Fika: A Swedish custom to pause, enjoy a sweet treat, and a strong cup of coffee. Fika is also the name of a new bakery and coffee shop that is opening on-site at Farm 12. “Since we opened Farm 12 Restaurant, it’s always been a hustle. The constant buzz of people going in and out, the lunch rush, the two hour wait for brunch—we love it all, but we never felt a pause,” says Krista Linden, Founder and CEO of Farm 12 and Step By Step. Linden wanted the community to have a chance to soak in the site (former Van Lierop Bulb Farm), enjoy each other’s company, snack on a house-made bakery item, and sip a cup of coffee—without the constant hustle of the restaurant.
Starting this fall, our community will be able to use this space to take a break—whatever that means to them. We will have grab and go sandwiches and salads, Dillanos coffee, cakes, croissants, and other bakery items. Grab something and head back out to your busy day, or continue your work day in our coffee shop.
After Fika closes in the afternoon, it will be a small event space for birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, and events. “This building will serve many functions, but I’m most excited for it to be a place where our guests can take a few moments during their day to relax and enjoy the beauty of the farm with friends and family, over a cup of coffee and a bite to eat. This is Fika!” says Linden.
Fika will be one of the training opportunities for the Step By Step moms in the DreamsWork program. DreamsWork, a Step By Step job training program, started this summer. It is a 16-week program helping Step By Step moms grow into self-sufficiency.
Elizabeth Lambert, DreamsWork Program Director, and her team are providing life skills classes, on-the-job training, life coaching, community and support. They are also connecting with local businesses to provide a place of employment after these women finish the program.
Step by Step is also fundraising for an on-site early learning center, overcoming one of the most vital barriers to employment. They hope to have this done by Spring 2025.
Enjoy a coffee, treat, and support the good work being done by Dreams Work and the Step By Step program.
For Additional Information
farm12.org