Rare Bird Soap Shop
Wende Fugate specializes in small-batch vegan soaps and skincare products free from sulfates, parabens, and preservatives.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Type: Farm
Produces: Flowers & Starters
Location: Atalissa, IA
Miles from Coop: 25

Andy Tygrett’s high school FFA (Future Farmers of America) project has turned out more successful than he could ever have imagined.
Stemming from an interest in cultivating gladiolas, his one-man flower business started in his parents’ gas station has grown into a successful organic farm: Oak Hill Acres.
Along with his wife Christina, her brother, Joe, his dad, Terry, and a slew of farm cats to mind the mice, Andy manages over 4,000 flower cuttings in their two greenhouses and thirty acres of organic produce.
“It was something we kind of fell into,”
says Andy,
“but it’s working out great for us.”
Start your own organic venture with plant starts from Oak Hill Acres available at New Pioneer (February-May) – you never know what you’ll grow into!
Be sure to check out these others great local producers!
Wende Fugate specializes in small-batch vegan soaps and skincare products free from sulfates, parabens, and preservatives.
Cedar Rapids, IA
From cleaner to container, May’s focus is on keeping her product line as sustainable as possible.
Iowa City, IA
With a passion for great coffee and sustainability, Stephen Dunham developed a line of coffees with a clean flavor and footprint.
Iowa City, IA
When Christian Bejarano and Marta Hamity moved to Iowa from Argentina, they had trouble finding their favorite food: the empanada. They got cooking and quickly earned a cult following.
Coralville, IA
Blues Best Mushrooms is a family-owned specialty mushroom company in Eastern Iowa that supplies fresh mushrooms to the Co-op including Shitake, Oyster, and Lion's Mane.
Vinton, IA
Alex Beaumier started Beau Laundry Co. in 2024 to solve problems he was facing with his own laundry. After about a year of perfecting and finetuning, he created his signature Scented & Softening Wool Dryer Balls!
Marion, Iowa
Andy manages over 4,000 flower cuttings in their two greenhouses and thirty acres of organic produce.
Atalissa, IA
People would say, ‘Show me what you can do,’ and I would make them a Cortado. The balance of it is great.
Iowa City, IA