Anna Makievska’s The Bakehouse was founded in 2015 in Kyiv and bakes artisan sourdough bread and delicious pastries. In my mind, I am smelling the aroma of fresh baked bread, can see the golden crust, and taste the sweet pastries. Enter Russia, and my serene visual image changes dramatically and so has the reality for Anna Makievska and the people of Ukraine. We know from the news, maybe friends or even relatives, details about this war. But still it is unimaginable to me how it must be living in a country at warlike Ukraine. So, when reading about The Bakehouse, I am inspired by what people can do and how they continue to work no matter the challenges.
The Bakehouse is still operating during the long months of war. However difficult it may be to procure flour and necessary ingredients, they are prevailing. With limited staff (men fighting, women with young children moving to safer areas like Eastern Ukraine or out of the country) The Bakehouse is baking bread for soldiers, hospitals, people in cities and villages affected by the war. They are currently baking out of the basement of their old bakery, producing 450 to 1,000 charity loaves every day. Incredible!
I wanted to show some solidarity, and it occurred to me, as a baker, the way to do this is to bake bread.
This weekend, I am baking a special bread in honor of the Ukrainian people and their bakers, the Flaxseed Sourdough bread, Anna Makievska’s signature bread (the recipe is included in the linked article). I will be donating $2 per sold bread to DEC’s UkrainianHumanitarian Appeal. You can help without buying bread, of course. Simply donate directly or if you are not able, at least help spread the word. For a list of organizations to donate, check out Forbes.