telling it with pix...03/21/08

1.Brent and Zac--oven gods.
2. Dave--air guitar master.
3. Changing the world one loaf at a time.
4. Brent depans some bread for Trader Joe's (this bread ain't exactly killer, but it helps pay the bills)
5. Austin and Don have mastered the ancient art of hand-dividing--my dad (James Dahl of NatureBake fame) would be proud.

a letter from Twig and her Mom

Dear Dave,
My ten year old daughter and I saw you at Central Market up in Mill Creek WA yesterday completely by accident. Getting a sandwich on the way home from a horseback riding lesson.
We were so excited to a) see more types of your bread,
b) talk with you briefly about your amazing bread c) take home a sticker for our kitchen -- but most of all it was our interesting conversation as mother and daugher driving back to Seattle
and talking about you that gives me chills. The conversation went
something like this. "So, Mom, do you really think he went to prison? (as if anyone would attempt to use THAT as a marketing ploy
-- but this is America! ) "Yes Twig he really did go to prison."
"How do you know Mom?" "Well, aside from the fact that Dave has been very upfront about it and has said that his experiences there have lead to his bread -- He has the tell tale calm and confident humility of a person who had a lot of time to think about what is really important to him." "Like bread mom?" "Yep Twig, like Bread. I'm really proud
of him Twig and excited and happy for him too". "Me too Mom."
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to show my daughter a positive outcome -- resulting from your sheer gut fortitude to go down a different path. Keep going after your dream. We are really proud of you.

Twig and her Mom
Seattle WA

a recipe and testimonials

Sautee thin strips of tempeh (enough to cover the surface of yer bread) in tamari and/or Bragg's Liquid Aminos (optional: a lil' maple or ginger syrup if you want some sweetness to go with your sodium). Grill lots of onion (until they've got that nice translucent thing goin' on). Spread some margarine onto Dave's Killer Blues Bread, then press it onto the grill to get it all nice and toasty/greasy. Slap that all together, with maybe a little bit of ketchup, and you've got an awesome sandwich.-- - {Lysistrata}

[peace: it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for making your killer bread. A loaf was given to me back in september, and I have been eatin ever since. I have never been able to eat wheat breads, would give me massive heartburn, but your bread reminds me of my moms homemade. I love every single flavor, and no stomach problems!! Just wanted to say thanks and great work.

Hey Dave if there is a suggestion box for a new flavor, I would love to see a Killer Healthy Raisin bread with tons of cinnamon.

Have a great day,

Angela From Portland

I take it, then, that you havent tried my organic, 100% whole-grain Cinnamon Dawg (far right). Or perhaps you'll prefer the big toaster-freindly loaf shown here (close right). Both of these will again be available at Portland and Beaverton Farmers' Markets beginning in April.

Dave

Another testimonial! WOW! I tried your flourless sprouted wheat bread and what an experience! Another addict!Your story intrigued me so I checked out your web site. So good of you to give back to the community.

God bless.

Kathy W

I don't know why the 21 grain bread is better than any other pre- sliced, bagged bread I've ever had, but it is. Our one year old loves it too. Ballard Market in Seattle had a sale display so I figured I would try it. Glad I did. Beyond the stuff from my local bakeries (gotta support 'em), I probably won't buy any other bread now. I'm hype to try all your other varieties.
You've really turned a negative into a positive. Most people don't do that.
Thanks, and keep growing!

Hey, I just “happened upon” your bread at our local Fred Meyer in Bend. I tried the 21 grain – LOVE IT!!! Want to try the “Good Seed” next. LOVE IT, LOVE IT. Good job. And I saw your You Tube video – great sense of humor! Thanks again.

Hi Dave-I wanted to make sure you knew that your bread is being sold at the Bellingham, WA Community Food Co-op. And, they've been expanding their selection of your bread. -THought you might want to add it to your web-site. It's been my boyfriend's favorite bread for months!

Julie

To start out I do cruise ins with my truck. Last year at at a cruise at Joe's in Delta Park I received a loaf of your Killer Bread when I registered my truck. This was my first experience of tasting your bread. I read the label and looked up your web site. What an interesting story of your life. I too am a person in recovery (23 years clean and sober). Your story gave me a kinship feeling. It was my bread of choice from that day forward. I have tried the red, blue, green and the yellow. All taste great. This is from a person that had gotten real tired of bread after eating a sandwich at lunch for most of my life, I'm now on the plus side of 59. To me bread was pretty ho-hum but the flavor of your bread certainly changed my mind. You have a customer for life.
I turned a friend of mine on to your bread. He took the bread home and made a sandwich. Guess who was calling me to find out just what brand that bread was? I have now gotten you another customer. He too agreed that bread had gotten pretty ho-hum and your bread changed his mind about bread being ho-hum.
Great bread and keep the great bread coming.

Bruce

Dave, i have only tried 2 of your breads Powerseed, and 21 grains...can't decide which one i like best..must buy more to decide as well as your other breads..

Dave your story is great...Everyone deserves a second chance, well maybe not ex-wives or girlfriends, but pretty much everyone else...lol...

I wish you much success..

Rich

I just purchased a loaf of your bread from the Manzanita Health Food Store and want to tell you that it is the best bread I have ever eaten.
I am a Vegan and truly appreciate that your bread helps me stay that way. I am looking forward to your new facility in Milwaukee so I can come over on the weekends (I live in Tillamook County).
I also read your story, Dave, that you provide on your bread label. God has truly blessed you and you are so right, we do learn from adversity.
Sometimes good and sometimes bad, but we each make that choice. Keep up the good work.
God's Blessings,
Sharon

There was once a time when I ate spongy, gross, "wheat" bread--the stuff from the $0.57 tray at Safeway. It wasn't until I ate my first slice of your Good Seed bread that I realized I hadn't truly been living in all my twenty-two years until that moment.

It is so outrageously good I almost wept! Never, ever have I found a bread like yours! It is so freaking delicious, and your story is so inspirational. I've heard it said, character is measured by how high you bounce when you hit the bottom. You bounced pretty damn high my friend!

I'll never eat another brand of bread again. I'm a DKB monogamist.

Keep up the AWESOME work!!

Biggest fan, Tierney in the 'Couve

Dave,

I never, ever write to let a producer know how much I like their product but this is an exception. I purchased a loaf of your "Peace Bomb" at the Metropolitan Market in West Seattle and found it to be the best bread I've ever tasted. I am always on the lookout for organic products so I thought I would give it a try. I also liked the fact that is was not a HUGE loaf so my husband and I could get through it before it got stale.

I am letting my friends know what a good product you are making.

Thank you,

Barbara

Dave, my wife and I are customers for life--as long as you keep making bread, we will keep buying it.
Cheers, Patrick

Hi Dave,
We just tried your bread for the first time..the Spelt Bread.
It is excellent!

It is so healthy and tastes so good.
I gave a slice to Hannah, our Congo African Grey Parrot and she really enjoyed it too!
Keep up the great work!
Joanie

Dear Dave, My husband and I just discovered your bread at our local Metropolitan store and we think it is the best organic bread we have eaten since moving to the States. We have been eating organic for years and were really disappointed when we moved to the States and could not find a 100% whole grain organic bread that tasted good. So we are thrilled to have found yours.... plus we really enjoyed your inspiring story! We are now recommending it to our family and friends here in Seattle. Trisha

more love from up North

Let's face it: the life I have chosen--that of making (if I do say it myself) incredibly good bread--takes a lot out of me. I am the luckiest man on the planet to have been where I have been and to end up here. Only real problem is balance. I haven't found it and I don't think I will any time soon. Writing this blog tonight is a step in that direction, however. And it's really more about copying and pasting the writings of killer bread fans up in Washington who have begun to discover what Oregonians have known for 2 1/2 years already: this is some killer s##t!!

Dave,
I just bought your bread for the first time today...actually its the first time I have ever seen your bread. I bought it at the Sno-Isle Natural Foods in Everett, WA. I must tell you, I think its the best bread I have ever, ever, ever had....its KILLER!!!! I bought the 'Peace Bomb' bread and I have almost ate the whole thing already!!!! I love the packaging and the names of the breads are creative and fun.
Reading the back of the bread made me want to learn more about the company so I went to the website to learn more.
I too was a Meth user and used to live in Portland (all over!). Reading your story is almost a mirror to mine except not so much pepper spray. I guess that is just how it is in that lifestyle. I worked at Tired Feat tavern on 82nd and at Wet Willey's on Foster, the biker bar that is no longer there. I moved back to my hometown in Bothell WA to get my life back together and to discover my REAL self, and in May 2008 will be Ten years staying clean from meth! I have turned my life around completely. Hooray!
I turned to natural foods and natural healing to get myself clean and ended up by working at a natural foods store for almost 7 years. I have an eye for new and different things and I love it when I find something so great.
So that is how I discovered your Killer Bread!
Thank you for sharing your story and making your bread. Love it.

Terra

I am very grateful to you for the obvious passion and concern you put into your bread. I tried it for the first time on Monday and will never buy anything else,,,EVER,,,I find great satisfaction in eating this. I love your honesty and integrity that your stories show,,,Those qualities are reflected in your life's chosen work,,,You have my respect as a person that cares about others and what they put into their bodies,,,I am very health conscious as my profession is Licensed Massage Therapy and have dedicated my life's work to helping others as well,,,maybe someday our paths will cross,,,I've told everyone in my yoga class and we will keep telling others about your wonderful bread,,,Love and Light,,,Teri

Dear Dave,

I just had to write regarding your bread! I've just received my second shipment (6 loaves) from my sister, Erin, who lives in Vancouver, WA. I live in a little town in Central Illinois called Washington. I'm originally from Chicago, but had to relocate this past summer due to the death of my childrens father. I'm now much closer to my older daughter who moved here 2 years ago to join the Illinois Air National Guard. His death left us no choice but to sell my home and move into a rental home until I can get on my feet. Back to your bread. You must be some sort of genius or something! I have never tasted anything so wonderful-nothing comes close to comparison. My favorite is the Good Seed. My kids even ask me "what bread are you using for our sandwiches?". THATS amazing in itself.
I received a gift box of different items from my sister for Christmas (all things she loves and all made in the Oregon area) which included 2 loaves of your bread. Good Seed and Power Seed. My kids and I have been addicted ever since. Unfortunately it's not something thats available in my area and to order online is just simply not in my budget. I've cut back in other areas to be able to send my sister money to send me more bread. You should be very proud of yourself.
I'm hoping that someday you're able to distribute nationwide. I'm guessing you're hoping for the same thing.
Anyway, I just had to tell you my story. We absolutely love it! Thank you.

Sincerely,
Kerry


Dave (And all wonderful hands that help), Hubby and I are trying to lose weight, and were highly discouraged with the drywall flavored whole grain breads on the market (needed to replace the high-fat, white pulpy stuff we were eating).. we found you at the Vancouver Market, smelled the fine aroma from down the street, and were sold. WE ONLY eat your breads now, and are totally fond of your 21grain. Dunno if it'll help us lose weight - DO know we're doing ourselves better for it and loving every bite!! THANK YOU...C & J

Hello Dave-I just wanted to write and thank you for sharing your story. It is making a big difference for me right now, as my son is in the midst of legal proceedings as a result of drug addiction. He received a temporary release from jail to go to 60-day treatment, before returning to have final charges determined along with jail/prison time. A good friend stopped over with a loaf of your bread recently. Eating it and reading about your journey (crying and cheering along the way) has been helpful for me, my son, and his many supporters. He is hopeful about creating a new life and appreciated reading your story, but at this point faces several years (up to 10) in prison - your sharing gives us the sense that he can (and has to) begin creating that life now and while in prison. I know that ultimately that journey is his, but he has many supporters - any thoughts about what kind of support is helpful? We write regularly and visit whenever possible. As his mom, who knows without a doubt that he is a good person, who has done some bad things - your story is good evidence that life can go on in ways that bring wholeness and benefit many. I know that the best thing I can do is stay healthy, (emotionally, spiritually and physically) and live a good life. Your story's even inspired me to get back to my own bread baking, and I baked the best batch of home-made bread ever! (I looked at your ingredient list for inspiration!) Anyway, I know your journey is also very personal, and I thank you again for sharing, and appreciate your striving for a whole and humble life. I hope to come visit your bakery some vacation when I travel through Oregon.

Thank you again,
Julie--Bellingham, WA

your killer bread.
we were standing in the grocery store on whidbey island.
"killer bread" i read. and laughed out loud to my sister.
i said, "this's weird. seems odd to buy bread marked "killer"
when i teach so many of them in prison."
yeh. well, wait until you read his story.
so i did.
hurrah. applause. man. what a model.
i've been teaching at OSCI for four years. journal writing.
i'm taking the bread bag to show those transition inmates what i mean when
i say IT IS POSSIBLE to succeed using your natural skill set in a lawful way.
i never ask them to change who they are...i ask them to consider walking who
they are in a different way.
if you have anything you'd like me to pass along to groups of guys just finishing
up short to long stints and getting ready to walk outside the walls....let me know.
in any event, i'll be telling what little i know about your story on january 10
to my first class of the year.
you are an excellent writer and have a great story to tell. thanks for sharing.
mary anne radmacher
artist, author, inspirator
get lost: that's how you find your way
back to yourself.

- mary

more love from the North

From Vashon:

Dave,

I am so blown away by your bread that it is impossible for me not to type.I am NOT a person who normally spends a lot of money on bread, but this is different.WAY TO GO, DUDE. Your product is SUPERB... it is re-defining what I call bread, and there is NO GOING BACK. Thanks from the bottom of my heart -- it is a LOT of money for me to be spending on a loaf of bread, but so worth it.Great job... I only wish I was closer to Portland to be able to go to the bakery and get more at a savings!!! You Rock!

Julie

From Seattle:

Dave:

Just purchased, for the first time, a loaf of your bread at a Metropolitan Market here in Seattle. I tried a loaf of the Powerseed, and love it. Thanks.

David

Hey Dave-

My wife and I just moved to the Pacific Northwest from Chicago. Shorty after we arrived, we discovered your breads at our local Whole Foods. I have to say, your breads are hands-down the best breads I've ever eaten. Thank you.

Oh, and have you ever considered making a cinnamon raisin nut bread?


From Bainbridge Island:

Dave:

I have been buying your bread for about a month now at the Bainbridge Island Town and Country Market. The Blues Bread is my favorite.
This morning I am taking your wrapper to Safeway on Bainbridge to make the pitch that they carry it as well.

As a businessman, I like your story, but more important, I like your bread. Gimmicks only sell once or twice (see Jones Soda), but great marketing and branding around a fabulous product makes for a great business opportunity. Bread is one of those areas where niche marketing as not had a perceivable impact.

Good luck and all my best,

Ron

more cherokee wisdom...

Lessons on Life
There was an Indian Chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the Winter, the second in the Spring, the third in Summer, and the youngest son in the Fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said, no, it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful. It was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it's Winter, you will miss the promise of your Spring, the beauty of your Summer, the fulfillment of your Fall.
Moral: Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come.

faces of meth...

For those of you who may have heard the rumor that I went back to the joint, here's the proof. I am currently writing this on my spanking new laptop here in my cell, while my cellmate is etching my new "Good Seed" tattoo on my back.

(;Just kidding!!!;)

The Portland Police Department was kind enough to give my friend Varinthorne Christopher (www.varinthorn.blogspot.com) this photo for the book she is putting together. This commemorates one of the worst days of my life, the day I bled all over 82nd Avenue as a result of trying to resist arrest with handcuffs on--not recommended behavior, by the way--back in '97. I thought I would share it, so that next time you see me you will know where all the scars come from.

And yes, that is a mullet.