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Bread and Pender Island: The Happy Monk Blog

A Happy Monk customer once told me that the next best thing to eating Happy Monk bread is reading the Happy Monk blog.

Well, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. But I was surprised to look back, a while ago, and find that there were now over 70 blog posts! “My god!” I thought, “that’s turning into a small body of work!”

I’m happy with the responses I’ve had, which make all the toil and thought I put into the blog worthwhile. Some I’m proud of, one or two I’m a bit embarrassed by.

Old-time newspaper columnists

I used to marvel at the old newspaper columnists of the 1960s or 70s who would churn out four or five x 500-word columns a week. I think of old Vancouver Sun writers like Alan Fotheringham, Jim Taylor, Pat Carney, Jack Wasserman, Bob Hunter, or Denny Boyd.

What must they have thought about their output? I’m sure cigar-chomping editors were leaning over them, yelling, “Where’s your copy, Foth?” The imperative was to get the column done, fill the hole in the page … and who cared what they wrote? Indeed, they must have been embarrassed, too, about some of their columns.

And pleased with themselves when they wrote a humdinger!

Ah! The pros there were then! Seasoned newspaper people, who could string together coherent sentences with ease, summon authority and wit at the blink of an eye and hammer out masterpieces on their noisy Underwood or Remington manuals! Copy!

Just a bread blogger

I’m just a “bread blogger,” but I still have to do all the work: come up with topics, research background information, make phone calls, source photographs (or take them myself), seek permissions to use poems or pictures, and proofread as carefully as I can, often into the wee, small hours.

Jennifer, of course, is my second set of eyes. She makes sure the posts are grammatically sound, properly spell-checked, and clearly written before they’re made live on the Happy Monk website.

There are no hot metal printing presses waiting for typeset proofs. No giant rolls of newsprint, no buckets of ink. No delivery trucks and paperboys and girls waiting across the city to get their bundles of newspapers tied with twine.

It’s just me and my blog and the Happy Monk website somewhere in the cloud.

It’s a different era, but the same challenge is there, even for a bread blogger: what to write about?

The Happy Monk experience

The bread and the baking world is the main topic here. But I’m also drawn to life on Pender Island: the community, the baker’s life, rural life, the nature around us, and my own experience of it all.

The blog has allowed me to explore these topics in ways I might not have done otherwise. It has been a way to share my experience and enthusiasm with the communities that have been so generous to Jennifer and me. And maybe the blog posts add a new dimension to the bread that emerges each week from Mildrith, the wood-fired oven. It’s just bread, after all, but it’s bread made on Pender Island!

Here’s a list of all blog post titles since day one of the Happy Monk Baking Company with links to each of them.

Click away! Revisit some of these blogs. Let me know which ones you like best. Send me some constructive criticism of ones that could be better.

I’ll try to update the list from time to time, adding more current ones.

The Happy Monk Blog Posts: Complete

A Bowl of Bread Soup
A Coronavirus in the Sky
A Primal Connection: Wood-Fired Sourdough
A Small Scoundrel
A Summer’s Morning
A Thousand Loaves of Bread
A Water World
Alas, the Humble French Baguette!
An Approachable Recipe
An Inspiration in the Early Morning
An Ode to Autumn!
Art Off the Fence: A Pender Institution
Aunty Betty’s “Brown Bread”
Baker
Benediction on Mount Norman
Bottleneck at the refrigerator!
Bread and “Les Canotiers de la Meurthe”
Brother Geoffrey
Can I Make Bread?
Cold Water In Boundary Pass
Confessions of a Salt Lover
Confessions of a Would-Be Baker
Dog Days and Diving Swallows
Friday is a good day
Good night, 2019!
Greenangel Choppers Circle Their Wagons
High Drama: The Early Morning Shift
How I built my wood-fired cob oven
Humility
In Gratitude – First Happy Monk Delivery
Let’s Raise a Glass to Mildrith the Oven!
Make Your Own Yeast
Mildrith Springs to Life!
Mildrith’s Bread
Mildrith’s Heat Takes it’s Toll
Morning on the Back Forty
No longer a ‘bread bro’!
Ode to Mildrith the Wood-Fired Oven
Our Daily Bread
Pender Island Through a Baker’s Eyes
Revisiting Rachel Carson and Silent Spring
Sad Monk, Happy Monk
ShopMildrith Emerged Radiant
Sourdough Love
Subversive Swimming
Summer Magic at Art Off the Fence
Summer pours forth its bounty and beauty
Take Me to Poilâne!
That Rye Flavour: Reaching for Something from the Past
The Allure of the Tassajara Bread Book
The Approachable Loaf
The Beatles and Hot Cross Buns
The End of Days?
The French Factor
The Gingham Tablecloth at Nick’s
The Happy Monk and the Art Walk
The Island Within
The Joys of Firewood
The New Bread Basket
The Pandemic is Beginning to Leave its Mark — As It Always Does
The Paysan Boulangers — Peasant Bakers
The Reclining Woman of Vancouver
The State of Nature Writing
The Stillness of Summer
The Sweet Showers of April
The Terroir of Wine and Wheat
The Wheat Field … “Raising Its Radiance to the Moon”
This Living Rock Island
Tinkering with the oven
What the Moon Says in the Time of Coronavirus
Wintertime Blues
Happy Monk Tidings - September 20, 2023 🍞 - BAKER'S CHOICE: Garlic Levain Bread; BLOG: Harumph! Author Says Leave the Baking to the Professionals! [ See LinkTree in Profile ]

Happy Monk Tidings - September 20, 2023 🍞 - BAKER`S CHOICE: Garlic Levain Bread; BLOG: Harumph! Author Says Leave the Baking to the Professionals! [ See LinkTree in Profile ] ...

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A hefty Country Miche, formula from Breadlines published by Bread Bakers Guild of America. Hefty in size, hefty in flavour. Four flours (Sifted Metchosin Wheat, Rye, Buckwheat, Spelt), a super-active levain and an intense crust colour. I think I’m addicted! It’s kind of finicky, though, and trying to work out a reasonable schedule to produce 40 loaves for Happy Monk customers.
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. #bread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakery #bbga #artisanbread #breadhead #sourdough #sourdoughbread #penderisland #southpenderislands #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakingcompany #wholegrainbread #breadhead #michebread #realbread #rusticbread #southerngulfislands #southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries

A hefty Country Miche, formula from Breadlines published by Bread Bakers Guild of America. Hefty in size, hefty in flavour. Four flours (Sifted Metchosin Wheat, Rye, Buckwheat, Spelt), a super-active levain and an intense crust colour. I think I’m addicted! It’s kind of finicky, though, and trying to work out a reasonable schedule to produce 40 loaves for Happy Monk customers.

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. #bread #realbread #naturallyleavened #baker #bakery #bbga #artisanbread #breadhead #sourdough #sourdoughbread #penderisland #southpenderislands #happymonkbaking #happymonkbakingcompany #wholegrainbread #breadhead #michebread #realbread #rusticbread #southerngulfislands #southerngulfislandsbakers #southerngulfislandsbakeries
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REMINDER: Happy Monk is on Summer Break! We're off on our annual late summer respite. Next bread day is Sept. 22. See you then! (photo by Davy Joel Rippner)

REMINDER: Happy Monk is on Summer Break! We`re off on our annual late summer respite. Next bread day is Sept. 22. See you then! (photo by Davy Joel Rippner) ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - August 30, 2023 🍞 - BAKER'S CHOICE:  Mountain Rye Bread; BLOG: Making Bread and Art With A Message; NOTE: Happy Monk is on Holiday for the Next Two Weeks - https://mailchi.mp/ae234548bd1a/happy_monk_tidings_aug30

Happy Monk Tidings - August 30, 2023 🍞 - BAKER`S CHOICE: Mountain Rye Bread; BLOG: Making Bread and Art With A Message; NOTE: Happy Monk is on Holiday for the Next Two Weeks - https://mailchi.mp/ae234548bd1a/happy_monk_tidings_aug30 ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - August 23, 2023 🍞 - BAKER'S CHOICE: Bold Beer Bread; BLOG: Cheese Karma; More Happy Monk holidays coming soon! https://mailchi.mp/783a72739071/happy_monk_tidings_aug23

Happy Monk Tidings - August 23, 2023 🍞 - BAKER`S CHOICE: Bold Beer Bread; BLOG: Cheese Karma; More Happy Monk holidays coming soon! https://mailchi.mp/783a72739071/happy_monk_tidings_aug23 ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - August 9, 2023 🍞 - BAKER'S CHOICE: Sesame Sourdough; BLOG: Say A Prayer For The Perfect Loaf; ANNOUNCEMENT: Happy Monk Summer Holiday Schedule https://mailchi.mp/99197a16b166/happy_monk_tidings_aug9

Happy Monk Tidings - August 9, 2023 🍞 - BAKER`S CHOICE: Sesame Sourdough; BLOG: Say A Prayer For The Perfect Loaf; ANNOUNCEMENT: Happy Monk Summer Holiday Schedule https://mailchi.mp/99197a16b166/happy_monk_tidings_aug9 ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - August 2, 2023 🍞 - BLOG: The Great Laugh (a poem); Baker's Choice: Honey Whole Wheat Sandwich Loaf; [Campaign URL]

Happy Monk Tidings - August 2, 2023 🍞 - BLOG: The Great Laugh (a poem); Baker`s Choice: Honey Whole Wheat Sandwich Loaf; [Campaign URL] ...

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Happy Monk Blog - July 26, 2023 🍞 - Swimming the Neighbourhoods; how John Cheever's short story, The Swimmer, made more sense to kids in the summertime. [See LinkTree in Profile ]

Happy Monk Blog - July 26, 2023 🍞 - Swimming the Neighbourhoods; how John Cheever`s short story, The Swimmer, made more sense to kids in the summertime. [See LinkTree in Profile ] ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - July 19, 2023 🍞
Baker's Choice: Cinnamon-Raisin Bread; BLOG: Coffee, Tea and Hot Chocolate [ See LinkTree in Profile ]

Happy Monk Tidings - July 19, 2023 🍞
Baker`s Choice: Cinnamon-Raisin Bread; BLOG: Coffee, Tea and Hot Chocolate [ See LinkTree in Profile ]
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Happy Monk Blog - July 12, 2023 🍞 - "Nothing I Cared in the Lamb White Days" - Climate change and watching the moon rise over the Salish Sea. [ See LinkTree in Profile ]

Happy Monk Blog - July 12, 2023 🍞 - "Nothing I Cared in the Lamb White Days" - Climate change and watching the moon rise over the Salish Sea. [ See LinkTree in Profile ] ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - July 5, 2023 🍞 - BAKER'S CHOICE: Olive Sourdough; ReBLOG: Salvador Dalí and the Art of Bread [ Click LinkTree in Profile ]

Happy Monk Tidings - July 5, 2023 🍞 - BAKER`S CHOICE: Olive Sourdough; ReBLOG: Salvador Dalí and the Art of Bread [ Click LinkTree in Profile ] ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - June 28, 2023 🍞 - BAKER'S CHOICE: Spelt and Honey Sourdough; BLOG: Black Robe and Rise of the Machine [ See LinkTree in Profile ]

Happy Monk Tidings - June 28, 2023 🍞 - BAKER`S CHOICE: Spelt and Honey Sourdough; BLOG: Black Robe and Rise of the Machine [ See LinkTree in Profile ] ...

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Stately, plump German Rye loaves that even Buck Mulligan would love. This day June 16, Happy Bloomsday all!

Stately, plump German Rye loaves that even Buck Mulligan would love. This day June 16, Happy Bloomsday all! ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - June 14, 2023 🍞 - BAKER'S CHOICE: German Rye (Volkornbrot) with Sunflower Seeds; BLOG: Happy Bloomsday! [ See LinkTree in Profile ]

Happy Monk Tidings - June 14, 2023 🍞 - BAKER`S CHOICE: German Rye (Volkornbrot) with Sunflower Seeds; BLOG: Happy Bloomsday! [ See LinkTree in Profile ] ...

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Happy Monk Tidings - May 31, 2023 🍞 - BAKER'S CHOICE: Fig and Fennel Sourdough; BLOG: The Saving Grace of Siegel's Bagels [ See LinkTree in Profile ]

Happy Monk Tidings - May 31, 2023 🍞 - BAKER`S CHOICE: Fig and Fennel Sourdough; BLOG: The Saving Grace of Siegel`s Bagels [ See LinkTree in Profile ] ...

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HAPPY MONK BLOG: An Approachable Manifesto: A loaf designed for the grocery shelf, but with honest-to-goodness artisan credentials. (May 24, 2023) [ See LinkTree in Proifile ]

HAPPY MONK BLOG: An Approachable Manifesto: A loaf designed for the grocery shelf, but with honest-to-goodness artisan credentials. (May 24, 2023) [ See LinkTree in Proifile ] ...

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Morning coffee ritual, Saturday morning. Drinking Moving Coffee, eating Happy Monk Sprouted Einkorn Sourdough bread, and spending a lot of time setting up this photo. Thanks for the coffee tip, @jomosenpai, it’s really good!
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#coffeelover #coffee #pourovercoffee #pourover #coffeetime #coffeelover  #coffeecoffeecoffee #ceramiccoffeecup #ceramiccoffeemug #coffeeaddict #einkornsourdough #einkornbread #einkornsourdoughbread #einkornbaking

Morning coffee ritual, Saturday morning. Drinking Moving Coffee, eating Happy Monk Sprouted Einkorn Sourdough bread, and spending a lot of time setting up this photo. Thanks for the coffee tip, @jomosenpai, it’s really good!
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#coffeelover #coffee #pourovercoffee #pourover #coffeetime #coffeelover #coffeecoffeecoffee #ceramiccoffeecup #ceramiccoffeemug #coffeeaddict #einkornsourdough #einkornbread #einkornsourdoughbread #einkornbaking
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It’s been a long time since I baked with Einkorn flour, the most ancient of the ancient grains. It’s called “Farro Piccolo” in Italian, or ‘little farro’. A later variety of Einkorn is called “Farro Grande” (large farro)… otherwise known as Spelt. (Einkorn left, Spelt right) Here endeth the lesson. 
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#einkorn #einkorngrain #einkornbread #einkornbaking #tasteofeinkorn #spelt #speltgrain #speltflour #ancientgrain #ancientgrains #ancientgrainbaking #ancientgrainflours

It’s been a long time since I baked with Einkorn flour, the most ancient of the ancient grains. It’s called “Farro Piccolo” in Italian, or ‘little farro’. A later variety of Einkorn is called “Farro Grande” (large farro)… otherwise known as Spelt. (Einkorn left, Spelt right) Here endeth the lesson.

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#einkorn #einkorngrain #einkornbread #einkornbaking #tasteofeinkorn #spelt #speltgrain #speltflour #ancientgrain #ancientgrains #ancientgrainbaking #ancientgrainflours
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Happy Monk Tidings - April 26, 2023 🍞: Baker's Choice: Polenta-Rosemary Sourdough; Blog: A Baker's Summit in the Loire Valley - [See LinkTree in Bio ]

Happy Monk Tidings - April 26, 2023 🍞: Baker`s Choice: Polenta-Rosemary Sourdough; Blog: A Baker`s Summit in the Loire Valley - [See LinkTree in Bio ] ...

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Latest Happy Monk Blog: Bread from the ashes of Pompeii - April 19, 2023 🍞 [ See LinkTree in Profile ]

Latest Happy Monk Blog: Bread from the ashes of Pompeii - April 19, 2023 🍞 [ See LinkTree in Profile ] ...

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1 thought on “Bread and Pender Island: The Happy Monk Blog

  1. Have good mosh-pitting, baker! Friday and Sunday morning won’t be the same without you.

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