Love Loaves

April 15, 2020

Love Loaves

Every week I make bread, lots of bread. In this household a lot of bread is consumed, so much in fact, that nearly a third of the bread I make is eaten by us! Shocking, I know.
Another third of the bread is made for orders (which are growing by the week), and the rest are given away. These give away loaves are now what I affectionally call ‘Love Loaves.’
Back when I first started making sourdough, I gave so much bread away; firstly because I was practicing my sourdough making skills and baking more than we could consume, and secondly, I needed taste testers:) When I started to gain confidence and people started telling me how good my bread was (and I believed them), I started to give away even more! To neighbours, friends, family, co-workers, and anyone who was celebrating a special occasion or just needed a little boost. It was spreading like wildfire!
Every week, continuously, I was bringing into work my newest creations for the girls (and guy) to try. One day, one of my co-workers said, "You should sell these! I'd be your first customer!" I was like "Yeah, really? You think I could?" So that's when I started selling my first loaves. Before long, nearly everyone at work was ordering, and not just one, but a few every week! I ramped it up and starting making approximately 20 loaves a week. Don't forget, I still needed to supply us, my mom (who's been my taste tester since the start), and still have enough to give away every week. Nowadays, I have a growing number of customers that keeps me 'doughin' it' several times a week, and a house that constantly smells like a bakery! Shawn has been looking into options to increase production, despite my objections, but I see it as his way of helping;)

Fast forward to a month ago...some crazy virus takes over the world and suddenly I find myself without a job (for a short time?) and making more bread than I ever have before! Along with a steady stream of eager customers (and a few on a waiting list while I try to keep up), I've kept my commitment to give away loaves every week. I think it's more important now than ever before - and although it's still on a small scale, my dream is to do even more in the future. Flour is cheap, making bread for me is therapeutic, and I'm using the gift God gave me to love others the best way I know how... through food. Healthy, nutritious, and delicious food.
Sometimes I call or text people in advance of them receiving my love loaves (so the loaves don't go missing off their front porches) and other times I drop and run - leaving little crumbs behind;) My signature heart shape on the top is an easy give away!
With more people making and baking bread now then ever before, let me encourage those of you who are already making loaves, to considering baking an extra one to give away. It's not that much more effort, and can be the light in someone's day or week.

At The Sourdough School, Vanessa Kimbell has recently set up something called the Sourdough Exchange - Mobilising an Army of Bakers, with this very concept in mind. Bake one loaf, give one away. Included is a free sourdough recipe. For those interested, have a peek at her website. #sourdoughexchange
https://www.sourdough.co.uk/the-sourdough-exchange/

Happy Baking!
xoheather