Story by Erin Bender
Photos by Tuesday Photography
Since we first opened our doors in 2000, Breadroot Co-op has been all about connecting our community through natural and organic foods. As we’ve grown, so has our amazing network of local producers. In 2025, we’re proud to carry products from over 40 local vendors, stretching from the Black Hills to the Eastern Plains of South Dakota.
We think it’s just as important to spotlight these vendors as it is to stock their products. So much of what we do is rooted in cultivating community, and this blog series is one more way to grow that connection. Take a moment to read about the people behind your favorite products — and get familiar with the faces and stories that make our Co-op what it is.
For our second feature, we’re excited to shine a light on Pine Clad Candle Co. — and invite you to get to know the maker, the mission, and the spark behind your favorite scents. While Michal Kipp isn’t the original creator of Pine Clad, she saw an opportunity to carry forward a locally loved business and help it grow into its next chapter.
As we entered Michal’s space — a cozy office tucked away in her home — the scent of her Paha Sapa candle filled the air, blending with the warm winter fragrances she had been working on before our visit. The room felt like a little haven of creativity, where art and craft, scent and story, all came together. It’s another reminder of how many amazing businesses are homegrown — just like our first spotlight, Journey Microgreens. Supporting local means championing a dream brought to life through passion and dedication.
Michal’s journey to leading Pine Clad didn’t happen overnight. She and Janelle, the previous owner, used to work together at a flower shop, where Janelle first started Pine Clad because traditional candles gave her headaches. Years later, Michal was feeling burnt out from her day job cleaning houses and was searching for something more hands-on. Pine Clad had gone quiet online, and she hadn’t heard from Janelle in a while, so she reached out to see if buying the business might be possible.
Two weeks later, just as Michal found herself daydreaming about what it would be like to carry Pine Clad forward, her phone buzzed with a text from Janelle — as if the universe had timed it perfectly. Janelle spent a few days showing Michal all the ropes and teaching her the craft. In Michal’s words, “It felt like it was written in the stars … meant to be.”
Beyond running Pine Clad, Michal is a multidisciplinary artist, working primarily in pottery and painting, and recently experimenting with stained glass. Her creative background gives her a unique perspective on candle-making — blending artistry with craft.
What first drew Michal to candle-making was the opportunity, but what keeps her coming back is a love for creating something thoughtful, beautiful, and safe. “I didn’t realize how bad traditional candles could be,” she admits. “As I got deeper into making them, I realized how harmful big-box options can be. Now I really appreciate crafting something with natural ingredients that people can enjoy safely in their homes.” Michal’s candles stand apart because of their clean ingredients — a simple but powerful distinction in a market filled with artificial fragrances and toxins. Each scent tells a story, whether it’s a collaboration with a local business or a seasonal creation that smells like our backyard. Her favorite experience so far? Collaborating on honing in on the “co-op scent” for Breadroot’s Eau de Co-op candle. “I was so surprised by the support from the small business community,” she says. She also has a collaboration candle with He Sapa Vintage — find it in the basement of Garbage Tale Vintage downtown!
Whether you’re drawn to the clean, natural ingredients, the hand-crafted artistry, or the stories behind each scent, Pine Clad Candle Co. is a reminder that local businesses are about more than products — they’re about people, passion, and community. Like Journey Microgreens, Pine Clad began at home, nurtured by someone’s dream and dedication. From Michal’s hands to your home, every candle carries a little bit of that love, creativity, and care. Next time you light a Pine Clad candle, take a moment to enjoy not just the fragrance, but the story and craft that went into it — and the community that made it possible.
Where you can find pine-clad candle co. this month:
