The Campaign for Real Bread Conference, held in Oxford in November 2009, highlighted a number of important issues, including how the big supermarket chains (with the connivance of government) are undermining both the social and nutritional values of our daily bread: fewer bakers, fewer millers, GM farming … unlisted ingredients ….mass medication through the toast on our breakfast tables! I (Penny) arrived at the conference as a relatively new baker, expecting a happy few hours hearing about organic recipes. I came away both angry and inspired. Angry at what I’d been innocently consuming all my life, and the impacts of industrial food production/distribution on baking and farming cultures around the world, and inspired by the idea that we could do something to make a stand against it.
Both of us are increasingly concerned about the way the freedom and autonomy of individuals, as well as nations, is being deliberately eroded. We feel that we are all being lulled into a state of moral lethargy, in which it is much ‘easier’ to leave things to the government(s) to handle. ‘Globalisation’ only intensifies the polarisation between the world’s richest and everybody else. This leaves far too many people either being fed rubbish, or not getting enough to eat at all. (For more info, visit campaignforrealfarming.blogspot.com)
The good news is, we believe that individuals can all make a positive difference to the status quo. Baking real bread for our village, and helping others do the same, is our way of doing just that.
Claire
1 year ago
I’ve just had a quick look through your website, which looks fantastic and is really inspiring. I would love to be able to buy your bread in my local village shop – who knows, maybe it will encourage me to start baking!
I wish I’d been able to attend the Real Bread Conference in November and heard Colin Tudge speak. I have just read his book ‘Feeding People is Easy’ which I would recommend to anyone interested in eating good nutritious food and finding out more about the problems with modern agricultural practices.
Keep up the good work!
Kim Barty
1 week ago
Hi Penny
Was so excited to find your website when I googled Africa’s smallest bakery! My husband is actually the baker. He’s set up a bakery in a back room in our cottage in Kalk Bay, Cape Town, South Africa and called it The Change Room.
He’s originally a baker, but now a change consultant and he does one-on-one bread-baking courses as well as personal change useing the analogy of artisan bread-making as a metaphor for change and transformation.
I will see if we’re the smallest bakery in Africa – I think his bakery is 2mx3m! Happy baking
Kim
penny
1 week ago
Hall Kim and Jeremey,
Delighted to hear from fellow micro-bakers, especially from Africa! Have you read ‘Brother Juniper’s Bread Book – Slow Rise as Method and Metaphor’ (Peter Reinhart)? I’ve just bought it, and looking forward to starting it once I finish ‘Six Thousand Years of Bread’by H.E.Jacob, which is one of the best books I’ve read in ages. All best and Happy Baking, Penny.