Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Oakerson.
Hi Kristin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I developed a passion for beautiful, freshly made artisan bread as a child growing up in Europe. French baguettes and German brötchen were staples at our family meal table. My personal journey of bread making began much later in life.
I started making sourdough bread for my son, Harley, who has special needs. He is a very picky eater. He went through a phase as a child of only eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I decided, being a health nut, that I would make him the healthiest PB&J’s I possibly could. At the time, I was not able to tolerate conventional bread but found that I could tolerate homemade sourdough. It was a win for both of us.
Eventually, I learned how to make artisan loaves. I was asked to make one for a group I was part of in my community. I had never made that style before. Everybody loved the bread so I kept making it for friends and family. I kept seeing posts on Instagram of people starting micro bakeries in their homes. I didn’t even know one could do that at the time. It lit a fire in me. After toying with the idea for a short time, I came up with a name and decided to take a leap of faith and try it for myself., and Joy Rising bakery was born!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been easy. Nothing worthwhile ever is. I had to learn how to scale up my recipes and equipment while working with a limited budget. I was juggling 7 kids, homeschooling and meeting everyday life demands.
Not long after I had signed up to have a booth at a local farmer’s market, my oven broke! I was in the middle of baking for the market and had orders to fill! I scanned my kitchen in a panic! I saw my little toaster oven sitting on the counter and thought, “could I bake sourdough in a toaster oven”? To my surprise, it worked! The mini loaves turned out amazing and the show went on!
I’ve had many loaves fall flat, burned a few loaves (and my arms) many times. Thankfully, my customers have stuck with me through the growing pains and my micro bakery is thriving today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I see my work as an extension of my heart. I love making bread and sharing it with my community. I love to connect with my customers and have meaningful interactions with them. It’s what keeps me going through the difficult days.
Additionally, I really enjoy making something as humble as a loaf of bread, a beautiful work of art. I think the small things in life should be celebrated and every meal time should be beautiful, colorful and preferably locally grown and made by people your community.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite memory is going to sound like a tall tale to many. When I was 5 years old, my family moved to Germany. My parents had joined a missionary organization called Youth With a Mission. My family moved into the YWAM base which just so happened to be a castle in Hürloch, Germany. My family shared one room in one of the castles turrets. On Christmas morning, we woke up to freshly fallen snow outside our turret window and the sound of church bells ringing from the nearby village cathedral. Of course, favorite memory includes food! My mom had baked fresh, gooey cinnamon rolls for breakfast, drizzled with almond flavored icing. Nothing tops the snowy Christmas in the castle with cinnamon rolls!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyrisingbakery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557471543532
- Other: https://www.hotplate.com/joyrising
