On a Roll

Amelia and Andrew Madara are living a good life the simple way, with farm animals, homegrown vegetables and bread—lots of bread!

In 2017, Amelia and Andrew Madara bought a few acres close to Harborcreek and began rebuilding the house on the property.

“I think it’s important that we understand the ingredients going in our food, and for the community to learn how to make good food on their own. I don’t think it should be a secret. I’m really passionate about that.”

“Neither one of us had lived on a farm or knew anything about farming,” says Amelia. But they were fast learners, and within a few months had four chickens, six cows, and later added goats. And along the way, their family also grew with two children.

They offered many products grown on the farm, and canning and preserving their own food became a passion. But quickly, bread overtook everything else!

“The bread has taken on a life of its own,” explains Amelia, who is a self-taught baker. “I watched videos of people making bread. In 2020 I found a starter for sourdough bread, which I still have today.” She admits the first batch was awful, but Andrew encouraged her.

“Once I started enjoying the process, I learned how to add different ingredients and flavorings, such as pepperonis and jalapenos. Every time I bake, I learn something new to fine-tune my skills.”

Eventually Amelia learned to make wonderful designs and patterns in the bread to add that artisanal touch. She began selling it and quickly had requests from several local groceries and bakeries. She also has been approached by stores in New York and farther afield, but her children are small (4 years old, and 18 months), so she wants to spend as much time with them as possible. She adjusts her schedule to be available during their waking hours, which means getting up at 4 a.m. to make the bread.

For now, Amelia bakes all the bread herself. One of her friends asked about taking lessons, so Amelia began offering them once a month. However, none have asked about a job.

“To be honest, probably 50 to 75 percent of the people who come to the classes never try it on their own, because it’s quite involved,” says Amelia. “But they still get to see the process for making bread that’s good, without all the chemicals.” Amazingly, her bread contains just three ingredients: high-quality heritage flour, water and salt!

“I think it’s important that we understand the ingredients going in our food, and for the community to learn how to make good food on their own. I don’t think it should be a secret. I’m really passionate about that.”

Andrew, who is a military veteran, currently works for a major communications company full time, and puts in lots of extra hours at the farm. He hopes to also offer classes some day on what he’s learned. Amelia has a degree in fashion merchandising from Mercyhurst, and worked for 10 years in bridal, retail, and banking. Starting a farm was quite a departure for the couple, and they had plenty of people doubting their judgment.

“We are first-generation farmers. You don’t have to own a bunch of land to take responsibility of your food or to live a more sustainable life. You just have to make a start and try. Even when people try to tell you that you’re crazy, just listen to your heart.”

For more, follow Madara Farms on Facebook at facebook.com/madarafarms.