of Rogers City on US-23, is graciously allowing me to use the bakery's licensed kitchen and storefront to start my business. So until you hear otherwise, that's where you can find me during the candy months of October-May. The rest of the time you can find me outside growing the things to then use when autumn rolls around again.
A big focus of ours at the farm is improving the soil and ecosystem through organic, regenerative, and permaculture practices. Another focus is growing products that can be turned into CANDY (ie. fruits, flowers, herbs, bacon). Here's why...
One of my first jobs as a teenager was at the Chicago-based candy store, Fannie May. There was one in between my house and my school, and I remember my mom taking me there as I grew up to get Grandpa his holiday box of chocolates, and us, a little treat. I adored that job. A lot of teenagers have retail jobs at places where the product is crappy, and likewise, the customers and employees are in a sort of crappy mood. That doesn’t happen in candy shops. I mean, how annoyed can you be when you’re surrounded by delicious confections? I worked there for about six years, until I had to move away to continue college. Luckily, the town I moved to had an even better candy store, where the candy was made in house, and what was even better? I got to help make it! Ah, the DeKalb Confectionary. There, I really fell in love with absolutely everything about an old-fashioned, handmade candy shop. Christmas through Mother’s Day was the busy (sometimes insane) season, with people lined up like a long licorice rope, back and forth, waiting to pick out their wives’ or mothers’ or grandpas’ favorite candy.
On Valentine’s Day, 2008, I was working at the shop after finishing class at Northern Illinois University. There was the typical hustle and bustle of a candy store on Valentine’s Day, when suddenly, an announcement came over the radio that there was a shooting happening at NIU. Customers started getting phone calls, everyone was confused and so worried for their friends and family who were at school there. It was horrible. After the shooting was over, people came into the candy store, numb, in disbelief, yearning for some sort of comfort and familiarity. Customers and employees hugged and cried together, and the healing started to peak out from the grief. I saw, firsthand, the power of a little shop in a little town where people go for no other reason than to get treats that make them happy.
I started Woodland Confectionary to bring that happiness to people living in and traveling through Northeast Michigan. I feel passionately about the power of food, and I believe that high quality and natural ingredients are the first steps towards great candies. That is why I never use artificial ingredients and also strive to use local and sustainably-produced ingredients in every batch of confections.
Right now, Lora Schwab, owner of the delectable Three Heart Bakery just north of Rogers City on US-23, is graciously allowing me to use the bakery's licensed kitchen and storefront to start my business. So until you hear otherwise, that's where you can find me during the candy months of October-May. The rest of the time you can find me outside growing the things to then use when autumn rolls around again.
The Sweet Taste Up North, in the Alpena News, 11/30/19
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Click HERE.
Check out this blog from Michele Zee Photography about my candy!
Click HERE.
Click HERE.
