When customers enter the Dandelion Farm on 120 W. Huron Street, Berlin, they don’t see the fire or the gallons of water it took to extinguish it. They see everything in its designated spot, natural light illuminating the stocked shelves, and warm smiles greet them at the door. The process of rebuilding the shop might be invisible on the surface, but to owner Deidre Sauer, it has left a lasting impression.
“This business supports not just our shop, but our family and our farm. It was exhausting and emotional. This isn’t just a shop to me–it’s something I’ve built from the ground up,” Sauer said. “Being out of it for six months felt like losing a part of myself. But it also showed how strong we really can be and still are.”
The Dandelion Farm officially reopened on Thursday, April 9, after being closed since the fire that took place on Nov. 6, 2025. The fire started in the upstairs apartment building.
“While the shop itself didn’t burn, the water from putting out the fire caused extensive damage throughout the store. Everything had to be cleaned, removed, or rebuilt. It was a long process with insurance, restoration, and construction before we could safely open,” Sauer said.
Sauer and her family have been producing on their farm since the Dandelion Farm opened in 2020. After the accident, they were not able to sell goat’s milk in the shop, but fortunately, there was another outlet for the milk, especially since there were still well over 60 goats to be milked twice a day.
“As of this past August, we officially became a commercial dairy goat operation, and our milk is now picked up twice a week by Saputo, where it’s used to make goat cheese. That transition was a huge blessing during this time, allowing us to continue utilizing our milk even while we weren’t able to produce products in the shop the way we normally do,” Sauer said.
The Dandelion Farm’s only employee, alumna Molly Gellert ‘22, has contributed over five years of service to the store. When the tragedy hit not just the Dandelion Farm but also her home upstairs, she continued to work alongside Sauer.
“I was alongside Deidre every step of the way, and I truly think we helped each other through the chaos. From the initial shock of the fire to pushing through the hardest moments and focusing on rebuilding, we leaned on each other a lot,” Gellert said. “At the same time, she (Sauer) was there while I was dealing with losing my home. It was very much a two-way support system.”
Staying committed to the Dandelion Farm through months of hard work only created a more positive outlook on the future for Sauer and Gellert.
“This experience changed us, but it didn’t break us. If anything, it made us stronger, more grateful, and even more passionate about what we do,” Sauer said.
