Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Key
Victoria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Victoria Key I am 35 year old stay at home mom to 3 girls 1 boy and proud military wife. We live in Athens TN on our small hobby farm.I started back in 2022 with an idea to try making my own sourdough starter. I watched tons of YouTube videos on it. And after about 2-3 weeks I finally had made a sourdough starter that was time to try to make my first loaf of bread. I was successful now it wasn’t pretty that’s for sure but the taste was great. After that I started making weekly bread for my family once I got it to look photo worthy, I started posting on my Facebook and within a few weeks I had some friends asking me to make them a few loaves. Once that started I offered orders from my FB page. In March 2024 a friend reached out for me to go in with her at a store called The Crafters Collage in Athens TN. So I rented a small shelf space each week I would take in loaves of bread for people to come out and purchase. Next thing I know I started a once a month market. Now I currently stock 4 stores in different locations ranging from Whistlestop Shoppes 730 Tennessee Ave, Etowah, TN 37331, The Primitive Mercantile 520 Cook Street Suite G Madisonville TN, Noble Curiosities 511 N Main St, Sweetwater, TN 37874 and Dandelion’s Mercantile Shoppes 211 1st St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 . Also every Sunday you can find me at the local Farmers on First Market at 200 1st St NE, Cleveland, TN 37311. I since turned a spare room in our home to my own little sourdough microbakery. Which has just been amazing. I really am enjoying my sourdough journey.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My first few months trying to get my name out there and the items I had to offer was a bit of a struggle. I had no idea what I was doing as far as marketing, branding any of it. Now I have weekly customers an incredibly FB following that is growing every day. It’s been a real blessing for me and my family.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I own and run my own sourdough microbakery straight from my home. I follow the cottage rule laws for TN home baked goods.
I bake a varity of sourdough breads and I’ve even started my own garden offering select canned goods like pickels and pickled garlic are my top sellers.
I offer sourdough rounds flavors range from Traditional, Jalapeño Chedder, Chocolate etc….sandwich loaves, focaccia’s, Scones, cinnamon rolls etc…. There is so much that you can make with sourdough the options are endless. Most proud of my starter I call her Betty White she is what sets my sourdough apart from others she is just a bubbly sour starter that people have loved so much. Making this bread isn’t just a hobby it’s a therapy it’s become a new passion and I am so glad that I have been given the opportunity to share my love for sourdough bread with my community and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I would love to eventually open my own store/bakery for sourdough breads. I am sure it many years away but that would be a dream for sure.
For now I will continue my local weekly market and maybe even reach to a few more small business vendor stores.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hotplate.com/muddyacresfarm?referralType=storefront
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18jgGMkdqN/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@keymuddyacresfarm?_t=ZT-8u1QFtrzdcM&_r=1
