The heart of our operation is our team

Angela Macke — Founder

“Angela Macke, a Registered Nurse from Leelanau County, founded Light of Day Organics Tea Company in 2004. She owns and operates 25 acres- Michigan’s only Demeter certified Biodynamic tea farm. Angela is a Specialty Tea Institute graduate, a Co-op America Green Partner, an Advanced Master Gardener, a member of the U.S. Tea Association, an instructor with the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, a Healing Touch Practitioner, and a licensed importer of Fair trade certified agricultural commodities.  She is a nationally recognized speaker and tea educator. As founder and director of Light of Day Organic Farm and Teas, a popular small-batch Fair trade Tea company, she was named Environmentalist of the Year for Business in 2007 and Light of Day is a Michigan Small Business of the Year (2008-2009). She is an honors graduate of Western Michigan University, and of Bronson School of Nursing in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Angela continues to blend original specialty award-winning Teas and Tisanes not available in the general marketplace, while educating about the wonderful world of “Cha-Do” with a creative, mindful, highly enjoyable and memorable Grassroots style.”
Now, for my words…

I’m just a busy Mom trying to do my part in my little piece of good of this world. My intention with this “project” is to nurture minds, hearts, and bodies with highly nutritious content so that we all have the strength to do what we are here on this Earth to do. I love this land we tend to, and truly welcome visitors here to be blessed with it and bless it in return. Come, bring a blanket and bask in the sunshine- let me treat you to a cup of tea- renew yourself. May we all strive to be the best version of ourselves, expand enormously, and learn as much from one another as possible on this journey. With my love…Angela

Susi McConnell

Susi McConnell is our “Packaging Elf” here at Light of Day. She has been applying hand labels, taking individual weights, hand filling and sealing each tea tin for us since January of 2012. Susi is fun, witty, humble, patient, is an avid gardener, true nature lover, excellent pastry chef, gentle in all ways and loves her time as a horsewoman. She is a good friend to many, loving wife to Tom for over 30 years, and is a wonderful Grandmother. Angela and Susi love talking about spirituality, plants, cooking gluten free and vegetarian when they are in the kitchen together. Susi is a wonderful friend, and it is a privledge to have her here on our team!

Kirsten ‘Rosemarie” Wilhelm

enigma.  bright as the tea is reflective.  matcha daily, more than a way of life, a way to live, to be alive. know no roles: plant, play with earthworms,  fix forms, call you on the phone.  let it grow, study the results.  not learn to live, live to learn. favorite tea: what was packed this morning?

Nic Welty

Nic built our hoophouse for us and he and I are strategizing about how to build more together….

Nic Welty and his wife Jen own and operate 9 Bean Rows Farm in Northport on Leelanau Peninsula, a year-round CSA farm and bakery. Nicholas manages most of the farming operation, which consists of about four acres, using three passive solar hoophouses to aid year-round production, and raises chickens for eggs and meat. They sell their fruits, veggies and baked goods at several farmers markets, as well as marketing through the CSA and selling through a small farm to table cafe. Nic is dedicated to the pursuit of sustainable agriculture, saving farmland, and is an avid supporter of local farmers. Nic volunteers with many state and local organizations including Michigan Farmers Market Association, Michigan Food and Farming Systems, Little Artshram, Northwest Michigan Small Farms Conference, and makes guest appearances at local schools promoting healthy eating and local farms. In addition to spending winters lecturing on topics specializing in farm business planning, hoophouse design, and use, Nic also offers custom consulting and construction services to local farmers emphasizing hoophouse construction, and farm business design. Before focusing on his own farm, Nicholas managed fruit and vegetable crop production and agricultural business plan development at Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay. Prior to that, he completed a Master of Science degree at The Ohio State University, where he focused on plant genetics following his Bachelor of Science degree at Carnegie Melon University. There he double-majored in Biology and Economics and minored in Chemistry. 9 Bean Rows began operation in 2009, and Nic was recognized as Farmer of the Year in 2010 by Michigan Food and Farming Systems, and in 2011 9 Bean Rows was awarded edible Communities as a local hero as food artisans.