rugbrød nordic rye bread mix

SWIFT FOX - Rugbrød Mix

Why This Mascot: Swift foxes have been spotted in the prairie strips on Vilicus Farm in Havre, MT, where our Bee Better Certified rye grows. These strips provide crucial habitat for native wildlife.

Fun Facts:

  • Smallest wild dog in North America, weighing just 3-6 pounds
  • Can run up to 25 mph and leap 10 feet in a single bound
  • Nearly went extinct but conservation efforts brought them back to Montana
  • They are mostly nocturnal, avoiding predators by hunting at night
  • They share dens with badgers and prairie dogs — a rare example of interspecies cohabitation
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Biodiversity & Ecosystems

Farm Name: Villicus

Crop: Rye

The Vilicus Farms growing system is a blueprint for sustainability, creating a dramatic visual contrast to the surrounding chemical-fallow wheat monoculture. Our fields are designed with:

  • Cultivated Strips: 240-foot-wide strips for our crops.
  • Conservation Buffers: 20 to 30-foot-wide buffers separating the crop strips.
  • Purposeful Planting: In partnership with the Xerces Society, these buffers are planted with native wildflowers and grasses.

This strip-cropping system provides critical habitat for pollinators, reduces wind erosion, and secures additional moisture from winter snow.

Soil Health & Emissions

Perennial grains are champions at pulling carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil. This agricultural approach has a significant, measurable impact:

  • Negative Carbon Footprint: Our Kernza® and Salish wheats have negative carbon intensities, meaning they remove more greenhouse gases than they produce.
  • Impressive Sequestration: Just one acre of Kernza® in our blend sequesters carbon equivalent to taking 2 cars off the road each year and offsets the energy use of more than 1.5 homes.
  • Quantifiable Soil Gains: We expect a minimum of 616 kg of carbon per acre to be added back into the soil, enriching it for future growth.

Nutrient Density & Wellness

Healthier soil means healthier plants, which leads to more nutritious food. Perennial grains grown in regenerative systems are naturally more nutrient-dense.

  • What this means for your flour: The grains are able to absorb a wider array of vitamins and minerals from the thriving soil ecosystem. This often results in higher levels of protein, antioxidants, and essential micronutrients compared to conventional grains.

Instead of a flat, one-note taste, your flour develops aricher, nuttier, and more complex flavor profile. The improved soil health doesn't just grow a plant; it builds character and depth into the grain itself.