Tis The Truth!
Alarm went off at 2:25AM. Matt popped up. I snoozed. I still don’t know how he does it. Body clock? I was ready to go in about 20 minutes and we were off in the dark.
Arrived a few minutes early and donned the aprons!
And of course, the comfy shoes!!
Baker’s best friend
We got right to work on dough mixing. Our job was “Sponge and Dough,” which involves making…sponge and dough! The sponge is the yeasty watery sugary mixture and the dough involves the rest of the flour and all mixins – like walnuts, seeds and apples.
Here’s a bunch of seeds ready to go – millet, sunflower, pumpkin
Wheeeeee!
I didn’t get hungry for about a hour and then we made coffee
The coffee definitely held me over for a while
And I tried a small slice of their Gluten-Free Bread.
For gluten free, it was really good. Especially the GF cinnamon chip!! It’s up to each individual location to decide all of their recipes, and GH Piper Glen just started making these 3-4 weeks ago. It’s hard for single locations to make them because of the flour mill. GH Piper Glen is a second satellite location to the Kings’s Drive location where the mill is, so they make the GF bread in a very well protected and sterilized area on a day when other breads are not being made.
Around 6:00 we ate our “real” breakfast – a hot Blueberry Bran muffin just baked!!
We each had half and I gobbled it down way too fast! I was surprised how satisfying just half a muffin was.
I also had a few canned peaches – I forgot to grab a fresh one before i left!
More doughs were made..
And more sweets!
And more coffee!
At 7 it was time for kneading!! Hundreds of loaves! In my opinion shaping loaves is the hardest part – it takes a while to get used to each dough’s personality and the different techniques.
Cinnamon Chip for Caitlin!
Baking away!! Matt was also the Baker today.
The morning went by really fast, actually. Matt fed me a few more tastes of bites of bread, like this Cinnamon Chip
A taste of Banana Walnut Scuffin
A tiny Whole Wheat Sourdough roll fresh from the even stuffed with cheese!! (“Lunch”?!)
And finally a bite of Mediterranean Olive bread.
Hard to believe an 8 hour workday was over and it was only 11AM!!
I wasn’t so much tired from getting up early, but really tired from being on my feet for 8 hours. I definitely needed bread for fuel!! 😉
Once I got home I took a 45 minute nap, which I’m not sure did much.
Then I took a fabulous shower.
And then made a kale + berry smoothie. All I was in the mood for!
- 1/2 banana
- 1 cup frozen berries
- 1 scoop Vega Vanilla Almond
- 5 big kale leaves
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup OJ
- Half cup water
It tasted great, but it had a really iron-y aftertaste that I’m not so much enjoying right now 🙁
Hoping to get some work done for the Summit + my blog today so I can take tomorrow off a bit. Tonight we’re going out with Karen for Restaurant Week again! The show must go on.
Edited To Add:
I meant to explain a little about our plans for our bakery.
I DO intend to work at the bakery. No, that’s not a waste of an RD degree!! In fact, all my foodservice and food safety training is going to come in handy dandy 🙂 RDs work in such a variety of fields that my jobs as a healthy food blogger and bakery owner are actually quite the perfect fit. Not all RDs work in a clinical setting, and I never intended to go into clinical (I had orignially wanted to open a private practice but I think already having duel small businesses means I will probably not venture in the private practice direction any more than online consultations someday…)
So, Matt, Karen (my mother-in-law, who is moving to Cville too) and I are going to split the work to our strengths:
Matt with the food science and all operations
Karen with the bookkeeping, legal, payroll paperwork
Me with the marketing, PR, community relations, customer service and bread eating
At least initially, I expect to do a LOT of the hands-on bakery work. But as we get more comfortable with our staff, I hope to step back my hours to part time so I can continue on other paths of life (blog, book, kids!)
We hope to open doors late this fall in downtown Charlottesville on Market Street. That is if we can ever get our lawyers to agree on these lease negotiations!!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
I get up at 4:30 and I thought THAT was early. Don’t know how Matt does it!
Marilou @ Mostly Healthy says
You wake up at 4:30! damn!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
4:30 IS early. What do you do at that time.
The thing about bakeries is that you have to get started really early so that the bread is ready for opening.
Wei-Wei says
Dayum, what are you doing up at 4.30?! Working out? Makes sense, though… 🙂
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Oooof so eaarly! Bakery work looks tough, but SO fun! I’d happily getup at stupid o clock to bake 😀
Are you planning on working full time in the bakery?
Have a lovely day 🙂
Evan Thomas says
And I can’t imagine how I ever woke up at 6:30 to run these days. You bakers are incredible!
I’m so glad to hear some Great Harvests are moving into baking gluten-free bread. There are only 1 or 2 stores around me but now I need to see if they make gluten-free bread.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
I can even fathom the idea of waking at 2:25am… you two are rock stars!!!
All that bread is making me hungry… and I just had lunch 🙂
Megan @ says
wow.. I give you both mad props for getting up so early to do that.. I am wondering if I would like it or hate it?
All that bread is making me soo hungry!
Sam says
I loved working in a bakery & getting up that early. There is something about going to work when the rest of the world is sleeping that appeals to me.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
oh my goodness i am DROOLING! when i worked in a coffee shop i got up at 3:30 for work, but we definitely didn’t do all that!
Marilou @ Mostly Healthy says
Matt is so adrable with his fedora hat!
3 am to 11 am is definitely a cray shift to work, but I guess, like verything else, you’ll get the hang of it?
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
Wow, this looks like so much fun!! It amazes me that Matt wakes up that early almost every day- it gives me a newfound appreciation for good bread and the people who make it! Enjoy the rest of your day!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
My tweet was correct, I definitely went to sleep when you woke up and woke up when you got off work 🙂 I think we were the two extreme body clocks today. All that bread talk is making my stomach growl!!
Melissa @ HerGreenLife says
I don’t know if I could ever keep that schedule; it seems so unnatural, but I guess our bodies can adjust to a lot of things. The hardest part would be doing this some days and not others.
Rachelle says
Nice post. Very cool to see all that. My fav pic is the whisk w/ the seeds spinning around. Nice perspective 😉
Dorry says
Yay!! So exciting. Thanks for sharing all of this with us! I might have to make a special trip to Charlottesville once your store opens. 🙂
Dynamics says
I love getting up early. The work day ends so quickly and you have the whole rest of the day to play.
Eileen says
The three of you definitely have the makings of a great GH business! Best of luck to you. This was a really fun post!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
Mmm all that yummy dough!!! I had a GH vegan cinnamon roll the other day- OMG can I say heaven?!!!
Carla (Becoming That Girl) says
OMG! Three words…Banana Walnut Scuffin!! It looks AMAZING!! I don’t know what a scuffin is but I would drive from Atl to Cville to get one!!! Best of luck with all of your bakery endeavors!!!…a family business! How cool is that!?!?:)
courtney says
just starting reading the blog, and i actually live in charlottesville! crazy. so are you guys starting a bakery in cville? if so, where? i could def do some promo with friends if your bread tastes as good as it looks on here. 🙂
Kath says
Yep! On Market St.
Laura says
Wow…I cannot even imagine that..
Just curious….no hairnets? I wasn’t sure if that was a health regulation or not.
Kath says
Nope. We just have to wear hats or something to keep hair back.
Callie says
Sounds like a tough, but fun day. 🙂 I’d never get myself up that early. Today I slept in until 10am. Yikes.
I love the picture of everything getting mixed up.
tanyasdaily says
How fun you get to do it TOGETHER!
Teacherwoman says
Wow! That’s early! Sounds like you guys have it all planned out perfectly! 🙂
Annie@stronghealthyfit says
Wow, good luck with everything! I’m sure it will all work out splendidly 🙂
All that bread looks soooo yummy I wish I worked in a bakery! Or better yet, owned my own.
Amelia says
I’m glad you are having fun! Congratulations on everything coming together for the bakery. I wish you all the best of luck! 🙂
Do what you love and makes you happy. You only have one life to live. Make the most of it!
Alex says
That’s awesome that you guys will be dividing the work like that! Is Karen a lawyer? I didn’t realize!
Kath says
Not a lawyer, but she is a paralegal.
Carrie says
It’s so much baking, intense! My baking has fallen on the wayside since summer started, I miss it so.I have a few breads that I dearly want to make, but with a top floor apartment it gets awful toasty even w/o the oven on.
Liz says
Your going to love working with your husband, or atleast I do. We run a small business together and everyone always says they wouldn’t be able to work with their spouse, but we both enjoy it. It is very hard to leave work at work though when your coworker is at home with you. I wish you the best!
Jill says
Glad to hear mention of future Kerflings! Why not have a baker’s dozen! 🙂
Exercise and Eat says
Good luck with your future career!
Tami says
does great harvest sell those shirts? i am always telling people how much you can get done if you wake up early!
Sarah says
Very cool. I personally believe that a degree is NEVER wasted as long as you are happy with whatever job you are doing and were happy with the program while you were in it! I have finally decided not to let others define “success” for me, and I’ve never been happier 🙂
Kath says
I agree!!!!!
I’ve just gotten a lot of comments “Are you upset that you ‘wasted’ your RD” and stuff like that so I wanted to clarify 🙂
Sarah says
Definitely! I’m just proud of you (not in a condescending way) for making your own decisions! You’re an inspiration!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
That looks like *such* hard work but *very* rewarding and fun all at the same time. And all those glorious breads to bake and taste. Mmm…that sounds amazing. 😀
Kristina says
I would LOVE this life – early morning bakery hours!! I used to run a european deli with multiple locations here, and when I opened a new location I would schedule myself for the early morning baker hours – to teach my bakery staff – it was so great, and I sometimes wanted THAT job instead of mine! 🙂
shorty says
I am super excited for you two! What a great job and how fun to have a family business!
Holly says
Kath that is so exciting about the bakery! And I agree with other comments that have said that there is no such thing as a wasted degree. I have my degree in Criminology/German Studies and I work for a cremation urn company! No matter what you do, your schooling and experiences stay with you and shape who you are and how you work. Good luck!
Camille says
This looks like so much fun! I would love to open a bakery someday!
Heather says
What hard work! Looks like fun though – very rewarding and relaxing!
Can’t wait to hear about your bakery opening and how you plan to market it!
Stepf says
Kath, I’m so excited for this new chapter in your life 🙂 Best of luck!
Ann @ Appalachian Appetites says
I forgot you were going to the bakery this morning! I really missed you 🙂 I kept checking the blog and you weren’t there! hehe Congrats on the bakery…Can’t wait to keep following the journey. And how exciting Karen is going. You guys are on to the next big adventure! Again, congrats!
brandi says
Sounds like a fun morning to me 🙂 Much more exciting than sitting at my computer for 8 hours every day!
I’ll have swing by C’ville while visiting family once GH is open – I’ve never been to one since we don’t have one here! But it will only be about an hour from my in-laws.
Christine says
How did Matt get in this line of work? I am so interested. I love GH and think it would be a great place to work. Good for you opening your own place!
Kath says
He worked in the corporate world for a while and hated it, eventually quitting his job. After a few months of unemployment, I told him he had to have a job when I came home from work. I told him to pick a hobby. He picked bread. The rest is history!
Christine says
Awesome! You guys are living a dream so many don’t have the courage to try. You can tell just by looking at him he is very happy. A happy husband makes life a lot more fun 🙂 Best of luck to you and thanks for the reply!!
Mellissa says
I am very fascinated by the process of becoming a small business owner, so time consuming but in the long run it will be worth it!
Wendy says
I think that any degrees, life experiences, etc., only add to a person’s ability to do a job well, and are never, ever “wasted”. It looks like you have really given a lot of thought to what you truly want to do, and how your career path can be shaped to your life circumstances down the road. It will be fascinating to watch you, Matt and Karen make the bakery happen!
Colleen says
You two are so cute! It must have been fun working together today 🙂 It’s like ‘Bring Your Wife to Work Day’, hehehe.
britt says
those cinnamon rolls look absolutely amazing! i bet they were even better with a little icing 🙂
Brittany @ A Healthy Slice of Life says
So cool to see the inner workings of the bakery! I think your new life-to-be sounds exciting, fun and delicious!
It also sounds like you have been getting some people picking on you about “wasting” your RD credential… Ignore ’em! I think it’s such a great bank of knowledge to have for the bakery, to help others, and for family and future kids! 🙂
Kelsey says
Hey Kath! I’ve been a long-time lurker, but don’t think I’ve ever commented. Just wanted to congratulate you and your husband on your bakery adventure! I hope you enjoy your days working in the bakery. I just graduated from Kansas State with a Baking Science degree, so I’m always excited to hear about other people working in the bakery world 🙂 I feel like working in a retail bakery is such an incredible unique experience that more people should have! Good luck and take care!
Ok Chick says
My family is looking to vacation in Charleston, in Oct. If we do, I will make sure we stop at your bakery!
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) says
mmm now I really, really want to visit our local Great Harvest. it’s 30 miles from my house so I don’t visit as often as I’d like!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
love seeing a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes at GH, and your future!!!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I honestly love baker hours. My husband and I talked about opening a bakery/coffee shop before since I have a culinary degree and baking is really my love. However, his career as an illustrator has started to move in the right direction and started up another business just seems like too much. I think you are so right to use your degree in this way especially with a company that focuses on fresh wholesome breads. I think it is great that Karen is going too. What a great family business! I gotta say…I am kinda jealous!
I was really happy to see GH is doing some gluten free stuff too since my husband has celiac! Good for them!
By the way…love Matt’s hat…a baker with style!
Chelsey says
OH EM GEEEEE!!! Do all GH’s ahve Gluten free bread? please tell me YES!
Lee says
What time does Matt (and you, if you work with him) go to sleep after work? My husband often works midnight – 8 am and he usually goes to sleep right around 9am, when he gets home, and gets up around 6, when I get home. I don’t know how he does it!
Matt says
I just try to go to bed earlier when I’m getting up early the next day. I’m usually in bed by 8:30 but sometimes as early as 7pm! I try not to take a nap because it throws off my sleep cycle so much.
On the last work day of the week, I’ll take a long nap after work so that I’ll get back on a more regular sleep cycle for the weekend. Getting up early is not that hard once you get used to it, and it never hurts to wake up to do something as fun as baking bread!
Danielle (Runs on Green) says
It’s definitely not a waste of an RD degree!! I don’t think people realize how many different things you can ‘get into’ with our degree (I’m working toward mine). There’s so many opportunities and you gotta do what you enjoy 🙂
Alyssa @ Bride To Be Fit says
Wow…. I don’t think I could restrain myself from gobbiling up all that yummy bread if I was working there! Glad to read about your plans, I love how you guys are just following your dreams 🙂
Teens Eat says
I LOVE the work shirt! It is the truth when you work in a bakery 😛 lol. Working at Einsteins is the exact same way… especially when you work in the BUSIEST Einsteins in the whole U.S.
My work shirt says “Donut’s Shmonut’s Eat a Bagel!”
Court
marie says
I’m surprised that people have told you that you were wasting a degree. My dad, who is a farmer (small/medium farm), has a business degree, and he ALWAYS says how useful it was for him and that he is so glad he did it. Education is NEVER wasted. I also think that your education brings a lot to your blog since you know what you are talking about. Also, there is a growing trend for health, and being the owner of a bakery, it is great that you know a lot about that as it is what your business is about, and you know exactly how to fill such demands if needed. I also think that with your qualifications, as well as being business-owner, you can do so much (long-term) in terms of educating your customers and community, etc. Plus, this makes you very well-rounded, instead of being a one-dimensional type of person. Finally, everybody who has kids should have at least SOME training about nutrition in order to do the best for their kids and who better than an RD to do that.
anne says
Wow! Such an exciting opportunity ahead of you. Thanks for sharing it all with us.
Morgan @ Life After Bagels says
if you need to hire anyone else for bread eating, you know where to find me!
Lana says
What a wonderful three-venture plan. I didn’t realize Karen was part of the plan – how fun! 🙂
I also love that you are making “space” for yourself to go part-time “some day” to potentially have a family and write and such. 🙂 Great balance!
Sheesh, I wish MORE bakeries would have RDs working in them. :))))
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I’m glad you explained that you aren’t wasting your degree. Some people don’t understand that just because you don’t have the traditional job using your degree doesn’t mean you don’t still use it in many different ways.
I have a degree in foreign language education and I don’t teach. But my skills with kids work great as a pastor, my planning helps with all the administrative stuff and the language skills help when we have someone who doesn’t speak English. I just wish my dad got it.
Sounds like you, Karen and Matt have a great plan and are ready for success. And I love that shirt 🙂
Anya @ Fitness & Sunshine says
If I had that job, oh my goodness I would eat little (or big?) snippets of bread the whole time. 😉
This is very exciting, I hope everything goes well with settling this bakery!
Meagan says
My morning sounds alot like your morning! Cool 🙂 I like the blog, book, and kids sentence. I can’t imagine what little KERFs would be like!!
Lisa @ My High-Carb Lifestyle says
You’ve got that big-ass Hobart, and you guys are kneading bread by HAND? 😀
It’s so cool and fascinating to get a behind the scenes look like this. It sounds like you guys have a great business plan, I can’t wait to see more when you get your bakery up and running!
Laura says
WOW!!!! Busy, busy, busy! Exhausting just reading about it! You must feel so accomplished (and tired!) getting so much done!
Never come across gluten free bread in a bakery before but it’s good to know that bakeries do, DO it! My cousin can’t have gluten and we’re always on the look out for tasty products for him to have! xx
jen says
Huge congratulations to you and Matt for being so close to opening your own Great Harvest Bakery. It’s so great to see people pursuing their passions and making every day a joy. Wishing you all the best in your new venture… trials, struggles, triumphs, and delights.
Sabina says
I’m curious about shorts being permitted in a bakery. Could you provide some background? In every kitchen I’ve worked in (which all had bakeries), shorts are verboten, for health and safety reasons (they provide some degree of protection – from spills, heat, etc). Thanks! 🙂
Kath says
It’s up to the establishment
Erica says
VERY exciting! So happy for you two. I can’t wait to see pictures of your store and hear about your experiences. I am loving our great harvest. My only wish is that they had salads to go with their awesome breads. Isn’t 8 oclock so good?
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf says
I love how you explain that the RD degree applies to your chosen field. I was an art major and it’s been a little difficult to explain how that applied to my chosen field (blogging–though that wasn’t the plan when I was in college!), but I really do believe that with my art/photography/design education, inherent writing skills, my recently realized interest in food and health, and my desire to work for myself and still have time for a family, homeschooling, and following my to-be-military husband all over the globe that career blogging really is an ideal fit!
Sometimes it’s just so hard for people to see beyond the conventional career titles that are associated with a degree.
Emily Lou says
Kath-
I am so inspired by all that you do. Throwing the baking into the mix is just one more challenge I know you can take on! I do have to admit that I’m a little sad I live so far away. Great Harvest has always been my favorite bread company. I still can’t walk by a GH without catching the scent and thinking of the (great) times when I was little and my mom would allow me to have a free sample!
I am so excited to live vicariously through you as you continue on in this journey.
-Emily Lou
P.S. What’s a scuffin? Looks delish…
lynn says
We live about 2 hours or so from Charlottesville but plan a trip just to visit your store! Very exciting. Agree with everyone above: no matter what, education is NEVER a waste!! I don’t
‘use’ my 4 year degree, but having it has opened many doors and I can’t begin to list all the real-world useful things I learned in pursuit of that degree. Best of luck – God bless!
Marisa says
Baking looks like fun! Every time I see pictures of Great Harvest goodies, it makes me sad that the closest one to me is 119miles away!! I think I really need some of that cinnamon chip bread in my life!
Ashley@thehungryscholar says
I love their fruit bars.
What a great day! Thanks for sharing.
Allison K says
Education is never a waste!
Jakie says
i love your life 🙂
Mama Pea says
Freakin’ lawyers.
Robyn @ Frugal 'n' Fit! says
This is one of my favourite entries ever. So much bakery “porn”! 😉
Holly says
I love reading your blog and as a UVA graduate, I definitely intend to visit the Cville Great Harvest! Good luck!
janna@janna's keeping it real says
That is so exciting!
Thanks for sharing a little about the business! =0)
Rosey Rebecca says
Love that shirt and Matt’s hat! I’ve always wanted to work at a bakery. It seems like so much fun!
I hear you about the R.D. working in many different fields thing. I major in journalism and plan to get a degree in nutrition, so I can write about it!
mel says
I’ll be an attorney in two years…maybe I should move to C-Ville with the Hubs and be your Great Harvest Attorney…hmmm
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
What a day! Looks like you’re working hard but having fun! 🙂 I think it’s so cool that it’s going to be a family business, with you, Matt, and Karen each having specific jobs! I think that’s really neat! Congrats to all of you!
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
You have a fun and challenging adventure ahead!! I wasn’t aware you wanted to write a book. ‘Tis the current healthy blogging trend ; )
Do you know when you want the kiddos to ‘appear’? 🙂
Tina says
Lawyers always seem to multiply the time & cost somehow, don’t they? But I guess they are a necessary evil for the big things such as commercial leases & real estate, etc.
Anne says
You guys look like you’re having so much fun! Don’t know how you get up THAT early though!! 🙂
DPG says
Your plan sounds wonderful — how exciting to be able to involve the strength, skills and interests of so many family members in a shared venture. Congratulations!
Lisa @ Early Morning Run says
I’m exhausted just reading this! Thanks for telling us your plans, I have been wondering!
Hope your lawyers get things settled soon for you!
Mom says
Do I get one of those shirts as the mom-in-law of one of the bakers and the mom of the other? I
Kath says
Maybe for Xmas!
Jess. says
I think it is awesome that you are going to be working in the bakery. I am really looking forward to reading about and seeing your experiences. I am going to open a bakery someday so it is nice to see you go thru the process 🙂
Katie says
Congrats on getting the bakery started up – I work at a local bakery in northwest Arkansas and it’s hard work – but a lot of fun too. Just be careful not to gain 20 pounds like I did – those bites add up! =) By the way, we have the same coffee mug – isn’t it awesome? I don’t think you can spill coffee on yourself if you try!
Christa says
The gf cinnachip bread sounds AMAZING! any chance you ship to Canada??!!! (it’s always worth a try!)
sarah says
good luck to you all! thanks for making my stomach growl ;)…the fruit & oat bars are my favorite! dangerously so- if i had a gh on my way to work that was open before 6 am, they’d become a daily thing for sure.
Jaime says
This makes me miss working as a bakery. My favourite part of my day was shaping all that bread, in part because of how challenging it was in the beginning. Baking isn’t for the faint of spirit. 😉
Alyssa says
I love Great Harvest and LOVE their GF days!! Tuesdays and Fridays here!
If you want a GF taste tester, send some my way!!
~Alyssa
Andrea says
Oh yum. This post made me VERY hungry and VERY excited that my office literally shares an alley with your proposed location!!! Any chance we can rig up a bread-toting pulley system out your back door and into my back window? 🙂
Kath says
Ha! [We’re having trouble with negotiations 🙁 ]
caitlin says
Degrees rule.
So does cinnachip.
Sandy says
I’m thinking your GH store needs a website and a newsletter as well as a GH blog from an RD. Has Karen found a home in Cville yet?
Tara @ Food for Fuel says
Enjoy hearing about the plans for your Great Harvest!! I’d love to in your position someday owning a bakery, but with nursing on the side for me! Someday 🙂
Karen says
AH! I can’t wait for this bakery to come to Cville! We need a good one : ) Can’t wait to try some of this stuff.
Lisa - respect the shoes says
You guys are awesome. It takes a lot to open up a small business and it is wonderful you guys are working at it together and have a plan. Most people our age are still trying to figure things out and you guys seem really grounded and focused.
My BF is currently working on a new business venture himself right now, so I know how crazy things can get sometimes and how prepared you need to be – best of luck to you guys!
Brenda says
Sounds like your plans are coming together nicely! Hopefully the negotiations will go well and everything will fall into place. After you get your business up and running is there a chance you might expand to mail orders?
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
Wow – what a wonderful post! Thankyou for taking us behind the scenes of what will soon be your new adventure! I love that the whole family will be taking part – and I think your RD qualifications (not to mention your ‘blogger’ quals) will be so advantageous to the business!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
Wow, I had no idea you were interested in setting up your own bakery! That is awesome!! I really hope you will document your journey on here because I think it is very interesting! Good luck with it all 😀
Cassie says
Really?? No idea? Do you actually *read* this blog? She has been talking about this bakery on the blog for more than a year.
Erin says
Love your blog!
I have seriously always wanted to work or own a bakery. I love that you and Matt are working together and your day looks like it was so much fun!
Sheila Viers | Live Well 360 says
It’s funny sometimes how when someone takes a different path than what is deemed by society as the “right” path or what other people’s own preferences may be, the things that people will say. Some of the things that people said to Ryan and I when we decided to start our own business “in this economic climate” were almost laughable… I’m serious… it was hard not to laugh at them. The biggest lesson I got out of it was to stop caring what other people think, and to start only caring what mattered to me and my own intuition. It really was an awesome feeling, and sort of an awakening in a sense, because for a long time I really cared too much about what other people thought.
I know you aren’t looking for advice, I am more so saying this because I can relate, and I think you guys are awesome and are ROCKING IT. I can’t wait to watch as things unfold with your business, and it sounds like you have a fab management team in place. 😉
Kath says
🙂
It’s very scary. But so liberating. Life > money
Sheila Viers | Live Well 360 says
Totally! Have you read Tony Hsieh’s book Delivering Happiness? It’s about Zappos and how they grew to what they are now (which is really interesting), but REALLY what it is about is following your passion and purpose, and letting the rest fall into place. I highly recommend it!!
Reading books like that about entreprenuers has really helped me to realize how when we started out, things that seem so huge and scary are so small in the grand scheme of things. Actually, now… some of the stuff that I look back on that seemed so scary in the past doesn’t seem to be that big of a deal anymore… yet, new scary things have of course taken their place. Ha!
Christena says
Gosh, I LOVE bread!
I guess I don’t understand why anyone would think you were “wasting” an RD degree by owning a bakery + being a food blogger. Maybe I don’t know anything about the degree, but I think your hybrid career sounds like a perfect fit for that degree, plus very fun. Sometimes I wish I had chosen something a little less traditional.
katie says
I think you are putting your RD to good use with a bakery and your food blog! You’re constantly showing all your readers better, more creative ways to eat. I will have to check with my local Great Harvest and see if they can start baking some gluten-free bread. There are two branches with the same owner about 6 miles apart, so your post gave me hope they might consider it!
Becky says
I’ve always meant to ask you, what made you guys decide on Charlottesville? I’ve heard that it’s a little pricier to live there, but maybe is it better for businesses?
Kath says
We had to pick a town that didn’t have a Great Harvest and there aren’t too many. But Matt was born in Charlottesville and we knew it was a very foodie friendly town with a beautiful setting, wine country, local food movement and big university to keep the culture going. It just seemed like a perfect fit for us. It’s not cheap, but it’s not expensive either.
Patty says
I would get up at 2:30 knowing that I was making all the delicious breads and muffins. I probably missed my calling, I have always been an early riser and early to bed, 4:30 to 5 is my usual wake up time.
Angie says
Kath,
From a fellow RD…and long-time fan of your blog…Huge Congratulations!!
Life in the nutrition field is totally what you make of it…sounds like you guys have an awesome plan! Always- happy life trumps money….and you know, from what I’ve seen…when you do what you love and what you’re truly passionate about…the money usually follows.
I think it sounds awesome to follow the progress as your business starts – And I hope to visit Cville sometime to check out how your hard work is paying off.
Congrats!
Kerri @ Kerri Turns into a Zombie says
Wow, soo busy before noon. I can’t wait to stop by the bakery when I visit my grandparents in Waynesboro.
southern momma says
Will you let us know the name and such when you open? We live in Fairfax and are comin by!
Kath says
Great Harvest Charlottesville!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
Wow! What a crazy day! I’m excited to see where your life goes though 🙂
Simply Life says
Wow, what a full day! I’m curious- what type of book are you planning to work on?!
Kath says
No idea!!!!!!!!!!
Faith @ LovelyAsCharged says
I love that slogan – so true!
I’m so impressed with your bakery setup. Not only does everything look beyond amazing but you really seem to have such a wonderful sense of direction for it. I’ve got my fingers crossed that you’re able to get it off the ground as smoothly and successfully as possible!
Amanda (The Nutritionist Reviews) says
What great plans for your RD career! And it looks like you had a lot of fun with your husband..how awesome!
Marie says
This was neat! Thanks for the behind-the-scenes look 🙂 Can’t wait to stop by your store!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
Wow! Bakery! That sounds awesome. I’m baking cinnamon banana muffins right now and I feel like I could do this for a living. Smells delicious, makes people happy and tastes amazing. Couldn’t imagine more fun.
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
So fun, I love Great Harvest so seeing the inner workings is exciting. I get up at 3:15 am every morning. You get used to it and then you have the afternoon and evening, but no night time, it’s off to bed very early.
Hannah says
This was a really fascinating post – I relaly enjoy learning more about the baking side of things. I only wish you’d moved to Charlottesville 2-3 years ago, when I was living there! 🙂
Kelly says
Kath, I think that sounds like an awesome plan! It looks like all of your hard work is going to let you get some great work life/family life balance when it’s most important. 😉 Can’t wait to keep reading about your adventures but sad that you’re leaving Charlotte. We need a GH up in my neck of the woods. Piper Glen is tooooo far!
Kath says
There is a GH right near you – on King’s Drive!!
gina (fitnessista) says
AMAZING!
congratulations! <3
that would be my dream job.. but you would find me passed out under a table with half an eaten loaf in my hands. i love bread so much
so excited to hear more about all of your adventures!
xoxo
Amy @ LittleChefBakes says
I’ve been following your blog for a while, but I finally found my reason to post after reading this post! First of all, congrats on finishing your internship! I just finished mine in May and passed the big exam. Secondly, I am super jealous that you and Matt are opening up a Great Harvest. Even though I’m an RD, my true passion is cooking/baking and my long-term goal is to open a gluten free bakery. I truly believe that you will be putting your RD to good use and I cannot wait to hear about your adventures as a baker!
Kath says
Thanks Amy 🙂
Kath says
and good luck!
Stacey @ Tipping the (Kitchen!) Scales says
You look surprisingly fresh-faced (and happy!) for such an early start – hats off to you!
Gena says
I LOVED seeing your bakery work, Kath! This is such a perfect and logical culmination of your career and your partnership with Matt, and I know it’s going to be a wonderful institution.
megan says
I know I”m late commenting, but I LOVED this post. I absolutely love that you guys are opening a great harvest. I was introduced to them through you, and now I stop every time I’m in the area. I have so much respect for you that you are venturing out and starting your own business. a scary thing, but hopefully so worth it. You are following your dreams, living your life, not afraid to make mistakes – it’s what keeps me coming back to your blog again and again. You aren’t afraid to be you, even when criticized. ok i sound a little like a stalker, but just wanted to say what i think 🙂
Eileen says
I love your plans- degrees can be used in so many creative ways which few people realize. Good for you!!
Wanted to let you know I tried your “Breathe” green smoothie recipe last night after a hot yoga class and it was heavenly!!!
Wei-Wei says
Working in a bakery sounds really tough. And it’s crazy, an 8 hour shift over at 11am?! Wow! I love the plans you have for the future. Practical and almost dream-like, too! (Kids?! :D)
Wei-Wei
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
Everything at the bakery looks so much fun, but the early wake up time.. uuuh! hardcore 😀
Ana says
i gotta admit i freaked out a little bit when i saw your pint glass from the Bulldog! did you go to the one in New Orleans, or did you get that from the one in Baton Rouge? i’m from BR and everybody has at least one glass from the Bulldog–it was just crazy seeing it on the blog world, especially since you are so far away from NOLA/BR.
Kath says
My bro-in-law brought it from NOLA
Marissa says
I have celiac disease so it’s awesome to see that Great Harvest is coming up with some gluten free bread recipes, its hard to find a good gf bread. :[
Kristin says
I can’t wait to send all my C-ville friends to visit your bakery!