Westwind Milling is an organic grain mill in Argentine, MI, about 50 miles north of Ann Arbor off of US-23. The mill is owned and operated by Lee and Linda Purdy, who additionally raised the grain for the mill, until demand outstripped what their 160 farm could supply; current suppliers are farmers around the Gratiot and Shiawassee County area.

8572 Silver Lake Road Linden, MI 48451 (810)735-9192

In addition to bread, pastry, and all-purpose wheat flours, oats, rye, and buckwheat, the mill sells muffin and pancake mixes (like an organic Jiffy Mix!), as well as locally-produced milk, butter, honey, eggs, and other products.

The River Street Bakery in Ypsilanti uses Westwind flour, and the Ypsilanti Food Co-op now uses it as their general bulk flour, as well as selling bagged flours and mixes; Morgan and York carries their products in Ann Arbor.

Mill History

The mill was constructed in 1836 by John Murray. Later, from 1937-1993, the mill was owned by the Wolcotts, who eventually decided to open the millrace for electrical generation. This threatened to drain the impoundment, which had hosted "lakefront" homes since the 1950s, and a feud broke out between the Wolcotts and the lakefront association. Thus, when the mill went up for sale in 1993, the association purchased the water rights for half a million dollars, leaving the mill to be run by electricity, rather than producing it. The mill remained vacant for 7 years before the Purdys purchased in in 2000.

Sources

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