Who are we?
Wild Cultures is a bakery that specializes in naturally leavened products. Our bread and pastries are leavened by a community of wild yeasts and probiotic organisms. These probiotic organisms produce lactic acid, which preserves freshness, inhibits mold, promotes digestibility, and develops unique flavors such as the sourness that lead to these products being referred to as “sourdough”.
Our mission is to promote real, clean food, and make it more accessible to the people in our community, starting with the most basic and ubiquitous form of sustenance, bread. In the same way a small community of microorganisms can completely alter the characteristics of a large amount of flour and water, we hope that our “wild culture” can affect a shift toward a healthier community that values real food, local producers, and real connections with each other.
Family Owned in the heart of Hernando
Dan and Brooke Beach met and were married in Georgia in 2009. Dan served in the Navy for 8 years, moving across the country several times until finally settling in Hernando in 2018. Along with their 4 children, they live on a small, family farm that focuses on soil health and sustainability. Their passion for sharing flavorful, nutrient dense food with friends and family ultimately led to selling fresh produce and sourdough bread at the Hernando Farmer’s Market. Dan was working as a maintenance technician at a steel mill in Memphis when he broke his leg in 2021. Finding himself confined to his recliner, he began a deeper study of quality grains, baking traditions, and the benefits of fermented foods. Once he was back on his feet, he began refining his process and training up his friend Josh to join him on his adventure. After about a year of selling at the Hernando Farmer’s Market as Big Acres Farm, Dan and Josh quit their jobs and created Wild Cultures Sourdough Bakery, a family run business dedicated to serving their community.
Josh and Kim Lawrence grew up in DeSoto County. They were high school sweet hearts who married in 2015. The Lawrences first met the Beaches in 2018 at the chuch they were attending at the time. The families bacame close friends. Josh began helping Dan prepare the bread on his off day in 2022. Josh was working for another local, small business (you may know him as the rug guy). When Brooke and Dan decided to open a store front, the two made the decision to go full time for the bakery. Kim is a stay at home, homeschooling mom to their 3 children. She has been handling the social media, website, and graphic design elements. The Lawrences are passionate about helping and loving people. They are excited to use that passion through Wild Cultures!
Josh and Ashley Ponton grew up in Desoto County, met through a shared love of music in 2011, and married in 2013. Josh has been a hobby baker for years, and is so excited to join the team and do something he loves. He was balancing 2 jobs, but recently made the decision to commit to the bakery full time. Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in education and spent several years teaching various grades, but now homeschools their 2 children and teaches at a cottage school. She is also working the Farmer's Market booth on Saturdays. The Pontons are thrilled about being a part of Wild Cultures!