Black House Farm values using sustainable and inclusive practices to provide high quality products and promote personal and community health.
Meet The Team
Tia Butler, Co-Founder
Hello, hello!! I’m a south-side Chicagoan with a love of everything food, fitness, sustainability and agriculture. Growing up, my mom couldn’t tear me away from the cooking shows on PBS, so I was always encouraged to research and experiment with food. If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em, right? Although I grew up in the city, I’m no stranger to farming as my family owns a farm in Mississippi and that’s exactly where my love of farming started. To me, there’s nothing like growing your own food and knowing everything that goes into your meals.
I’m a physicist and mathematician by trade, but I’ve always made sure that I had a creative outlet. I put a lot of time and effort into honing in on my woodworking, growing, fitness and culinary skills. I played soccer in college, so I know the positive impact regular exercise and movement can have on a person’s mental health and I want to bring that to the Black House Farm community. I’m a NASM certified personal trainer and I’m currently completing coursework to become a certified nutrition specialist through NASM so I can make sure I have the best tools in my arsenal.
My goal is to pass down what I know in hopes of helping others become more self-sufficient and food sovereign. This includes neighborhoods, like the one that I grew up in, that are slowly being disenfranchised and sold cheaply to developers. Food justice is the name of the game! Along with farming and community outreach, I’ll be putting together content for fitness challenges and culinary adventures that are packed full of flavor!
Alex Orr, Co-Founder
Hello, welcome and thanks for checking out our page! I always like to say that I grew up farm-adjacent. The neighborhood I lived in was not agricultural, but the town was still the kind of place where getting stuck behind a tractor was a legitimate excuse for being late for work. Despite having enjoyed living in Chicago for 12 years, I always knew that I’d eventually make my way back to the country.
I’ve always had a love of science and the natural world. From helping my dad in his garden to unsuccessfully begging my mom to get me any and every type of animal (dogs, cats, horses, chickens, quails, etc.), I always felt I had an innate need to care for plants and animals. My love of science led me to become a pharmacist, but the desire to get back to my first love of plants and animals has ultimately led me here. My raised bed garden and the prospect of 2-3 chickens in our Chicago backyard wasn’t going to cut it for me!
I have a strong interest in heirloom fruits and vegetables and heritage breed animals, so I’m hoping to bring things to the table that are familiar, but maybe a bit unexpected. I have a strong interest in beekeeping, so keep an eye out for more fun products as we scale up. I think there is a real need for more local, more sustainable, more diverse and more environmentally sound farming practices. I look forward to being able to have the opportunity to create new and exciting products to share with you all.
Winston Butler-Orr
This little guy is a Cairn terrier/Schnauzer mix (we think) that will act as our guard dog… just kidding! In Chicago, he patrolled the yard and protected our garden from dangerous intruders, such as robins, squirrels and this one pesky neighborhood cat. He liked to reward himself with a little nibble of a tomato or a bit of carrot here and there. While he is a little ball of energy, he doesn’t quite have the stamina (or attention span) to be herding animals, but he will make sure the yard is safe from any suspicious-looking squirrels. We think Winston will settle into his role as Black House Farm mascot and chairman of the welcoming committee just fine.