Oct. 21, 2005 - market baking day
I taught myself to make bread when my oldest was a baby. Nineteen years later I still bake bread, it is one of my favorite things to do. In just a short while I will begin mixing dough for my farmer's market breads. Each Friday my little cabin kitchen fills with bowls and tubs of bubbling sourdough and rising bread. By evening every surface is covered with crusty cooling loaves. In the height of summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, I work into the quiet of the night. My humble cabin stove holds 6 loaves at a time and it steadily turns them out until I'm up to 60 or 70 loaves. I sleep a few hours, then rise early to put the cinnamon rolls in. Everone knows cinnamon rolls are best warm from the oven!
By October our market has slowed down...the summer crowd has left the island and city visitors are few. But our loyal locals remain and the farmer's market here runs almost year-round. My bread loaves number in the 30's plus cinnamon rolls and specialty cookies. In January and February we gratefully take a break.
I love selling at the Farmer's Market...we have a large double booth for our farm. It is really a family business as my husband and children all help in some way. On the busiest days Dave works the produce, herbal soaps and sheep's wool while I do the bread and lemonade. Our oldest, Kieran(19), does all our graphic design and labelling. Emily(15) helps in the booth and alternates baysitting the little ones with her brother, Ben(13), who makes catnip cat toys to sell. Sometimes we display Emily's handpainted silk scarves. Katherine(9) sells eggs and herbal sachets at her own little booth. Right now she is busy knitting and weaving dishcloths and potholders to add to her wares. Once in a while we bring Gabe(5) and Cecilia(3) as our customers love to see how the children have grown. Next May we will bring our newborn snuggled in a front pack.
I'm off to feed the sourdough and start the yeast breads. My list includes Multi-grain Sourdough, Pesto Parmesan, Jalapeno Cheddar, Roated Red Pepper and Feta, Oatmeal Honey Wheat, Seeded 10-Grain, and Rustic White. Today I'll also make some fragrant Pumpkin Spice loaves and Fresh Apple Scones...mmm. Yesterday the children and their friends pressed many gallons of apple cider to add to our offerings, as well. I do love Fall!
Comments
Oct. 21, 2005 - Yum.
Posted by lisalouhoo
I am salivating just reading your entry. Amazing to me that you can manage to make that many loaves of bread without some kind of commercial equipment. Wish I could be at your farmer's market to buy some of those delicious sounding goods. I miss that about Washington and Oregon, the wonderful farmer's markets, especially during berry time.
Lisa
Oct. 21, 2005 - MMmmmm...........
Posted by Dalyn
I can smell it all from here! Lovely.
Oct. 22, 2005 - Wow!
Posted by raindames
That's an impressive list! Would you mind sharing how you make your sourdough bread sometime? My dream is to have a little farm someday and sell our wares at the farmers market as a family biz. Have you ever read the Ox-Cart Man? If you haven't you would LOVE it. Thanks for your blog I really enjoy it.
God bless you,
Rain
Oct. 22, 2005 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Endoftheroad
Oh you should publish your bread recipes~~ they all sound so good... and I bet a bread recipe book would sell too~
Thanks for the peek into your day
Lea
