I hope you are all enjoying the wonders of spring. I have been enjoying walking and cycling through the city and smelling the intoxicating sweetness of lilacs and mayflower. Hooray for sunshine and many-coloured flowers!
For many understandable reasons, attendance to Bread Club has been somewhat unpredictable and I may choose to restructure it to better meet the needs of my customers (and myself). I am considering modelling like a CSA*. Individuals or households could subscribe to a certain number of loaves per month, which would be baked and picked up/delivered to a central location every other week. I am still brainstorming different options and would love to hear your thoughts. Please post a comment or send me an email with your ideas.
Until the next Bread Club event or restructuring, I have some frozen loaves of bread available for sale. Contact me if you’re interested.
Also, I just started working part time at Janice Beaton Fine Cheese on 16th Avenue (right next to Caffe Beano). Do come in and say hi if you’re in the area. Buy some cheese to go with your bread!
*CSA = Community Supported Agriculture provides a structure of support for farmers. Farmers (producers), in essence, are partnering with their customers (consumers). They receive the financial support they need to run their farm, and subscribers receive fresh, local produce on a regular basis. I would attempt to create something similar with fresh bread.
Matters of the Hearth 
Hi Katrina
Think the modeling like a CSA is a great idea. You could count us in to order “x” number of loaves, scones, etc. per month (would very per month depending on our travels). Caution would be to make sure your customers would actually pick up the loaves that they ordered – unfortunately humans can be fickle. You would need to be clear about deadlines and stick to them or you would not be able to structure your life. What it might challenge is adding new Bread Club members as how would they get to “sample” before they buy? Of course word of mouth is good but doubt it will not expand your base enough.
Learn from Janice – I met her about 20 years ago when she first opened Caffe Beano – 1st real coffee shop in Calgary. Great person and super great business person – say hello to her from me.
Myrna
Katrina, I think this is a good idea. As you know, we just are not always able to make it to the event itself. Ordering the bread in advance, knowing we would be able to get it even if we couldn’t make it to the event, would be very helpful.
Would we be able to special order things like scones too?
Yes I think that’s a good way to go. I have found myself running around on a Sunday thinking ‘hmm, I wonder what Katrina’s spelt bread is like, I wonder when I’ll have time to go pick some up..” You might want to track down Aviv Fried (I’m sure someone at J.B. knows him..) and ask his advice.
http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/life-style/your-face-here/aviv-fried-owner-sidewalk-citizen-bakery-6655/
Hello Katrina,
I think it is a good idea. Zeljko and I have been to your place several times and enjoy the bread very much. the fellow mentioned above (Aviv- Sidewalk Citizen Bakery I think is at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmers Market.on Wednesdays. Please let us know when and how to purchase some of your wonderful breads and scones when you have restructured.
Maggie Lindsay
Hi Katrina,
A different model would work better for me as my household is away on weekends much of the time and I have missed your offerings. I would be more interested in a monthly order.
best,
Robin
Hi Katrina, I also think ordering in advance would be very convenient. We could do it weekly or monthly, however works for you the best.
Hugs,
Krystyna