288 Hidden Gem: Back Fence Farm Brings Farm-Raised Food and Sourdough to Manvel Market

Back Fence Farm & Breadery, run by Ben and Ali MacMillan, is a small Manvel farm producing sourdough bread and farm-raised foods while encouraging residents to think a little more locally about what's on their table.

The MacMillans started their farm journey in 2020. According to their story, an unsuccessful attempt at raising bees eventually gave way to pigs, beef and dairy cows. Sourdough later became another part of the operation — and a popular one. Back Fence Farm says it produced nearly 2,000 loaves of bread over roughly the year leading up to January 2026.

More Than a Basic Loaf

The bread table isn't limited to traditional sourdough.

Back Fence Farm's current online menu features creatively named varieties including Hot Buns jalapeño cheddar, Honey Boo Boo honey cinnamon butter, The Rustic rosemary garlic, The Royale rosemary Parmesan and Patrick Swicey hot honey Asiago, along with its classic OG Sourdough. The Breadery also offers dipping mixes, including Armadillo and Gladiator.

But for the MacMillans, selling bread appears to be about more than what's inside the bag.

In a January 2026 post, Back Fence Farm described a larger goal of using food to help build community in Manvel — bringing neighbors together around locally produced food and, quite literally, breaking bread together.

Find Them at Manvel Market

Back Fence Farm says shoppers can find its loaves at Manvel Market on the first Saturday of the month.

For residents trying to shop local along the 288 corridor, it's another reminder that some of the area's most interesting small businesses aren't necessarily sitting in a storefront.

Sometimes they're right down the road — behind a market table with fresh sourdough waiting to go home.

Learn more: Back Fence Farm & Breadery
Instagram: @backfencefarm

Reporting note: The 288 Insider met one of the owners of Back Fence Farm Ali MacMillan at Manvel Market. Additional background and product information was verified through Back Fence Farm's website and materials provided by the business.