A note from Maria

For 15 years I built a career in Corporate America, and while I was good at it, something was always missing. In February I stepped away to finally pursue the creative life I had been quietly craving and to spend more time with my kids. The Small Business Edit was born out of my deep belief that small businesses are the backbone of communities like ours, and that the people behind them have stories worth telling. This series is my way of honoring those stories, one business at a time.


What inspired you to start The Joyful Homestead?

I am happiest when I'm at home, surrounded by the people I love most. My greatest joys in life are being a wife and a mom, but I also wanted to create something that was uniquely mine. Something that reflected my creativity and passion. Starting a cottage bakery has given me the best of both worlds. I get to be present with my family while building a business that brings me purpose and fulfilment.

What is the meaning behind your name?

The Joyful Homestead was born from the simple idea that baking brings me joy. My hope is that every loaf I share brings a little joy to someone else as well. The "Homestead" portion of the name came naturally. I live on Homestead Road, and sourdough itself is rooted in a rustic, handcrafted tradition. It felt like the perfect play on words, one that reflects both where I am and the heart behind what I create.



Woman baker proudly displays freshly baked artisan sourdough bread loaves on a wooden counter in a cozy home kitchen.
Woman in white t-shirt stands proudly behind a cooling rack of freshly baked artisan sourdough breads in a cozy home kitchen.

What has sourdough taught you that you did not expect?

Sourdough has taught me to give myself grace. Bread making is science, yes, but it's also an art. You can carefully control every variable, follow every step, and still have a loaf that doesn't turn out the way you expected. I've baked hundreds of loaves, and I know I'll still make mistakes after I've baked thousands more. That's part of the process. Sourdough has reminded me that perfection isn't the goal. Consistency, patience, and the willingness to keep learning are. And honestly, that's a lesson that extends far beyond baking.

Baker scoring bread dough topped with cornmeal on a wooden cutting board in a rustic kitchen.
Woman with tattoo kneading bread dough on wooden cutting board with rustic sourdough loaf in background.
Woman shaping bread dough on a floured wooden cutting board with a baked loaf in the background.
Person kneading fresh bread dough on a floured wooden cutting board with a baked loaf in the background.
Person shaping homemade bread dough on a floured wooden cutting board with a baked loaf nearby.
Person scoring bread dough on a floured wooden surface, with a baked loaf visible in the background.

What is your favorite part of the baking process?

I'll start with my least favorite part: shaping the dough. It's the most stressful stage because once the dough is ready, there's no slowing down. When you have more than twenty loaves waiting to be shaped, everything moves quickly, and it's by far the messiest part of the process.

My favorite moment comes later, when I lift the lids off the loaf pans and see how beautifully each loaf has risen. After hours of mixing, folding, fermenting, shaping, and waiting, it's the moment when all of that time and care is rewarded. There's something incredibly satisfying about seeing the finished bread. People often say that receiving a loaf of homemade sourdough is a sign that someone truly cares about you, and I couldn't agree more. Every loaf is a labor of love.

Assorted artisan sourdough bread loaves and chocolate chip cookies displayed on a cooling rack on a wooden table.
Artisan sourdough bread loaf with blueberries surrounded by sesame and rustic breads on a wooden board.
Hands slicing fresh sourdough bread on a wooden cutting board with a ceramic bread slicer guide.
Hands slicing a rustic sourdough bread loaf on a wooden cutting board with a sharp knife.
Honey drizzled over fresh sourdough bread on a wooden board with creamy butter spread nearby.
Woman in white shirt picking up chocolate chip cookies from cooling rack surrounded by artisan breads.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start a small business?

Do it for yourself first. Build something that you're genuinely passionate about. There will be hard days, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt, so your "why" has to be strong enough to carry you through them. Show up for yourself, stay consistent, and don't let the fear of imperfection keep you from starting. You don't have to have everything figured out, you just have to be willing to start.


The Joyful Homestead is a cottage bakery specializing in sourdough bread and baked goods. Find Rachael at the local farmers market or follow along @thejoyfulhomestead on Instagram for custom orders.


Photography by Maria Klovens — mariaklovensphotography.com


PS. Fun fact: Rachael and I grew up in the same place and went to the same high school, but didn't know each other. We started following each other back in January and I'm so glad we connected!


Woman in tan apron stands in organized kitchen pantry with wooden shelves stocked with baking supplies and ingredients.
Hands reaching for chocolate chip cookies on a cooling rack surrounded by assorted baked goods.
Woman in tan apron stands behind artisan sourdough bread loaves and packaged goods on a wooden table.