When I was pregnant for the second time I was looking to purchase already made sourdough bread because I was too tired to make it myself, even though I had a starter and was capable of making it. I wanted to find a place that made truly organic sourdough bread using safe, non-toxic materials.
It was a very difficult task. Some bakeries were not using organic ingredients, or they were adding extra ingredients to a classic sourdough bread. A classic sourdough bread only requires flour, salt, and water. After my last attempt at a farmers market, I asked a well-known baker why they were adding synthetic ingredients, and the answer made me think of all the families buying bread without knowing how harmful those ingredients can be.
That is how Hestia Sourdough came to life. I felt the need to help other families who may not have the time or skill to make truly organic sourdough bread. I wanted to provide a service I needed very much when I was pregnant and tired, because I knew there were parents out there who wanted to provide healthy, quality ingredients for their families when they were unable to make it themselves.
Another deciding factor in starting this business is that my son is allergic to regular yeast, an ingredient found in virtually every store-bought bread. Throughout my journey of finding safe bread for him, I learned that he could consume natural, wild yeast. My son is also allergic to corn, which is an added ingredient in almost everything, making store-bought bread and many other products completely off the table for him.
Because it was so difficult finding allergy-friendly and truly healthy baked goods, I fell even more in love with sourdough and became even more resolved in my mission.
