If you had told me a few years ago that sourdough would shape the rhythm of my days, and in some ways, my whole life, I probably would’ve smiled politely and assumed you were making fun of my intense love for Vegemite (although this is valid too).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!But here we are.
Now I spend my days baking for my family, my community, and somehow, hundreds of thousands of people who follow along online to watch it all unfold.
Sourdough has, quite literally, changed my life.
It Started With a Craving (and Morning Sickness)
My name is Sarah Grunewald, and I run a little cottage bakery out of my home in Oklahoma. The journey began when I was pregnant with my second daughter, battling parosmia (a post-COVID symptom that distorts your sense of taste and smell), along with a hearty dose of morning sickness.
All I wanted was a slice of fresh bread that tasted like home… Australia.
But, spoiler: I wasn’t a baker yet 😅I had barely baked anything at all! But I kept seeing these ordinary mothers on Instagram making sourdough. These women were not professional bakers, and it made me want to make fresh bread for myself and my family too.
The Obsession Begins: Learning to Bake Sourdough From Scratch
So, I made my first starter. I dove headfirst into baking from scratch. I got obsessed. I have this pattern in my life of picking up a hobby for a year and just doubling down on it, letting it consume all my time, energy and my entire personality. The beginning of the sourdough era was… no different.
It took 1 month to make my first GOOD loaf of bread, and after that, I was hooked.
I was literally baking 10-15 loaves a week and giving them away to friends and family.
“Sarah, why would you even make that many a week when you weren’t selling it yet?” ah, I am glad you asked.
The short answer is, at the time, it filled a quiet space in me that had been waiting. Motherhood is beautiful, sacred work – and it asks everything of you. Every ounce of energy, every hour of sleep, every spare thought. And for a long time, I gave it all gladly.
There’s not much left over for creativity; for the parts of you that feel expressive, alive, you.
And so when I pulled that first sourdough loaf out of the oven… something sparked. It felt like mine. Like the beginning of a wonderful adventure.
And yes, maybe it was also the ADHD hyperfixation. But we’re going with “deep emotional calling” for now 😂.
Sourdough Tools For Beginners
- LODGE dutch oven
- Kitchen Scale
- My FREE Sourdough for Beginners eBook
- Sourdough starter kit
- Bread knife
- Sourdough starter
The Nudge That Launched My Microbakery
About a year in, someone approached me and asked if I’d consider selling my bread in their farm store. People had told me I should sell it, but I always brushed it off – I’m not a business owner, I thought. That’s not me. I’m not a hustler. I don’t know the first thing about running a business.
But when they asked, something inside me lit up.
It was like a quiet yes that had been waiting for me. A nudge.
So, I said yes.
My first drop was six loaves. It took two full days to prep with the basic equipment I had, and I made $42.
Well… that $42 changed everything. It gave me hope. It gave me vision. It showed me what was possible. I made this. No one handed it to me. I created something from my hands, and people wanted it!
The “I’m Not a Business Owner” Era
Looking back, I hadn’t realized how much my sense of purpose had dimmed. I didn’t go to a normal college. The path I thought I wanted had quietly dissolved. And so, I’d poured all of my creative energy into my home and into being the best wife and mother I could be. I’m so thankful for those years of hiddenness. But I began to feel it: the sense that what I had been giving so freely in my home was ready to spill over into the world.
But not at the expense of my family. That was non-negotiable.
I promised myself I’d grow this at a pace I could handle. That I’d pull back if it ever started to overshadow the sacredness of raising my children.
I Wasn’t The Only One
I baked in the early mornings. I baked at night.
Our errands became deliveries. Our afternoons, porch pickups and cuppas.
And from the very beginning, I felt the nudge to share this journey online. People from all over the world began watching as I baked for my neighbors. And then, some videos went viral.
The cottage bakery movement was quietly blooming, and somehow, I had wandered right into it. All over the world, women (and men – I’m not forgetting about you) were opening tiny microbakeries out of their kitchens. Baking for their communities. Feeding their neighbors. Saying yes to building something meaningful, without sacrificing presence at home.
And this is still just the beginning.
My hope and prayer is that my story inspires you to say yes to the thing that’s stirring inside you. You never know where it might take you.
Thinking About Starting Your Own Cottage Bakery? Read This First.
If you’ve been dreaming of baking for your family, neighbors or perhaps your whole zip code (whoops) – you are in the right place!
I’m putting together something special for you: a recipe collection based on the methods I used to build this from the ground up.
Join the Bread & Butter email list
(don’t worry, i won’t spam you! I’m too busy making bread)
You’ll get:
– My free Sourdough for Beginners eBook
– Cozy cottage bakery tips
– Access to future recipes & resources
Click here to sign up
With love,
Sarah Grunewald
