The Crafted Orchard & More

“I grew up with a crafty mother,” Litchy said. “She’d make doll furniture out of cardboard and made all kinds of creative things for me. I picked up that gene from her.”

With The Crafted Orchard & More, Litchy is crafting an experience rooted in nature, learning and family fun.

That vision emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Litchy reconsidered what she wanted for the next chapter of her life. After spending more than two decades as an IT and data analytics specialist for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, the business investment arm of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, the idea of owning an orchard began to take hold.

Apple growing also carried a personal connection.

“I grew up in North Dakota around apple trees,” Litchy said. “My mom would use every apple, making applesauce, apple pies, apple everything.”

In 2022, Litchy and her husband, Trever, purchased a 35-acre property south of Brainerd and began transforming it into The Crafted Orchard & More.

While Litchy is a certified master gardener with no shortage of creative ideas, she wanted help turning those ideas into a sustainable business. To do that, she enrolled in the Initiative Foundation’s Enterprise Academy, a 12-week program designed to help underserved entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.

The program helped her navigate business planning, finances, legal considerations and organizational structure while providing a support network of instructors and fellow entrepreneurs.

As she developed her plans, Litchy worked with Akiptan, a CDFI and Initiative Foundation partner that provides financing to Native producers, on a loan to build her storage barn and retail space. She also learned how to tell her story.

Most of her marketing happens on social media, particularly Facebook (@thecraftedorchard), where she shares updates on the orchard’s progress, new projects and future plans.

“I’ve been sharing my journey,” she said. “I get a lot of positive feedback.”

While Litchy is a certified master gardener with no shortage of creative ideas, she wanted help turning those ideas into a sustainable business. To do that, she enrolled in the Initiative Foundation’s Enterprise Academy, a 12-week program designed to help underserved entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.

The program helped her navigate business planning, finances, legal considerations and organizational structure while providing a support network of instructors and fellow entrepreneurs.

As she developed her plans, Litchy worked with Akiptan, a CDFI and Initiative Foundation partner that provides financing to Native producers, on a loan to build her storage barn and retail space. She also learned how to tell her story.

Most of her marketing happens on social media, particularly Facebook (@thecraftedorchard), where she shares updates on the orchard’s progress, new projects and future plans.

“I’ve been sharing my journey,” she said. “I get a lot of positive feedback.”

That journey is still unfolding.

The Crafted Orchard’s apple trees are only one part of a larger vision. Litchy hopes to offer classes focused on crafts and creative projects using natural materials. She’s also developing a corn maze and is exploring plans for a corn pit, farm-themed play area and other attractions designed to encourage outdoor exploration.

Flower production is another area of growth. Litchy plans to add sunflowers and other blooms for cut-flower sales, creating yet another way for visitors to experience the property.

For Litchy, the orchard isn’t simply about growing apples. It’s about creating a place where families can gather, learn new skills and make lasting memories together.

Much like the homemade creations her mother crafted years ago, she’s building something designed to bring people joy.

Still a Work in Progress

Litchy’s vision for The Crafted Orchard & More keeps growing. Here’s what visitors can experience today.

Pick-your-own produce: The orchard’s most popular attraction is exactly what you’d expect: fresh fruit. Visitors can pick their own apples, strawberries and pumpkins.

Farm-inspired fun: Litchy transformed two gravity wagons into basketball-style hoops positioned on opposite sides. After a basket is made, the ball rolls back down to a retrieval platform, making it easy for the next shot.

A Minnesota-grown apple lineup: The Crafted Orchard is home to about 1,200 dwarf apple trees, which began producing fruit last year. Varieties include Minnesota favorites: SweeTango, Honeycrisp, Zestar, Kudos and Haralson.

Shop local products: A recently completed retail enclosure features products from area farmers and artisans, including jams, honey, earrings and goat-milk soap.

A glimpse of what’s ahead: This fall, Litchy plans to host an open house featuring hay wagon tours to help visitors envision the orchard’s future. Wagon rides along the property’s wooded trails are also planned for next year.