The Millers
Charlie Wade
Charlie comes from a long line of millers and he is the 6th generation in his family to take up the trade. Deep Roots Milling is committed to working with a diverse network of regional growers to help support and sustain the local food economy. Sourcing local grains is one of the biggest challenges facing Deep Roots Milling and Charlie works closely with advocacy groups such as the Common Grain Alliance to promote a vibrant, integrated, and sustainable grain economy in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Aaron Grigsby
Aaron started his journey in traditional foodways working on small vegetable farms in southwest Virginia, the vineyards and cellars of Tuscany and Sri Lankan communes. While apprenticing at a bakery in Floyd, he developed an affinity for small grains, natural leaven and wood-fired cookery. After learning to prepare maize in the south of Mexico, he pulled from his varied repertoire to pioneer the Blacksburg table-on-farm eatery, Tabula Rasa.
Aaron met Charlie Wade around the genesis of Deep Roots Milling, quickly becoming Charlie’s best customer. Meanwhile, Aaron had also begun collaborating with sculptor and fellow wood-fired oven builder, Ian Gamble. Once the opportunity arose to carry the torch for the centuries old Woodson’s Mill—whilst establishing a lynchpin for the regional grainshed—the only reasonable thing to do was become a miller.
Ian Gamble
Ian is a miller and co-owner at Deep Roots Milling. As part of the milling team, he finds himself improving and maintaining the historic infrastructure at Woodson’s Mill. Upon visiting the mill you will find him greasing, packing, hauling sacks, milling, cleaning, and, of course, joking around with David Woodson. Milling is a new craft for Ian but his interest in good food, diverse economy and sensible work drew him in when longtime friend and collaborator, Aaron Grigsby, informed him of the opportunity to run the mill. When not at the mill Ian pursues his crafts as a potter and oven-maker in rural North Carolina.
David Woodson
David Woodson is the senior member of the crew here at the mill. As his grandfather owned the mill for most of the 20th century, he’s been a certified mill rat since the day he was born. He spent his summers swimming in the pond and playing pranks on head miller Ed Willis throughout the 30s, 40s and 50s and finally moved closer to the Piney River in the 90s after a career as a safety engineer in the trucking industry. He now raises alpacas and keeps a close eye on things here at the mill. As a native Virginian, he couldn’t be happier than to be grinding Virginia grain on Virginia granite
David’s influence on the regional grain shed has been invaluable, and we’re so grateful to have his knowledge and experience as resources on our team.