I spent over a decade in the fitness marketing space helping people find the right gym. Now, I’ve decided to add something new to my resume: Pine & Ember – focused on helping people find ways to step away from constant connection and back into nature, creation, and the people right in front of them.

I probably don’t have to explain the impact screens have had on our families and personal lives. It’s something we’ve all experienced, whether on the sending or receiving end.

Date nights that somehow turn into scrolling. Children who seem unbelievably hypnotized by any screen in sight. That little twinge of guilt when you see your kids mimicking the way you use your own devices. We’ve felt all of it.

Our family certainly hasn’t solved this in our day-to-day lives. But we’re committed to working on it, testing solutions, and striving toward a simpler, more traditional way of life—the way we believe God intended.

We’re the Griffins, a family with four children who relocated to North Idaho in search of a better, simpler life.

Hospitality has become a big part of that life. My wife, Sarah, and I own a micro bakery where we (and by “we,” I mostly mean she) make baked goods using freshly milled flour. We host baking classes out of our home, we’ve found an incredible community since moving here, and we love having friends and family around our table.

The more we’ve done it, the more we’ve come to believe that hospitality is really just another way to love people as Christ instructed us to.

Whether you’re attending a sourdough class in our home or staying at one of our retreats, our intention is the same: to care for people well and create an experience that sparks joy.

After all, that’s what we would want for ourselves.

So, with that said, we hope you’ll follow along with the things we’re building, and, even better, come visit us sometime.

God bless!

Bart Griffin