Our Journey
Hey there, its Lauren, the owner and pastry chef, here! Grain began as my hobby as I raised my (now-toddler) son, Kaiden, while "finishing" school. Originally starting as PNW Cupcakes (and later Pacific Northwest Cupcakes, before our final change to Grain), I have always had a passion for cooking and baking with whole ingredients, while supporting sustainable agriculture and local small farmers and businesses. While I started with baking for friends and family, I have grown to serve my clients and fans through farmers markets, pop ups, pairings, custom orders, and weddings. The relationships I have made with not only the local farmers and businesses I source from, but also my clients, are what fuels my fire to continue serving our community with entirely sustainably and locally sourced pastries and cakes. The young Midwest born and raised mom who went to school for political science policy and energy sustainability policy and competed dressage for the NAJYRC, is now finding herself and her passion in the world of pastry. Funny how the world works, isn't it?
A Bit About Grain
Grain brings baking back down to the fundamentals, gathering only the locally-sourced, sustainably-harvested, organically-grown, highest-quality ingredients to bring clients the experience of gorgeous desserts that are packed full of exquisite flavor profiles and luxurious textures, crafted carefully by an artisan’s hands. Without the use of preservatives, artificial flavoring, food dyes, or fondant, as Grain owner and pastry chef, I craft one of a kind, nature-inspired, flavorful desserts for clients craving a sustainable-minded bakery that value ingredient sourcing and sustainable agriculture, without sacrificing taste. Blending seasonal bounty with herbs and edible floral notes, many of Grain’s most popular flavors are far from chocolate and vanilla. As well as offering some of the best traditionally-baked pastries around, we pride ourselves in our decadent gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and paleo options which have captured the hearts of diet-friendly clients from Everett to Issaquah and beyond. We are known for our commitment to using only local and sustainable ingredients, lending to our strong partnerships with small local farmers and our loyal clients who continue coming back for orders because of the high end pastries we serve.
Be sure to check out the feature video that we had filmed last year, as well as the gallery of photos of our work!
The Significance of Community Support in Our Journey
As we are collecting bakery equipment and tools, submitting permits and licenses, and working with numerous contractors, loan assistants, business coaches, and fellow pastry friends, we need the community's support to continue our journey. As a young, single mom, with limited resources, I have successfully grown Grain from a hobby to a catering business operating out of a commissary kitchen. However, the cost of starting a brick and mortar bakery (or restaurant) from a blank slate space isn't pennies; I am currently working with Ventures Non-Profit based in Seattle for my business builder loan of $35,000, but the estimated cost of build out and equipment is around $42,000, and we'd like to preferably have a buffer for construction issues bound to come up (they always do!) and to provide the perks of supporting us. The opening of this brick and mortar will allow me to: spend more time with my son; bake in the early hours, which allows daily pre-orders; sell at more farmers markets; take on more custom orders, and on shorter timelines; have a pick-up location that is open daily for normal regular hours; and more. Without the opening of our brick and mortar, Grain will likely not be able to continue growth, as we have exceeded our availability at our commissary. Our ever-supportive and loving community of clients, friends and family have been supportive in every step of our journey (including making us the top grossing non-produce vendor at the Snohomish Farmers Market last year!), and we know that with your continued support and sharing of our campaign with your friends, family and colleagues, we will not only open a brick and mortar, but we will become greater Seattle's favorite sustainably-minded, wholesome (and delicious!) bakery!
The Addition of a Locally-Sourced Market
In addition to the bakery, we will serve local and organic teas, local and organic coffees, high quality, sustainable gelato, and our favorite announcement - a mini market! Grain Artisan Bakery + Market will showcase to and allow our community to purchase the same local, sustainable, organic ingredients we use in convenient, residential-sized portions! We will also be offering some local artisan goods as well! Some of the local businesses you'll see in the Market:
- Grace Harbor Farms (whole milk, buttermilk, yogurt, goat milk, and to-go sizes of plain and chocolate whole milk)
- Silvana (raw whole milk)
- Skylight Farms (local organic pastured chicken eggs)
- Field to Heart (local organic edible flowers, as well as bouquets!)
- Small's Family Farms (local sustainable flours)
- Bluebird Grain Farms (local organic heirloom grains)
- Manini's (local gluten-free flours and local handmade gluten-free pastas)
- La Pasta (local handmade pastas and sauces)
- Frontier Flyers (local raw honey)
- Land of the Living Apothecary (local, high quality essential oils and apothecary goods)
- an assortment of dye-free sprinkles and food colorings
- and lots more local, sustainable, organic groceries and household goods!
What We Need & What You Get
To continue our well-known trait of transparency, we want you to know EXACTLY what our community's support will help attain. We need a total (including our small business loan and owner equity) of nearly $45,000 to make this brick and mortar happen, and we're a bit short! Here is a list of the expenses that will be covered under the capital required:
- Deposit on the space, as well as first and second month's rent
- Snohomish County Bakery Permit License, Field Plan Review
- Snohomish City License
- Two Snohomish County Farmers Market Permits (Snohomish Thursdays 3-7p, and Mill Creek Fridays 12-5p!)
- King County Farmers Market Permit (year round market(s) out for jury!)
- Ingredient stock
- Marketing materials (printed on our signature 100% cotton paper with plant based biomass inks)
- Buildout (general contractor, electrician, plumber, and zoning permits)
- Equipment (oven(s), proofer, fridge, freezer, three basin sink, hand sink, prep sink, mop sink, dishwasher, grease trap, food processor, 20 quart mixer, 10 quart mixer, butcher block tables, storage bins, speed racks, induction stove tops, scales, immersion blender, torch, deep fryer(s), full sheet pans, half sheet pans, extra shelves, dough divider, sheeter, bread materials, and SO MUCH MORE!)
And here are some things we'd really, really like to fund as our stretch-goals after our capital goals are met:
- Food photography course
- Branded small business feature film and photos to showcase our work and passion
- A variety of cake stands to add to our rentals list for our customers
And of course, what YOU get in return for supporting us! Each of the perks listed below (or to the side, depending on which device you're viewing this on!) includes the cost of the item, plus a bit of a donation, to actually get us the funding needed. (If we only did the cost of the item, we wouldn't have any capital to work with, ya know?) We have some pretty amazing perks, at lots of support points!
Risks & Challenges
We are in the process of finalizing the lease and the small business loan, so this brick and mortar will likely be happening no matter what! However, if for some reason this location falls through, we will be searching for another commissary location immediately, or moving to a closer location, which will require us to purchase most of our own equipment regardless.
We'd love to be in the space, as it will create a local gathering spot for enjoying the experience of hand-crafted pastries and cakes baked with only the best ingredients - local, sustainable, organic.
Other Ways You Can Help
Grain never would have gotten this far without your help. If you love Lauren and her story, and our baked goods, but can't afford to back us, thats okay, we totally understand! You can still help by spreading the word and getting the news out there:
Sharing our campaign and project with your friends and loved ones through social media and other channels
If you know of an individual or business who may be interested in donating to support a local small business, be sure to share our campaign and our story!
Keep up with our progress and save the date. Invite your friends, families, and loved ones to order their special events needs from Grain, and check out our upcoming pop ups and farmers markets!