
I don’t consider myself a professional baker by any means. I’ve never studied a baking program, never worked in a bakery. I’ve learned a few tricks from books, watched a few videos like everyone else. And I’ve learned a bit by doing. Making larger quantities of bread than just a couple of loaves at a time.
I’m more of a serious home baker. I still mix my doughs mostly by hand. I still struggle with consistent results. I look at more experienced bakers who turn out hundreds of loaves by themselves, instead of a few dozen like me.
Yet I manage to sell my bread and make a small living from it. But that does not make me professional.
The physical toll of mixing dough
It’s hard work. I feel the physical toll at the end of a day of dough mixing and still facing an early morning shift with Mildrith, the wood-fired oven. Math was never a strong suit of mine. Yet, I spend up to an hour each baking day, working out hydration percentages, calculating how much extra sourdough levain I need to make. I’ve had to learn Baker’s Math. Yes, that’s “a thing.”
Managing supplies, placing orders, taking orders — all of that is part of a professional baker’s life, yes, but I’m a long way from being a professional baker.
I take particular pride in being self-taught. It’s all fuelled by a passion for bread and baking that still pulses through me. The magic of mixing flour, water, and salt, feeling it come alive in my hands, taking on a life of its own. Pulling lofty, chestnut brown loaves out of the oven, the gorgeous aroma, and the great flavour of freshly baked loaves. And the generous compliments of customers, who clutch their bread close to their stomachs and smile!
A professional baker might be less charmed by these pleasures. Perhaps there is a point where a hardened baker takes more joy in devising a baking schedule that results in a 15 percent increase in bread output. Or introducing a new piece of equipment that produces more uniformly shaped buns.

The pleasure of a fine loaf
I can appreciate those kinds of rewards. But every baker I’ve met or read about is driven by the end result: the pleasure people take in a loaf or cake made from their own toil and ingenuity. The crust colour of a baguette translates to flavour and texture. The loftiness of a country loaf suggests a soft, pillowy crumb. There is something magic in the craft of baking. I’d venture to say all bakers, professional or otherwise, are turned on by it.
From time to time, I crave a baker-mentor. Someone to turn me in a new direction, show me how to achieve a 15 percent increase in bread production, or suggest how to incorporate pastry into the Happy Monk repertoire.
I get inspired about growing wheat here on Pender (where would I ever start?), milling more grain for better flavour (very time consuming and technical) or even starting a full-blown bakery.
I’ve been warned away from all of these ambitions by bakers and friends who know me too well. “It’s too much work just being a baker, David,” one baker friend told me. “Plus, I don’t want to have to come to Pender every time your mill needs to be dressed.”
A worthy mentor
Knows me too well.
Jennifer is my real mentor. She sits patiently, quietly (for the most part) as I rattle off my ambitions, plans to take over the world. Turn it into bread paradise, feed the multitudes with a handful of grain.
But I’m coming around to the belief that my real ambition is simplicity. That I need nothing more than to produce a few beautiful loaves for sustenance and pleasure. The kind of bread that you can hold against your belly, and that makes you smile.
Happy Monk Tidings - November 30, 2022 🍞 - Bakers Choice: Cranberry-Pecan Sourdough; BLOG: Tassajara Wisdom/Perfect Loaf Mastery; REMINDER: Happy Monk holidays fast approaching! [ See LinkTree in Profile ]
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#theperfectloaf #perfectloaf #perfectloaf #maurizioleo #tassajarabreadbook #tassajarabread #tassajaracookbook
Just rockin’ the Olive Sourdough at 4:30 a.m. in the morning. Into Mildrith’s fire they go!
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#woodfired #woodfiredoven #woodfiredovenbread #bread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakery #bakerslife #bbga #artisanbread #breadhead #breadmaking #breadmaking🍞 #sourdough #sourdoughbread #coboven #earthoven #earthenoven #olives #olivebread #olivesourdoughbread #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany #southerngulfislands #southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #penderisland
Cinnamon-Raisin bread, an enduring Happy Monk favourite. And here’s proof of Mildrith’s (the wood-fired oven) recent health check, as she just baked 41 loaves of this (and another 40 of Seed Feast) with lots of heat left to spare. Long live Mildrith and long live Cinnamon-Raisin bread!
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#cinnamonraisinbread #cinnamonraisin #woodfired #woodfiredoven #woodfiredovenbread #bread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakery #bbga #artisanbread #breadhead #breadmaking #breadmaking🍞 #sourdough #sourdoughbread #coboven #earthoven #earthenoven #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany #southerngulfislands #southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #penderisland
Bread (AppleRye), bread (a homely looking Salish Sourdough) and bread (fire brick authenticity) … and my new oven arrives!
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#rackmaster #rackmasterrm2020 #rm2020 #bread #sourdoughbread #woodfired #woodfiredsourdoughbread #woodfiredforever #artisanbread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakersofinstagram #bakery #breadhead #sourdough #sourdoughbread #sourdoughbaking #ryebread #appleryebread #ryeapplebread #apples #applebread #penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaker #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery #happymonkbakingcompany
Dog days. The beginning of summer mellowness. Baked in languor. But sometimes it's hard to let go. Shouldn't I be baking something? [See LinkTree in Profile ]
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#penderisland #southpenderisland #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakery
#happymonkbakingcompany #dogdays #dogdaysofsummer #southerngulfislands
#southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries #southerngulfislandsbc
This is James Morton, my father, who would have been 100 years old today if we hadn't lost him 36 years ago. I've surpassed him in living age and spent more years without him than with him, yet he still whispers in my ear and is a great listener when I talk to him. Taken at 14th Ave. and Burgess St., Burnaby, 'round about 1955. Handsome devil, ain't he?
I consider you a craftsman, David, and your sourdough loaves already perfection. I suspect that accolades won’t prevent you from striving for it, anyway. I’m cheering you on.
Entrepreneur-artisans like you are a national treasure. Wish you 15% more pride. Keep your quill sharp!
So great to hear from you, Linda! Thanks for the cheery message … and love to Bob!
Davy, thank you for your kind words!
You are a true artist David. Included in self taught passions are some of the finest artisans in the world and you are among them. We on Pender, are so very fortunate to have you here baking the most wonderful and delicious bread. Thank you for your hard work and for providing us all with such a gift.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Anne!