From Barn Dinners to Farmers Markets: A New Chapter for Bray Gardens

Rooted in Good Food: Welcome to Bray Gardens

Welcome to the new online home of Bray Gardens.

We started small — just an Etsy shop selling Bokashi made from spent grains we picked up from a local brewery. It was creative, it recycled waste, and it helped feed the soil. But like most good farm stories, ours has evolved with time, feedback (including neighbors who gently let us know Bokashi can be… pungent!), and a steady curiosity to try new things.

When we set Bokashi aside, we began gathering apple branches from local arborists for our rabbits — and decided to list those online, too. That small shift sparked something bigger. As we spent more time around the gardens and animals, the joy of growing food ourselves started to take root — not just as a hobby, but as a way to be resourceful, to seek higher-quality nourishment, and to share that food with the farm family who helps turn our ideas into reality. It was through this process that our small shop naturally grew into a small farm.

Today, Bray Gardens is rooted in Cottage Grove, Oregon, focusing on perennial crops like fruit and herbs alongside staple roots and spices like garlic, potatoes, and peppers. Our approach isn’t perfect — it’s a lot of trial and error — but each season teaches us more about being better stewards of the soil and learning how to grow in ways that work with nature, not against it.

What we grow ends up in everything from barn dinners after long days in the field to jars of black garlic salt, smoked paprika, and fermented hot sauces that never seem to last long at market. Garlic has quickly become one of our favorite crops to grow and share — a simple ingredient that transforms meals all winter long.

We wouldn’t be here without the help of our “farm dad,” who generously shares space and guidance, and a lot of time making this work possible. Together we’ve created a small farm that feels personal, connected, and ever-evolving — shaped by curiosity, community, and a love for good food.

A New Chapter

This website is the next step in that journey. It’s a place to share what we’re growing now, what’s coming soon (think black garlic salt, spice blends, salves, oil infusions, and more), and to stay connected beyond the farmers market.

Whether you’re local to Cottage Grove or following along from afar, we hope this space feels like a warm welcome to our little farm and what we’re building here.

Stay Connected

• Explore our products here on the site

• Follow us on social media for market updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses

• Check back often for new seasonal items, recipes, and farm notes

Thanks for being here — we can’t wait to share what’s next.