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We are the Wirtz family and this is Homestead on Heeb—our artisan family farm in Manhattan, Montana.
At its heart, our homestead is about slower living while making sustainable choices. Gathering eggs from our chickens. Baking slow-fermented sourdough. Creating soaps, lotions, paper goods, and farm-made items by hand. Sharing simple, high quality things made with care through our farmstand and mercantile.
This work has grounded us.
Homestead on Heeb is also part of a larger family of makers and growers. Chanda’s parents operate a sister farm in Willow Creek, Montana; where they raise natural, grass-fed beef with the same care and intention we value here. Her mom creates handcrafted leather goods, and her dad runs a machine shop where he designs and builds ice-free livestock waters used by ranchers throughout the region. Together, our families are rooted in practical craftsmanship, stewardship of the land, and work meant to last.
In 2022, our lives were deeply changed by loss and Chanda undergoing heart-surgery.
After experiencing many pregnancy losses, we lost our daughter, Ellianna during the 40th week of pregnancy, in the week of Chanda’s Birthday. Her death reshaped our family, our children, and the way we moved through the world. In the time that followed, we stepped away from much of this work and our community to grieve and to heal.
Returning to our homestead now feels like returning to some part of ourselves, but it also carries a new purpose set with strong intention and rooted deeply in love.
After years of loss, extensive medical consults and tests, and an attempt at adoption, we have chosen to pursue surrogacy as a way to complete our family. This path is filled with hope, but it is also costly. This option gives us the ability to move forward to help us emotionally heal from all we have lost.
Today, Homestead on Heeb is also a side-hustle for surrogacy.
Through artisan bread and baked goods, fresh farm offerings, tallow soaps and goat milk lotions, farm notecards, and farm merchandise, we are raising funds to support the medical, legal, and surrogate expenses required to bring our last baby home. Every item offered through our farmstand and micro-bakery directly supports this journey.
Rather than simply asking for donations, we wanted to create something that gives back—something tangible, nourishing, and rooted in the work of our hands and our family’s skills. This work allows us to honor our daughter who was with us when we did this same work, continue healing, and keep moving forward while holding onto hope.
We are excited to be back, this time with each purchase serving a purpose filled with gratitude.
Thank you for being here.
Our Artisan Family Farm offers artisan foods and farm goods—from sourdough and baked treats to soaps, lotions, eggs, goat milk, and farm merch. All profits go directly toward surrogacy-related costs.
All of our products are rooted in organic and sustainable practices sourcing organic and European ingredients when possible and choosing packaging that earth friendly.
We invite you to bring a piece of our farm home today and support our family farm.
There are a few meaningful ways to walk alongside us in this season.
Our full story is shared through Gift of Parenthood, where supporters can read more and contribute directly through a secure crowdfunding platform.
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